Saturday 10th October 2009

Blackburn Rovers U18' 4 Manchester City U18' 3

Helan(27m),Elabdellaoui(45m),Tutte(73M)

A hamstring injury to debutant French striker,Emerik Hippias, at the beginning of the second half, played a large point in the final outcome of City's fixture against table topping Blackburn

 

With regular Reporter Gavin sunning himself in the Ukraine, it was down to the websites creator to bring you a match report.

 

The home side took the lead on 22 minutes with their first meaningful foray into the City half. City's defence failed to clear a cross from the right and the ball fell nicely for the Blackburn number 9 to lash home from the centre edge of the 18 yard box.

 

City sprang back into action and levelled the scores on 27 minutes.Jeremy Helan's header from a Harry Bunn cross had enough power behind it, to be helped into the net by the home sides keeper.

 

Bunn then burst down the left flank, out foxed the last defender, cut in and his first time shot was parried by the keeper and the follow up by Hippias was somehow turned over. From the resulting corner Reece Wabara was left with a free header but failed to find the target.

 

Into stoppage time for the first half Helan and Bunn combined down the left and Bunn's cross found the advancing Omar Elabadellaoui to put City in the lead at the break.

 

The start of the second half saw the withdrawal of Hippias after only a few minutes with a hamstring problem.This was a major blow for City as his aerial presence had been causing the home side untold problems and with no natural replacement on the bench, City were forced to change the shape of their side.

 

Immediately Blackburn drew level, number 7, Micah Evans headed home a right wing cross and then on 72 minutes Blackburn took the lead, with the number 9 scoring is second goal of the game again another header from a right wing cross. Not to be outdone in the scoring stakes City were level one minute later courtesy of a Andrew Tutte penalty after Helan had been fouled in the box.

 

That was not to be the end of the scoring and as has happened in a number of Citys recent games there was a late winner ,this time for Blackburn with the last kick off the game on 95 minutes yet again Micah Evans applied the finishing touch.

 

Team:

E Johansen, Smith, Zander (Olle 82m), Wabara, Veseli, Tutte, Elabdellaoui, Chantler, Bunn, Hippias(Grandison 51m), Helan

Subs: Karius(GK),Morrisey, Kapsalapodas/Paris

 

The U16's drew 2-2 with Steve Eyre back in charge of them