Team news

Mancini calls for focus on title run-in Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has told his side to treat every game in their title run-in like a Champions League final.

The Barclays Premier League leaders resume their championship quest following their latest European exploits as struggling Blackburn visit the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

City have a two-point advantage with 13 games remaining and Mancini is braced for a stern test of resolve in the season's closing months.

The Italian said: "It is impossible to be complacent.

"Every game is like a Champions League final and for this reason we need good concentration.

"Now we have a game against Blackburn on Saturday and I think every game from now until the end will be difficult.

"When you play against a squad playing against relegation, it can be more difficult.

"Blackburn won away against Manchester United and we know they are a good team, they are strong on the counter-attack.

"They have been playing very well in the last two or three weeks. They are playing to get away from the bottom." City's title challenge is boosted by the return of inspirational midfielder Yaya Toure from the African Nations Cup.

Toure has not played in the Premier League since the victory over Liverpool on January 3, but returned last week to feature in both legs of the Europa League win over Porto.

During his absence, City went out of both domestic cup competitions and suffered a disappointing league defeat at Everton.

Mancini said: "Yaya is a high-quality player, he used to play for Barcelona and he is used to playing to win every game.

"I think his mentality is very strong and that can help all the team.

"But we have other important players and I think it is a good mix." Micah Richards and Gareth Barry are expected to be fit for City after picking up minor niggles in midweek, but Carlos Tevez is still working back towards match fitness following his self-imposed exile in Argentina.

Blackburn assistant manager Eric Black thinks the team's recent exploits in away matches against big clubs will set them in good stead for Saturday - even though they were comprehensively thrashed in one of them.

Rovers - currently 17th in the table, above the relegation zone on goal difference - will go to the Etihad Stadium to face the league leaders taking great heart from their shock 3-2 victory against City's local rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on New Year's Eve.

Since then, another stand-out result has been the humiliating 7-1 defeat they suffered at Arsenal earlier this month, but Black believes the players will feel strengthened by that experience as well, having now carefully dissected exactly where they went wrong at the Emirates Stadium.

"The team have gone to Manchester United and got a fantastic result," he said.

"The records (City have won all 12 of their home league games this season) would suggest that it is going to be a difficult task, but records are there to be broken.

"We can also take a lot from the performance at the Emirates Stadium.

"It was a very negative one for us at the time, but we have certainly analysed it and the players have taken a lot from it and I'm sure we will be in much better condition going to Manchester City." Rovers midfielder David Dunn is a doubt due to a thigh injury.

Winger Junior Hoilett, substituted early in the second half of the 3-2 win over QPR, is fit, but Jason Lowe begins a two-match ban having picked up his 10th booking of the season in that game and fellow defender Gael Givet is still suspended as well.

Man City vs Blackburn

Last modified 19:57 25/02/12

Threesy does it for City Manchester City's three top scorers were all on target as the Barclays Premier League leaders overpowered Blackburn to move five points clear at the top of the table in a 3-0 win.

In the week Carlos Tevez was welcomed back to training, leading strikers Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko reminded manager Roberto Mancini of their talents in a one-sided win at the Etihad Stadium.

Blackburn barely mustered a shot on goal as they were completely outplayed and their defeat might have been embarrassing but for a string of superb saves by Paul Robinson.

Robinson was most impressive early on and did brilliantly to keep the scoreline at 1-0, after Balotelli's strike, at the interval.

Yet his mistake led to Aguero's second and he could not prevent City's inevitable stroll to victory.

While Balotelli, Aguero and Dzeko celebrate scoring 52 goals between them this term, relegation-threatened Rovers must regroup quickly for their battle ahead.

The evening was all about City, for whom Balotelli, sporting a mohican, made an impressive return to domestic action after a month away from it due to a four-game ban.

Yaya Toure's return to the Premier League for the first time since January 3, due to African Nations Cup duty with Ivory Coast, was also welcomed as City set themselves up for their final title push.

Balotelli joined Aguero up front and Adam Johnson came in for Samir Nasri in a reshaped attack.

Blackburn handed a debut to new signing Marcus Olsson, who joined his brother Martin in the team, while Radosav Petrovic featured. After illness during the week, Steven N'Zonzi did not enter the fray until the 70th minute.

Yet aside from Robinson, little was seen of any Rovers players as City dominated from start to finish.

The hosts gave an early warning of their intentions as Balotelli tested Robinson with just a minute gone.

David Silva and Johnson combined on the right before the England winger's low cross was turned sharply at goal by Balotelli, but Robinson saved low to his left.

Johnson created space to shoot from distance but Robinson parried and the ball was hacked clear.

Robinson was in action again moments later as a Balotelli free-kick took a slight deflection off the wall and needed to be pushed away.

Blackburn finally cracked on the half-hour as City counter-attacked with Silva releasing Aleksandar Kolarov on the left.

The Serbian powered forward and pulled the ball back for Balotelli who, six yards out, instinctively clipped it past Robinson at the near post.

He celebrated by unveiling a T-shirt with a message telling his girlfriend Rafaella he loves her - a rather more modest offering than the previous 'Why Always Me?', which referred to his notorious madcap, off-field antics.

Blackburn wanted a penalty as they made a rare attack moments later.

Morten Gamst Pedersen was shaping to shoot when he went down under a Nigel de Jong challenge but referee Mike Jones played on.

Despite being beaten, Robinson continued to impress, saving another sharp effort from Silva.

There was better to come from the former England goalkeeper as he palmed away a backheeled Vincent Kompany volley at a corner and he deserved the luck as Toure put the rebound wide.

Toure went close again just before the interval but again fired wide while Aguero shot across goal from a tight angle.

City showed no let-up as the second half began with Toure powering forward to tee up Johnson, whose shot was deflected wide.

The seemingly inevitable second goal came after 52 minutes as Robinson showed his fallibility.

The goalkeeper spilled a Silva corner and Aguero was on hand to blast in on the half-volley.

City suffered a moment of alarm just before the hour as Toure landed awkwardly attempting to cross and Aguero also pulled up.

Both required treatment but were able to continue.

Balotelli left the field to a standing ovation with 12 minutes remaining, moments after taking a knock in an aerial challenge in the area and requiring treatment.

His replacement, Dzeko, wasted little time in making an impression as he headed the third two minutes later.

Kolarov found space down the left and whipped in a superb cross for the Bosnian, who turned in his 18th of the campaign.

Blackburn finally made Joe Hart work in injury time, but Ayegbeni Yakubu's shot was weak and was greeted by ironic cheers from the home fans.