Man City beat anxious Blackburn

May 2, 2009 - 5:38 PM By WALTER SIMON STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Manchester City boss Mark Hughes insists his side are primed for a place in next season's Europa League after a fine first-half display saw them defeat relegation-threatened Blackburn 3-1 on Saturday.

South American trio Felipe Caicedo, Robinho and Elano all scored before the break to lave Blackburn virtually beaten before a ball was kicked in the second half.

Keith Andrews claimed a consolation for the visitors but with City dominant at home their was no way back for Sam Allardyce's side who remain six points above the drop zone and nervously looking over their shoulder.

Hughes, whose team collected their 11th win from their 12 at Eastlands, said: "We are playing well, we played some good stuff and still very much on target and in the mix for that seventh position and possible European football.

"Blackburn kept on knocking balls into the box and at times we found it a little bit difficult to get the ball on the deck and play our game.

"With three goals to the good it was always hard to keep the intensity going so maybe we were a little but guilty of not keeping that pace in the second half but I pleased with the display."

Blackburn made a good start to the game as they stifled City's attacking intentions with a robust defensive display and the threat of the muscular Christopher Samba on the break.

Hughes side were unable to gain significant possession but were allowed into the contest by some lax defending as Elano's 27th minute corner was not cleared by Andre Ooijer and Vincent Kompany helped the ball back into the area for Caicedo to convert from close range.

Seven minutes later more woeful Blackburn defending from an Elano corner allowed Robinho to score with El-Hadji Diouf's tame clearance falling back at the feet of the Brazilian midfielder for him to tee up his international colleague.

Ooijer and Benni McCarthy had chances at the other end but as Blackburn waited for the half-time whistle City sealed the three points as Gael Givet was adjudged to have handled Stephen Ireland' sback-heel and Elano score from the spot.

City took their foot off the gas slightly after the break and Blackburn were encouraged forward with Nedum Onouha fouling Morten Gamst Pedersen for the visitors to have a spot-kick of their own.

Shay Given kept out Diouf's penalty but Andrews gobbled up the rebound with an open goal at his mercy.

McCarthy was forced off with a foot injury and along with South African's departure went Blackburn's ability to test the City defence as the game petered out.

Rovers boss Allardyce said: "We were in control of the game and had some good opportunities to do a little bit better in front of goal but the Premier League is very severe in terms of punishment.

"We have conceded two goals in a few minutes and virtually handed it to Manchester City on a plate.

"We played well second half as well but we have let ourselves down at both ends of the pitch and all we needed to do was defend better."