Man City v Blackburn: hosts to win to nil and spoil upset talk

Blackburn may have won at Old Trafford this season and have the prolific Yakubu in their ranks, but that does not prevent 11/10 from looking like an attractive price in the Premier League odds that they are beaten to nil by Manchester City.

Steve Kean’s men have performed fairly well on their travels, with the highlights being the victory at Manchester United and taking a point away from Anfield.

However, it should not be forgotten that they were thumped 7-1 by Arsenal.

Manchester City are still 100 per cent at Eastlands this season through 12 home games and are unbeaten in eight Premier League meetings with Blackburn.

It is 1/6 that Manchester City simply beat Blackburn and this may be deemed good value based on the fact that Manchester United were 1/7 to triumph in their home clash with the same opposition on December 31st.

But far more value is available through the win to nil market, with Manchester City not only shutting out a far better Porto side in the Europa League in midweek, but also keeping clean sheets in seven of their last ten Premier League fixtures.

Meanwhile, four of the last five Premier League visitors to Eastlands have failed to trouble the scorers.

Punters fancying Blackburn to complete the most unlikely Manchester away win double can back them at 14/1, while the draw which is slightly more plausible is available at 11/2.

Manchester City were at virtual full strength when beating Porto 4-0 and so some fringe players may get an opportunity against Blackburn.

Edin Dzeko is perhaps the most likely to lead the line, with Mario Balotelli joining in from a position on the left-side of a forward three, as Carlos Tevez remains short of match fitness.

Dzeko is 3/1 to open the scoring, with David Pizarro potentially worth a saver at 6/4 to score in the 90 minutes after an impressive cameo from the bench in the Porto success.