2207: I'm going to end with a stat from the magnificent optajoe on Twitter. Carlos Tevez has scored two hat-tricks in English football - both against Blackburn. See you tomorrow for some FA Cup replay fun.

2201: A night to forget for Blackburn. They showed a little more ambition in the second half - but they didn't have much choice after a dire first 45. Big Sam's side are without a league win in nine games, and have scored five goals in that period. Next up: Thursday's home leg against Aston Villa in the Carling Cup semi-finals. City are at Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.

2159: Yes, they've had an easy run of games, but nonetheless, Roberto Mancini couldn't have made a much better start as Manchester City boss. His side are up to fourth, a point ahead of Tottenham. They are seven points off the top, and six behind rivals United, having played a game less.

2157: Referee Chris Foy opts against playing much added time after Blackburn pair Gael Givet and Steven Nzonzi are involved in a nasty-looking clash of heads. With both off the pitch and looking very groggy, Foy does the decent thing.

City goal: Quality, pure quality from hat-trick man Carlos Tevez. Pablo Zabaleta wins the ball, and passes to Robinho, who moves it quickly onto Tevez. The in-form striker shifts the ball onto his right foot and with no backlift, curls the ball around the defender and past an unsighted Paul Robinson. Tevez celebrates with a wiggle of his Argentine behind.

2152: A chance for Blackburn to put some late pressure on City as they win a corner - but Morten Gamst Pedersen's delivery curls straight out of play.

2149: Final change for City sees teenage defender Dedryk Boyata replace Martin Petrov. The 19-year-old Belgian had been tipped to start the first leg of the Carling Cup semi against Manchester United - until the weather intervened.

2147: Roque Santa Cruz escapes down the right, but with Carlos Tevez free in the middle and on a hat-trick, the Paraguayan goes for the shot and blazes it wide. He looks sheepishly at a smiling Tevez and holds up his hand to apologise.

2144: Robinho brings the ball in from the left, and the Blackburn defence pretty much invite him to take a shot. He does - but Paul Robinson makes a decent save.

2143: Robert Mancini brings Benjani off, and sends Roque Santa Cruz on. "Benjani's done well. He can be pleased with his night's work," says BBC 5 live's Jan Molby.

2142: They still look pretty dangerous on the attack though. Martin Petrov lays the ball off to Carlos Tevez, who finds Robinho just offside - the Brazilian's tap-in finish ultimately pointless.

2139: City really looking shaky defensively now. Shay Given fails to come for a cross, and Javier Garrido heads behind under no pressure. Blackburn win a corner - but can't make anything from it.

2136: Blimey, could we have another Angola-Mali on our hands? Unlikely... Junior Hoilett, who has been lively since he came on, beats Micah Richards on the left and slides a dangerous ball across goal - but City clear.

Blackburn goal: That's two shots on target now - and there goes Bobby Mancini's 100% clean sheet record at City. Vincent Kompany passes back to Shay Given, who hurriedly gives it back to the stand-in defender. His poor touch gives possession to Morten Gamst Pedersen, who curls a lovely left-footed finish beyond the grasp of Given.

2131: Craig Bellamy looks disgusted as his number goes up - and Robinho comes on to replace him. The reception from the home fans might make him feel a bit better. A tiny bit.

2129: Cheers from the long-suffering Blackburn fans in the crowd as their side manage their first shot on target. Shay Given comfortably collects Brett Emerton's effort.

2128: Big Sam may be starting to think about Thursday's Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Villa - because his third change sees David Dunn come off, and Martin Olsson come on.

2124: Pablo Zabaleta brings down Junior Hoilett on the left, picking up a yellow, and the free-kick leads to Blackburn's first decent chance of the match, Steven Nzonzi heading just wide.

From Butch, Didcot, via text: "It's times like these you've got to ask yourself would you rather Berbatov or Tevez? Yep, thought so."

2121: DROP HIM! Carlos Tevez misses an absolute sitter for his hat-trick. Pablo Zabaleta crosses from the right and Tevez easily gets in front of the defender, and has what seems like an age to measure his header - but plants it wide. Hope Alan Hansen wasn't watching that defending. He may never recover.

From everyoneroundmyhouseforaparmo on 606: "Mancini is a genius! Who else could have possibly foreseen the awesome defence-beating power of Benjani's mis-kicks?"

2118: Some news from elsewhere in the Premier League: Birmingham have completed the £3m signing of midfielder Michel from Sporting Gijon.

2115: And Benjani has now managed a hat-trick of assists he didn't really mean.

Jan Molby on BBC 5 live: "I think this is well as Carlos Tevez has played since coming to the Premier League."

2114: And that is now nine goals in seven Premier League games for Carlos Tevez, and 14 in total this season. And to think they said he was over-priced...

City goal: From the centre circle, Carlos Tevez sweeps the ball out right to Benjani, who tries to cut the ball back for Martin Petrov. That doesn't quite work out - but Tevez has continued his run and sweeps the ball home from 20 yards. Magnificent goal.

2110: Lively start to the half. Micah Richards gets the ball deep in his own half - and immediately the City fans urge him to keep going. He decides to let someone else do the running this time. Scintillating run by Richards for that second goal - reminded us all of his potential.

From anon via text: "Re 2055: For all fellow Rovers fans the best thing that Big Sam can do at half time would be to take the Burnley job."

2107: Big Sam is making a double change at half-time. David 'Junior' Hoilett replaces Keith 'Marvin' Andrews, Nikola Kalinic for Franco di Santo. And we're under way in the second half.

2105: Should you be reading this on the web, you'll be able to see that Manchester City lie fourth in the live Premier League table. Blackburn three points above the drop zone, and after today, they will have played three games more than Bolton in 18th.

From anon via text: "Seeing as Sugar's just fired him, I'd like to offer Benjani some work experience at Basingstoke Town. Food, board, and a weekly Megarider provided."

From Andy, via text: "City fan at the game. This is the worst performance I have seen from an away side this season. No desire to play football. Just Dreadful."

From picto27 on 606: "Re 2050: I don't think Alan Sugar's grammar would be that bad..."

2055: Plenty of angry Blackburn fans out there - and I can't say I blame them. That was a mind-numbing half of football from the visiting team. Maybe Big Sam can work some magic at half-time? Perhaps?

From Neil via text: "Re 2019: Queens fan here. Big Marv has left Queens and is back at Hamilton. Only played two games due to the weather!"

From Alan Sugar, Horsham, via text: "Two jammy assists of the century. Benjani, your fired."

2049: A minute of time to be added on at the end of the first half.

City goal: What a goal. Micah Richards brings the ball out of defence and keeps going, running 40, 50 yards as he comes infield and bears down on goal. He provides the perfect lay-off for Benjani, who scuffs a shot onto the post. Who's there to bury the rebound? It's Richards, of course.

2042: Craig Bellamy switches to the right and there's plenty of space for him to cross - but he only finds the crowd. The winger looks accusingly at the turf - as you would.

2039: A snood (see 2032)? It's a cross between a scarf and a hood. You wear it around your neck. PS Nothing happening in the game.

Jan Molby on BBC 5 live: "There's no real structure to the way Blackburn are playing. They're just hoofing long balls up to the young centre forward, but he's playing on his own."

From anon via text: "Re 2019: THERE'S ONLY ONE MARVIN ANDREWS!"
That may be true - but there's also only one Keith Andrews

2032: Carlos Tevez wins a free-kick on the left. Martin Petrov takes it right-footed - and decides to shoot. Bad choice. Goes harmlessly over. Tevez and Petrov both wearing snoods this evening, for all you fashion fans out there.

2028: Craig Bellamy scampers down the left and finds a lovely pass inside to Carlos Tevez, the striker just crowded out by the defender. And then, as if to emphasis the difference between the two sides, Morten Gamst Pedersen lumps a long ball in the vague direction of Franco di Santo, who has no chance against three defenders, and City win the ball back.

2026: Blackburn enjoy a decent spell of possession. Franco di Santo wins a header at the far post, nodding it across goal - but the defender gets there first.

2022: Manchester City fail to clear their lines, allowing Gael Givet a sight of goal but he volleys well wide from the edge of the box.

2019: So I said to my colleague: who was that defender in front of Paul Robinson in the lead-up to the goal? Marvin Andrews, says my colleague. It was of course Keith Andrews. Marvin Andrews is on loan at Queen of the South, if you're interested. No? Sorry...

2015: Carlos Tevez has scored eight goals in seven Premier League games. His latest seemed to come off his thigh, but apparently they all count.

City goal: Paul Robinson will be hoping Fabio Capello isn't watching this game. He comes for a corner but can't seem to decide whether to catch or punch. He flaps instead, colliding with Keith Andrews in the process. Benjani mis-hits his shot, but the ball lands at Carlos Tevez's feet and the Argentine can't miss from a few yards.

2009: Craig Bellamy collects the ball on the left and cuts it back for Carlos Tevez, who shoots too close to the keeper. Paul Robinson's save, erm, saves the blushes of the linesman - who has flagged Bellamy offside, when he was about four yards on.

2007: Carlos Tevez holds the ball up brilliantly and plays in Craig Bellamy on the left - but his low cross is cut out before it gets to Benjani.

2004: Away we go then. The latest on Togo's participation in the Africa Cup of Nations is that Emmanuel Adebayor's side have been officially disqualified. There has been no word as to whether Adebayor can now return and play for City - or indeed whether he wants to, following Friday's horrific events.

2001: Carlos Tevez receives his player of the month award for December as the rest of the players warm up. We will shortly have a minute's silence in honour of the three people who died in the gun attack on Togo's football team.

1959: Indeed 'anon', it is eight matches since Blackburn last won in the league, while City have won their last three. Mancini's side will go fourth with a win tonight. Blackburn are 13th - but only three points above the drop zone.

From anon via text: "For some reason I think Rovers will get a point tonight. Not sure why as we have been utter garbage in recent weeks."

1954: Few flakes of snow around Eastlands as Patrick Vieira arrives on the pitch, wearing a dark blue suit daringly twinned with white trainers. He applauds all sides of the ground before retreating back to the warmth. Sensible man.

1951: More from BBC 5 live. As Patrick Vieira makes his way up the tunnel at Eastlands, they report that the Frenchman is in on a pay-as-you-play deal and that his salary is about half what he was on at Inter Milan.

From Ben, London, via text: "Does the fact that Fabregas is on £60,000 and Utaka on £80,000 not speak volumes about the respective financial positions of the two clubs?? No wonder Portsmouth can't afford to pay any wages if they're throwing money away like that!"

1948: For what it's worth, I think I agree with pablue on 606 (see below). Manchester City can afford to take a gamble on Patrick Vieira - and they do lack players with experience of winning trophies.

1944: Some late team news from our friends at BBC 5 live: Benni McCarthy has suffered a back spasm in the warm-up and won't be able to take his place on the Blackburn bench. Steven Reid will sit there instead.

From pablue on 606: "Thoughts regarding Vieira: everyone knows City have been lacking leadership on the pitch. They sign a short term solution for this and the media think it's a bad signing. Strange. Vieira knows what it tastes like to win trophies. 'Nuff said."

1939: TEAM NEWS Man City v Blackburn
Zimbabwe striker Benjani makes his first Premier League start of the season for Manchester City alongside Carlos Tevez, who returns to the starting XI after missing City's 1-0 win over Middlesbrough. Robinho is only good enough for the bench while Gareth Barry returns to the centre of midfield. Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce welcomes back goalkeeper Paul Robinson and captain Ryan Nelsen, two of seven changes from Rovers's 3-1 defeat by Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round last week.

1936: Portsmouth winger John Utaka is apparently on £80,000 a week, Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is on a mere £60,000 - according to the report I read anyway. Astonishing, if true.

From Pacharo, Malawi, via text: Cheesy make a loud mention of my beloved Flames thumping Algeria 3-0 in AFCON!Loving it!and merry new xmas again!

From Dan, via text: "Benjani starts?! Preferred to Santa Cruz, Robinho and SWP. Mancini has gone crazy. Looks great in a scarf though."

1928: So I read at the weekend that Patrick Vieira's decision to return to England is a sign that the Premier League is on the wane. I also read that John Utaka apparently gets paid more than Cesc Fabregas. Any thoughts?

1924: TEAMS Man City v Blackburn
Man City: Given, Zabaleta, Richards, Kompany, Garrido, Petrov, De Jong, Barry, Bellamy, Tevez, Benjani. Subs: Taylor, Wright-Phillips, Robinho, Santa Cruz, Sylvinho, Boyata, Ibrahim.
Blackburn: Robinson, Jacobsen, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Emerton, Andrews, Nzonzi, Pedersen, Dunn, Di Santo. Subs: Brown, Reid, Olsson, Kalinic, Hoilett, Salgado, Chimbonda.

From fcessiogba on Twitter: "After closely examining the league table, I reluctantly admit that anyone in the top five can win it this year. Even City. Blah."

From Basic_Blue on 606: "Is a comfortable 2-0 victory too much to hope for? I reckon Blackburn will give us a tough game today."

1918: Ever the pro, I only caught the end of the team news on the radio just now, but I reckon Vieira doesn't play for City, but Benjani does. I shall confirm as soon as I can.

1915: Vieira, ooooh-oh, Vieira, oh-oh-oh-oh, he comes from Senegal... but he won't make his debut for Manchester City tonight because he's got a calf strain.