If you are a Manchester City fan you have probably only just come down from the ceiling after your dramatic FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester United. Could this mean the blue moon is finally about to rise?
If City don’t secure Champions League football it could be a false dawn and this puts a lot of importance on Monday’s match at Blackburn.
However, if you are Rovers boss Steve Kean, Easter Monday might be your last chance to save your job. Blackburn are two points outside the relegation zone and have been in freefall since Kean took over. The fans are calling for his head, but will they be singing a different tune if they cause an unlikely upset?
Life for a Blackburn fan couldn’t get much worse at the moment. They have won just three times since Sam Allardyce was given his marching orders under bizarre circumstances last December.
Alarm bells were probably tinkling in the distance when Big Sam went, given that Rovers were comfortably in mid-table and looking set for another solid season. Those bells can probably now be heard loud and clear after recent struggles. Kean has vowed not to quit but will surely have to produce a miracle if he is to hold on to his job.
His cause won’t be made any easier by losing his main goal threat, Roque Santa Cruz, who is ineligible to face City.
A potentially bigger miss for Rovers is Junior Hoilett, who has been the only bright spark in a very benign midfield in recent weeks. However, Blackburn are confident the young forward will be fit after missing the 2-0 defeat to Everton and he can be backed at 3/1 to score anytime.
Looking elsewhere for a potential Rovers goalscorer doesn’t bring much joy for punters, with the goal shy Jason Roberts, Nikola Kalinic and Benjani the other targetmen. If Hoilett doesn’t play then City to win to nil at 11/5 might be worth a look.
City’s defence stood firm against a Wayne Rooney-less United last week and in theory should have no problem against Blackburn. However, this is City and they don’t always like their trips to the less desirable parts of England.
Surely the win at Wembley will have galvanised Roberto Mancini’s squad into making that final push for a top four finish though. Tottenham are hot on City’s heels, although Saturday’s draw with West Brom has somewhat dented their European dreams. Whether City will choke like they did last season remains to be seen but for the time being they hold their destiny in their own hands.
Much like Blackburn, goals could prove to be a problem for City, with Carlos Tevez facing another three weeks on the sidelines. A lot of the responsibility will now fall on David Silva and Adam Johnson to create the opportunities – and to take them based on how poor Edin Dzeko has been since his big money move.
Whether Mario Balotelli finds the back of the net is a lottery – he showed his good and bad sides against United so you take your life in your hands by backing the fiery Italian.
City are 21/20 to win on Monday night and that seems like the bet to go for if recent form is anything to go by.
Rovers have only won one of their last seven meetings against City and are priced at 13/5 to end that long wait.
It is a must win game for both teams but on the day you’d expect the extra quality of City to shine through.
Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.