Welcome to the last game of the day. Can Manchester City extend the gap ahead of a tricky trip for Manchester United to Norwich, or can Blackburn Rovers claim what will also be a crucial result for them? With the greatest of respect, we’re going emphatically for the former.

The teams

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, De Jong, Toure Yaya, Silva, Aguero, Johnson, Balotelli. Subs: Pantilimon, Richards, Milner, Pizarro, Dzeko, Nasri, Clichy.

Blackburn: Robinson, Orr, Dann, Hanley, Martin Olsson, Pedersen, Petrovic, Hoilett, Formica, Marcus Olsson, Yakubu. Subs: Bunn, Modeste, Nzonzi, Rochina, Goodwillie, Vukcevic, Henley.

And City start as expected, with Balotelli forcing a brilliant save from Paul Robinson from distance. Early warning.

Wasteful from Johnson. Dallying on the ball in the box he could have slipped the overlapping Zabaleta inside. He delayed a bit longer, though, meaning his route to goal was blocked and Zabaleta was then too far ahead to receive an ultimately poor pass.

Bit of scrappy tackling at the by-line there only for Nigel De Jong to race in and just blast the ball clear. It was in the Blackburn half. That was an odd one.

Perhaps De Jong has been influenced by all the rugby: kicking for touch.

City haven’t really crafted anything of note so far as Blackburn have kept them at bay quite well.

Not a lot of space  for City to work with and, in truth, they’re struggling to manufacture any.To put that in context, though, Blackburn have been out of their half once.

Is the levee beginning to break? Zabaleta chips over a fine ball but it just evades Balotelli’s head. Might have been a nudge as he jumps. No complaints though.

Bit of a lull at the moment. Shouldn’t Sky go back to this music though?

Balotelli curls a well-struck free-kick at goal but Robinson palms it away and, more importantly, gets enough on it to get it out of the box.

GOAL: Manchester City 1-0 Blackburn Rovers

There it is. A fine counter-attack as Silva releases Kolarov on the left who crossses for Balotelli to finish well from close range.

A let-off for City as Kompany appears to bring down a Blackburn forward. I reckon it might have been.

City very comfortable at the moment. Looks like one of those games where a demoralised Blackburn will run out of steam after an hour and then get beat about 4-0.

Kolarov drills a ball across goal but Toure can’t reach it. Blackburn gradually being worn down as more and more gaps open up.

Wow. That was an absolutely wonderful ball from Balotelli. Think Messi against Leverkusen, as he clipped it with the outside of his foot, but even more outrageous. Aguero then shot just wide.

That’s half-time. City well on top.

They’re coming back out for the second half now…

Balotelli tries to dummy a pass but it rolls out of play. C’est la vie

City are currently at 81% possession, their best under Mancini… as you’dimagine to be fair.

Blackburn, meanwhile, have set a new – and unwanted – top-flight record of 26 consecutive games without a clean sheet in a single season.

GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Blackburn Rovers

Oh Paul Robinson! After a decent game so far he flaps a corner straight to the unmarked Aguero who then drills  in past the floundering goalkeeper.

Bit of a worry for City as both Aguero and Yaya down injured at the moment. The former with a knock, the latter with a hamstring possibly… but both now returning to the pitch.

And, illustrating exactly the kind of game this has become, Zabaleta and Aguero laugh together as they both mix up near the six-yard box over who’s in a better position to shoot.

City: 88% possession in the second half.

Shots on goal: City 14, Blackburn 0

Blackburn make a double substitution, bringing on N’Zonzi and Rochina for Formica and Petrovic.Let’s be honest, it’s unlikely to make any difference.

Pizarro, meanwhile, comes on for Andy Johnson for City.

S0 close to being a third for City as Toure powers into the box to meet a header, which takes a deflection and almost loops over Robinson.

Balotelli goes off  for Edin Dzeko.

GOAL! Manchester City 3-0 Blackburn Rovers

Superb, sweeping goal as Kolarov swings over a brilliant cross for Dzeko to arrive and head home with extreme prejudice.

Yaya Toure goes off for James Milner. A strong performance from the Ivorian.

Exhibition stuff here from City as they knock it about with delight.

Kolarov announced as man of the match. Sky give it to Silva. The latter dictated the game, the former decided it, though, with two supreme crosses.

That’s it. Although, in truth, the game was over by half-time given Blackburn’s performance. City,to be fair, took it very seriously and claimed a due result. Over to you, United, now as they have to beat to Norwich to keep the gap as it was.