Super Mario Balotelli: Manchester City Stroll to 4-0 Blackburn Rovers Success

A first half devoid of attacking intent, rhythm or inventiveness from either side evaporated in a flood of second half goals for Manchester City as a Mario Balotelli-inspired performance saw them run out convincing winners at Ewood Park.

The "Tevez Out" banners were on display as City fans showed their displeasure at their former captain's midweek actions, while Edin Dzeko was relegated to the bench after his ineffective play against Bayern Munich.

Mario Balotelli was partnered with Sergio Aguero up front from the start, though the free-scoring Argentinian's game lasted just 25 minutes before he was replaced by Samir Nasri as Aguero struggled with a groin injury.

City made most of the running in the opening 45 minutes with Balotelli in particular a menace in and around the Blackburn penalty box but he missed a decent early chance to open the scoring as he skied a rebound after Silva's initial shot was saved.

Suffice to say, with the first corner of the game arriving on the 28 minute mark, neither goalkeeper had been overburdened thus far though Nasri and Milner saw efforts go wide of the post before Balotelli curled an effort past Robinson, the closest either side had been to scoring. Rovers' first shot on goal took 37 minutes to arrive but Joe Hart was untroubled, saving comfortably from Hoillett.

The end of the first half saw two more Balotelli chances, one an overhead kick which flashed past the post, but the period came to a goalless end.

Only moments into second half it was already proving to be a much more lively encounter as Balotelli struck the post as he continued his one-man attack on Paul Robinson's goal before a clash of heads between Kompany and Givet saw play stopped.

Ten minutes into the second half City took the lead through a curling effort from Adam Johnson which flew into the far top corner after a set piece wasn't cleared, and City never looked back.

Just two minutes later, Balotelli got the goal his enterprising play deserved as he flicked Nasri's cross in at the near post, and that was the cue for Blackburn fans to give up hope of salvaging anything from the game at all.

City passed the ball around at will and Pablo Zabaleta thought he had won a penalty—until the referee booked him for diving.

With 72 minutes on the clock City made sure of the points; some nice inter-play between David Silva and Samir Nasri left the Frenchman with a shooting chance and though his effort was deflected it crept inside the near post, leaving City three goals clear.

Moments later the Blackburn fans were unveiling "Kean Out" banners, their displeasure at their team's inept performance obvious and perhaps warranted at a result which leaves them one place off the bottom of the table, with four points from seven games and the worst goal difference in the entire league.

Substitute Mauro Formica briefly tested Hart with a long range effort before Yakubu, anonymous all game, shot from distance—but the last word fell to City sub Stefan Savic who rose totally unmarked to head home a fourth Manchester City goal with only a few minutes left on the clock.

As the full-time whistle went Blackburn fans staged a sit-in protest against their manager Steve Kean, while on the contrary, Manchester City supporters showed their support for boss Roberto Mancini all through the game. A deserved, and ultimately too easy, win for Manchester City who go just one goal behind Manchester United in the league table at the close of play.