Evening game preview from Sky..
Manchester City v Blackburn Rovers
City are unbeaten in six matches in all competitions, with three wins over the festive period helping Stuart Pearce's side climb into the top ten.
The top half is also Rovers manager Mark Hughes's objective after an encouraging run of four straight wins, albeit sandwiched by less savoury results against Arsenal, lifted the club clear of relegation trouble.
David Dunn completed his Rovers return on Wednesday but must wait to don his club's colours. Hughes is likely to err on the side of caution for a player who did not feature for Birmingham since October of last year.
However Hughes will make two changes to his midfield. David Bentley returns from suspension and will take his place on the right side of Rovers' four.
Aaron Mokoena serves a one-match ban after picking up his fifth booking of the season in the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal last Saturday and that will mean a recall for the more refined talents of Tugay.
Fit-again Shabani Nonda and Andy Todd are pushing for recalls too, with Matt Derbyshire and Stephane Henchoz's places most under threat.
City boss Pearce must again do without Joey Barton through suspension - the influential midfielder picked up his fifth booking of the season in last Saturday's 0-0 draw at Bolton and serves a one-match ban.
Micah Richards could therefore be pressed into midfield duty.
Hatem Trabelsi and Nedum Onuoha are both struggling with hamstring injuries, but Sun Jihai (another hamstring) and Dietmar Hamann (back) could come into contention after making their comeback from injury in the reserves in midweek.
Recent form in this fixture has gone the way of the visitors - City have won just once in 11 matches against Rovers, although each of the last five encounters in Manchester have ended in draws.
Skysports.com Prediction: 1-2
Rovers to leapfrog City with win. Player to watch: Benni McCarthy
Match Facts & Stats taken from Blackburns own site
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The last five meetings at Man City have all ended in draws.
Rovers have only ever beaten City away once back in 1993, which was also the only time that the blue and white halves have completed a double over the blue half of Manchester.
There is a regular occurrence of own goals scored in this fixture. Two were scored in the fixture earlier in the season and an additional three have been scored in Premiership fixtures between the sides.
Rovers have conjured up seven away goals in their last two outings.
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Ref Watch:
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| Phil Dowd is the match official for the game. He has produced two red cards this season, both at Ewood Park in the game between Rovers and Tottenham. |
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Match Prediction:
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| This game will return to the traditional Rovers v Man City games of old by ending up all square. Rovers` key to goals will come from set-pieces and City will look to exploit Rovers` lack of pace at the back. With City opening the scoring they will press for a second and in doing so will get caught out by a late equaliser. 1-1 |