blackburn ratings

Hart while he had little to do,when called on to punch clear from sambas enormous frame he did it well 7
Zab ideal game for him to play in with no rapid winger up against him,linked up well with AJ and overlapped effectively,got booked for diving but havent seen a replay so couldnt comment 7
lescott becoming a really consistant player,didnt put a foot wrong.Why he was dropped for Kolo will forever remain a mystery 8
Kompany solid enough but dont feel hes anywhere near the form of last season 7
kolorov defensively one of his best games for city but lets himself down with at times dreadful distribution and he really needs to work on his free kicks as yet another was ballooned over the bar 7
milner busy enough but lets himself down with consistent wayward passing,he should be dominating games like these but at times it simply passes him by 6
johnson wretched first half display,didnt use zabaleta anywhere near enough on the overlap but continues to cut inside and run into blind alleys and lose the ball.Apart from the goal did little else second half 5
Silva teams are definitely looking to crowd the space around him now(thanks napoli)and are blunting the effect on games we were used to but still one of our better performers 8
yaya not everyones cup of tea but put a shift in yesterday and always wanted the ball 7
Balotelli missed a sitter in the first half but improved as the game wore on,unlucky with the shot against the post and a class finish for his goal.A run in the side now would be fair 7
aguero not on long enough
nasri looks a class apart at times,the best of our midfield yesterday and deserved his goal 9

The scoreline flatters us somewhat and it was fortunate we were playing a team as poor as blackburn who offered very little.The passing was very slow and predictable for the majority of the first hour and we only really started to play when we scored the first and their heads dropped.Good time to have a break of two games each week so we should hopefully have a full squad again by the time villa come to the Etihad for their annual pasting

Can't really argue with most of that, other than a 9 for Balotelli. Thought he was unlucky not to come away with a superb hat-trick and his movement all day was magnificent. Looks very sharp and with a point to prove - 2 out of 3 strikers lowers the odds of warming the bench.

Agree - think the break couldn't have come at a better time for once. Aguero will be out for 1 or 2 weeks so should be fit come our next game, the likes of Vinny, Lescott, Yaya and Silva all get a bit of a break to recharge.

I'd say Balo was worthy of a 9 as well, or 8 at worst. His positional play was excellent, he used his brain to create space and chances and he showed everyone precisely what he's capable of. He would've had a brace if he'd had more practice. He smiled when everyone mobbed him for his goal, showing that he might be learning that scoring goals is actually worthy of praise. He also tracked back and put in a proper shift. And most impressively, when he was (incorrectly) penalised for a tackle, all he did was look narked - no complaining, no mouthing off, no petulance, nothing.

I don't agree that the scoreline flattered us, though. Despite not being at our best, I think four is about right. In fact, if Blackburn didn't have Samba on the pitch, I'd have said four would've flattered Blackburn.

i don't think balotelli is worth more than an 8 at best.

he played one of his better games and his attitude is miles better but he did miss two good chances when the score was 0-0.

the skied shot may well have been saved if on target, but it was a very good chance.

the other one that he hit the wrong side of the post was a great chance and he should have scored from that.

clinical finishing early in a game is something we need.

8 for Balo from me as well .... not for the finishing but from his general all round performance, as good as the cup final if not better