Dzeko breaks duck to boost City's Euro hopes

BLACKBURN, United Kingdom: Edin Dzeko's first Premier League goal earned Manchester City a 1-0 win over Blackburn on Monday which strengthened his team's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

City were heading for a disappointing draw against their relegation-threatened hosts when substitute Dzeko, who had only been on the pitch three minutes, finished well after the Rovers defence failed to clear a dangerous ball by David Silva in the 75th minute.

It sent City four points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham in the race for the Champions League and increased Blackburn's relegation worries.

Rovers will feel hard done by but they have now won just three times in 17 league attempts under manager Steve Kean who, nevertheless, insists his team can avoid relegation.

Since their previous appearance on the Premier League stage, a miserable 3-0 defeat at Liverpool, Roberto Mancini's City have closed in on their first piece of major silverware for 35 years by reaching the FA Cup final.

And Mancini kept faith with the team that overcame neighbours Manchester United in the semi-final as City looked to end a three-match losing run on the road in the league. Blackburn, who started just above the relegation zone, desperately needed a win after taking just four points out of a possible 27.

Yet they almost found themselves behind as early as the third minute when Spanish international Silva let fly with a sweetly-struck left-foot volley which crashed against the post with keeper Paul Robinson beaten.

Robinson was almost embarrassed by Aleksandar Kolarov in the 10th minute, the Serbian full-back's speculative 35-yard effort dipping narrowly wide of the target.

With their 10-season stay in the top-tier in jeopardy, Blackburn, who recalled former City striker Benjani Mwaruwari to the side, needed to seize the initiative.

But despite claims for a penalty after Vincent Kompany's challenge on Jason Roberts, they lacked the cutting edge to seriously trouble City keeper Joe Hart.

His biggest test in a first half of few chances came from David Dunn's 31st minute free-kick which posed few problems for the England keeper.

However, City survived a major 41st minute scare when Blackburn defender Chris Samba outjumped both Kolarov and Gareth Barry to connect with Michel Salgado's cross to power a header just wide.