MANCHESTER CITY EDS 3, BLACKBURN ROVERS U23 0
First half goals by Felix Nmecha and Benjamin Garre set Manchester City’s EDS team on their way to victory against Blackburn Rovers U23 at the City Football Academy in a game where Eliaquim Mangala was on the comeback trail after injury.
City survived Blackburn pressure in the second half, with Tom Scott pulling off a great save from Paul Downing’s header before Nmecha, who had also hit the crossbar) hit a 20 yard free kick past Ollie Burne to put the game beyond the visitors.
Mangala featured for the EDS in Premier League 2 competition after suffering a serious knee injury on loan with Everton earlier this year – his last appearance for City was in the Carabao Cup at home to Bristol City on January 9.
Claudio Gomes started the game in midfield after a cameo at the end of City’s Carabao Cup win against Fulham.
Mangala was gaining some match sharpness after a long lay off but his distribution was average and Joe Nuttall battled with him throughout the first half – the Frenchman also showed his nerves when he got the ball trapped under his feet while trying to pass it away from the big Rovers striker.
City goalkeeper Tom Scott had a taste of early goal action after smothering Hayden Carter’s low shot after 10 minutes.
City struck first though, and Felix Nmecha got the ball wide on the right from Benjamin Garre and beat Ollie Burne in the Rovers goal with a powerful shot from a tight angle that the Blackburn keeper could not stop after 20 minutes.
Nathaniel Ogbeta replaced City’s captain Cameron Humphreys after just 27 minutes following an injury to the right back.
Felix Nmecha, who could have had a hat trick, hits the crossbar
Nmecha hit the crossbar with a shot after a layoff by Garre following a Taylor Richards counter attack.
Richards released Rabbi Matondo and he raced clear of the Rovers defence only to shoot tamely at Burne.
City extended their lead after Matondo slipped Garre the ball, the Argentine dropped his shoulder, creating space, and his shot was driven in past Burne from wide on the right after 41 minutes.
Mangala was replaced by Taylor Harwood-Bellis at half time and City had to defend a siege by Rovers in the second half.
Nuttall’s shot was put behind for a corner during a melee and Scott acrobatically tipped away Paul Downing’s goalbound header from the resulting corner.
Carter’s shot was deflected wide and it was a bit surprising to see Philippe Sandler withdrawn for Ian Carlo Poveda-Ocampo as City reorganised with Ogbeta joining Harwood-Bellis in central defence and Garre dropping to left back for the last 14 minutes.
City won a free kick 20 yards out and Nmecha stepped up and promptly stroked the ball past Burne to put the game beyond Backburn with 10 minutes to go.
Poveda-Ocampo and Richards were denied late as City kept up the pressure to end up comfortable winners.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City EDS 3, Blackburn Rovers U23 0
Man City: Scott, Humphreys (Ogbeta 27), Sandler (Poveda-Ocampo 76), Mangala (Harwood-Bellis 46), Frimpong, Gomes, Garre, Richards, Touaizi-Zoudbi, Felix Nmecha, Matondo
Man City Subs not used: Anderson, Bernabe
Goals: Felix Nmecha 20, 80; Garre 41
Blackburn Rovers: Burne, Doyle (Mols 60), Buckley, Tomlinson, Downing, Grayson, Carter, Travis, Nuttall, Butterworth (Candlin 81), Lyons (Simmonds 60)
Blackburn Rovers Subs not used: Mantack, Eastham,
Booked: Downing, Carter