City Rob a point

Rovers thought they had the game wrapped up when Jason Roberts doubled a first-half lead provided by Benni McCarthy.

But substitute Daniel Sturridge pulled one back three minutes from the end before Robinho beat Paul Robinson to complete a remarkable comeback.

It was the least City deserved as they dominated throughout. But Benni McCarthy, whose Ewood Park future is in doubt, and Jason Roberts combined to put their side in sight of a priceless win.

Felipe Caicedo's failure to snaffle a close-range opportunity early on as he lunged at a Vincent Kompany knock-down was slightly worrying - before a glaring Robinho's miss.

Britain's record signing has been a major success story for the Blues this term, even if his first half-season in England has been hit by inconsistency.

Yet it seemed all he had to do was get his head to Caicedo's inswinging cross to break the deadlock as he strode forward, entirely unmarked, but he glanced his effort wide.

City's sloppiness let Rovers in for the opener, Brett Emerton driving the ball into the visitors' box. Roberts dug it out and McCarthy did the rest.

There was no immediate response from the visitors after the break but the introduction of Sturridge proved vital, even though Roberts scored at the other end with a fine header that looped in to make it 2-0 and seemingly game over.

The youngster was in the right place to hit what looked a consolation before playing a lovely ball across to the far post for Robinho to snatch an unlikely point.