Last year's beaten finalists Manchester City began their quest to reclaim the FA Cup with a trip to Championship side Blackburn Rovers in the first third-round tie of the weekend.
Despite a run of six straight wins going into the game, City were held and will now host Rovers in a replay on Wednesday, January 16.
Read how it all unfolded at Ewood Park in our minute-by-minute updates below.
Morning all! It's one of the busiest and often most exciting days of the season in the Football League as teams from the Premier League and Championship enter the FA Cup at the third round. First up, it's Blackburn against City and team news is just reaching us...
CITY XI: Pantilimon; Boyata, Lescott, Nastasic, Clichy; Milner, Fernandinho, Garcia, Silva; Negredo, Dzeko
ROVERS XI: Robinson; Henley, Dann, Hanley, Spurr; Williamson, Lowe; Taylor, Cairney, Marshall; Gestede
That's a pretty strong City lineup eh? No holding back from manager Manuel Pellegrini as the likes of Fernandinho, David Silva and Alvaro Negredo all start. Still, it's seven changes from the side that beat Swansea City in the Premier League last time out. Matija Nastisic, Fernandinho, Negredo and Edin Dzeko are the four men who keep their place.
Bowyer, meanwhile, has made three changes to his Blackburn side and most surprisingly, star forward Jordan Rhodes is one who drops to the bench. Paul Robinson, Adam Henley and Jason Lowe are those who come in, with Simon Eastwood and DJ Campbell the other two who drop out.
CITY SUBS: Hart, Kompany, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Yaya Toure, Navas, Lopes
ROVERS SUBS: Eastwood, Kilgallon, King, Campbell, Rhodes, Rochina, Judge
If things aren't going right for City then they can throw on stars like Yaya Toure and Jesus Navas. Rovers also have plenty of firepower on the bench with Rhodes and Campbell as well as former Manchester United man Joshua King and creative midfielder Ruben Rochina.
REFEREE WATCH: The man in charge today is Michael Oliver, who usually takes charge of games in the Premier League and Championship.
Great news for Paul Robinson today as he makes his first Rovers start for over a year. After suffering back trouble, the former England stopper had a blood clot in his lung. It's great to see the veteran keeper back.
As mentioned above, City last won this competition in 2011. It was their first success in 42 years. In 2012 Chelsea won the Cup before last season's stunning shock in the final. City were up against Wigan Athletic and were heavy favourites but went down in the last minute. Here's the report if you fancy recapping that famous day for the Latics.
Wigan were relegated just days after their famous triumph though and now play alongside Blackburn in the Championship. Rovers are currently 10th in the Championship, just two points shy of the top six playoff places.
City, meanwhile, are the form side in the top flight having won five games on the bounce. Despite this form, City are still behind Arsenal by a point at the top of the table.
The goalkeepers are going through their pre-match warm up at Ewood Park #roversvcity pic.twitter.com/hGeeUKtsBC — Manchester City FC (@MCFC) January 4, 2014
The omission of Rhodes really is a surprising one and BT Sport have just said that he's not carrying an injury at all. Odd decision by Bowyer to leave out his top scorer, who has 16 league goals this season and is just one behind Leeds United's Ross McCormack in the Championship's scoring charts.
WEATHER WATCH: Storms have disrupted many sporting fixtures this weekend but there are no problems in Lancashire, where it's pretty dry and overcast.
These two sides last met in Blackburn's relegation season two years ago. That year City won the two matches 4-0 and 3-0. Will Blackburn even get on the scoresheet today?!
Pellegrini, sporting a trendy hoody, tells BT Sport that the recent schedule of five games in 15 days isn't a problem for his players. He is of course used to the winter break that they have in Spain.
PREDICTION TIME! Just 10 minutes until kickoff at Ewood Park. I can't see Blackburn upsetting the odds today and fancy City to score at least three. Sorry Rovers!
In case you missed them earlier this week, here's the link for our mid-season reports. Both Blackburn and City were covered so if you want to remember their first halves of the season, click click click!
To see a full list of today's cup ties, click here. The standout game of the day comes later this evening as Arsenal face off against Tottenham Hotspur in a North London derby. Our live coverage for that one begins at 4.15pm.
Moments ago, Bowyer told BT Sport that Rhodes is simply getting a rest because of the amount of football that he has played lately.
Here come the two sides out of the tunnel. Blackburn are in their classic blue and white shirts while City don an all-black away kit. We're playing with a pinky orange ball today. Not sure why the usual yellow isn't good enough.
City have taken up the whole Darwin End and are thought to have brought around 10,000 fans to Lancashire!
Football presenter Jeff Stelling on Twitter: "Great to see Paul Robinson back in football - long, difficult time out. He might have picked an easier game #rockinrobbo"
KICKOFF! And we're underway at Ewood.
Little to speak of in the early stages. Marshall had a cross from the left that almost reached Cairney but City intercepted.
Silva is brought down on the right and steps up to float over the free kick. It's a little too deep though and bounces a few yards wide of the far post.
Blackburn have the ball in the net but it won't count as Gestede handled the ball after tussling with Lescott before pulling back for Cairney.
7,000 Manchester City fans at Blackburn today. #mcfc pic.twitter.com/W7i0vfo97K
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) January 4, 2014
Spurr's initial throw-in is cleared before Dzeko's loose pass presents the left-back with a chance to cross. It's a good delivery into the middle but giant keeper Pantilimon is up to catch.
A few jeers from the home fans as a pair of City attacks peter out because of overhit passes. Pretty lifeless start from both sides.
Lowe wins the ball in the middle and finds Taylor, who instead of looking right for Gestede goes for goal and his shot takes a deflection for a corner.
From the resulting set piece we come close to a goal as Cairney's floated cross is met by Dann but headed straight at Pantilimon.
This is really good from Blackburn. Cairney wriggles free of Fernandinho and Garcia in midfield before finding Marshall on the left. He gets past Milner before his cross is caught by Pantilimon.
BOOKING! First man to go in the book is Nastisic for bundling over Henley. Free kick in a good position for Rovers that Lescott glances out for a corner.
Blackburn continue to frustrate City and are even toying with the Premier League side by patiently playing the ball around. Cue unnecessary 'Olé' chants from the home fans.
Almost a dodgy moment for Blackburn as Dann loops a header back to Robinson that Negredo challenges for. The Spaniard makes contact with his head but the ball falls kindly for Robinson to grasp.
A first save for Robinson to make as Fernandinho fires low from outside the area. It's straight at the Blackburn keeper who makes an easy stop.
CLOSE! A first bit of real class from the visitors as Dzeko feeds Negredo who cleverly clips the ball over the defenders to himself. The spin on the ball means that it just reaches Robinson before Negredo can toe it in.
City continue to get their passes in the final third wrong as both Boyata and Silva overhit through-balls.
CHANCE! Clearest opening of the game so far as Clichy's overhit cross reaches Boyata. He cuts it back for Silva but it's on his weaker right foot and he scoops well over the top.
Negredo looks hopefully to referee Oliver after Spur appeared to tug him back. You've seen them given.
Taylor has his second shot for Blackburn but it's a poor effort that Pantilimon sees over.
GOAL! BLACKBURN 0-1 CITY (NEGREDO)
Oh dear, it's a poor way for Blackburn to concede and especially just before half time. Silva swung over a corner and although Dzeko headed wide of the target it went straight to Negredo who reacted quickly to tap home.
HALF-TIME: BLACKBURN 0-1 CITY
Just one minute of added time was signalled so that goal was virtually the last kick of the half. Blackburn's players are clearly angry to concede and teammates Taylor and Hanley have just had a heated argument on their way back to the changing room.
PHOTO: Here's a shot of Taylor and Clichy tangling in the first half from Getty Images:
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
If you're only just joining us and want a quick recap on the first half, read our half-time report here.
FA Cup: Lots of chatter about the match ball at Ewood Park for @OneRovers v @MCFC. Pink? Orange? Acceptable? #btsport pic.twitter.com/9JjMb7STvp — BT Sport (@btsport) January 4, 2014
Surely Bowyer must be thinking about putting Rhodes on straight after the break? Why wait?
Although City had 70% possession in the first 45, both sides managed five shots.
KICKOFF! No changes from either manager at the break as the second half begins. If it stays close and Bowyer doesn't bring on Rhodes there will be serious questions to answer as he might be accused of leaving Rhodes out so that he isn't cup-tied if he transfers to another club this month.
Clichy's pace gets him free down the left but he can't find Milner in the middle. The ball is cleared to Boyata, who plays a one-two with Dzeko before his shot is blocked. Somehow, Oliver awards a goal kick.
Today’s attendance at Ewood Park is 18,813, with 7526 of those visiting City fans.
Negredo appeals for a penalty for a second time today and there was a bit of contact in the middle. Would have been soft.
GOAL! BLACKBURN 1-1 CITY (DANN)
Out of nowhere, Rovers equalise. Taylor whips over a corner from the left that Gestede powerfully heads straight at Pantilimon. It's awful goalkeeping from the City keeper as he somehow fails to catch it and the ball drops for Dann who can't miss from a similar position to where Negredo also scored in the first half.
Just as Pantilimon slices a goal kick out of play, Yaya Toure takes of his tracksuit. He'll be on shortly.
Big, big chance for City on the break as Silva releases Negredo but the Spaniard can't square for Dzeko unmarked to his left.
CHANCE! Gestede does well down the right to win the ball for Lowe, whose centre is reached by Taylor but he can only sky over.
MISS! That is some miss from Negredo. Dzeko shot towards the corner with his left foot and Robinson could only push it straight out to the Spaniard who somehow headed wide.
SUBS: Both managers make a change as Toure replaces Fernandinho while for Blackburn, King is on for Williamson.
Blackburn want a penalty as Pantilimon comes out to beat King to the ball and raises his foot very high. Completely unnecessary and for me it was a foul.
BOOKING! Boyata becomes the second City player to be cautioned after tugging at King.
Almost a glorious chance for Negredo to put City back in front but Spurr made a well-timed tackle to deny him.
SHOT! Dzeko unleashes a vicious drive from 25 yards that's too hot for Robinson to handle. Luckily for Rovers, the ball drops at Robinson's feet instead of popping out for Negredo to tap home. Pellegrini is about to send on Navas.
CITY SUB: It's the City goalscorer Negredo who is taken off. Pellegrini is loading up the midfield then as Dzeko now spearheads the attack on his own.
Hmmm, apparently City wanted to take off Dzeko but there was a mix-up with the numbers and number 9 was held up instead of 10.
GOOD SAVE! It doesn't take Navas long to make an impact as he tries his lucky from outside the area and is denied by an excellent save low to his right by Robinson.
City have a prolonged spell of pressure in the final third and come close to scoring as Silva's flick ricochets around in the area before Toure pokes over from 15 yards.
BLACKBURN SUBS: Fair play to Bowyer, it looks like he's going for this. He's just sent on two strikers in Rhodes and Campbell for Gestede and Marshall.
CHANCE! Navas with a much better opportunity than the last one as City break quickly. Milner laid in the Spaniard but the ball was on his weaker left foot and he dragged his shot well wide.
Substitutes Rhodes and Campbell combine as the latter meets a cross but can only head wide of the target on the stretch.
OFF! City defender Boyata is shown a red card after a second bookable offence. Easy decision for Oliver as the Belgian carelessly took Campbell's legs from under him.
That sending off has given Rovers a boost and they've just come close to a winner as Cairney's shot from the right of the area flashed wide.
Rhodes peels away to the back post and is ready to tap in when Lescott beats him to it and clears for a corner.
CITY SUB: Pellegrini looks to have given up on victory as he takes off Silva for a defender, bringing on Pablo Zabaleta, who will fill the hole left by Boyata.
FOUR minutes of additional time signalled by the fourth official.
Campbell with some lovely footwork on the edge of the box before finding Rhodes who spoons his shot well over the top.
FULL-TIME: BLACKBURN 1-1 CITY
All done at Ewood Park as Blackburn do ever so well to earn a replay against the galacticos of Manchester City. Alvaro Negredo and Scott Dann the goalscorers.
We're short on time so that's about it from me. Thanks for joining Sports Mole. Our live text coverage today is far from over though and if you follow this link you can keep up with all the 3pm kickoffs in the FA Cup. The standout tie of the round between Arsenal and Spurs is later this evening and our buildup begins at 4.15pm. See you there!
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Pascal Lemesre
