Sturridge steps to City’s rescue

Blackburn 2, Manchester City 2

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes may have unearthed his best signing of the January transfer window already after Daniel Sturridge’s heroics rescued an unlikely point at Blackburn.

The England Under-19 striker hauled City back into the game at Ewood Park with a well-taken effort three minutes from time before setting up record signing Robinho for an equaliser with virtually the last kick.

After attracting the interest of Chelsea last summer, Hughes is now trying to persuade Sturridge to commit his long-term future to the Eastlands outfit.

And, if this contribution is any guide, Sturridge could be as big as anyone Hughes’ brings in at vast expense next month.

``I want to keep Daniel at the club because this is the best place for him to learn,’’ said Hughes.

``We want to bring some good players here and that will create the right type of environment that is conducive to good football.

``I think negotiations are quite close now.

``For some reason Daniel has been allowed to get in the last year of his

contract, which swings the situation back towards the player.

``If I had been here earlier then, I would not have allowed it to happen.’’

Sturridge’s late heroics came at the end of a game Rovers seemed to have sewn up.

Although Robinho should have scored with an early header and Shaun

Wright-Phillips hit a post in the second half, City were struggling to find a leveller to Benni McCarthy’s first-half effort even before Jason Roberts added a second seven minutes from time.

However, Sturridge was not ready to accept defeat.

``In a way that result is as good as the one against Hull on Boxing Day,’’ said Hughes.

``It took courage and character which maybe some people did not think we had.’’

Blackburn boss Sam Allarydce admitted the last late twist was a dagger to the heart.

After Roberts’ late miss at Sunderland on Boxing Day, the Rovers chief felt his side should have collected maximum points over the Christmas period, not just the two they ended up with.

``It feels like a defeat,’’ he admitted. ``I didn’t expect that. I expected us to withstand the pressure because we had defended so well before then.

``We should have seen the game out but there was a bit of naivety towards the end when City threw six players up in desperation at the end.’’

Ryan Nelsen picked up his fifth booking of the season that will rule him out of next Monday’s FA Cup tie at non-league Blyth.

Before then, City might have made their move for Rovers’ Roque Santa Cruz, although Allardyce has vowed to keep them, or anyone else, at bay, for as long as he can even though it might impact on his own ability to strengthen Rovers’ squad.

``For all managers, the January window is a nightmare,’’ he said.

``We will try to add to the squad. The problem is we need to find someone who can have an almost immediate impact.

``There is a huge amount of expectation around most clubs at this time with rumours of this player coming or that one going. ``If someone comes in for one of our players we will try to resist them for as long as we possibly can.’’


Brown blast for players

PHIL BROWN revealed he kept his Hull side on the pitch at half–time as a message to the fans after their first–half horror show at Manchester City on Boxing Day.

The Tigers’ have won many friends with their impressive start to their maiden top–flight season but it all went horribly wrong at Eastlands as a City side short on confidence rattled in four goals in the first 36 minutes.

When the half–time whistle blew, Brown marched his players to the away end, sat them down and gave them a dressing down.

The Hull boss said: “I thought it was nice and cold and I thought I would keep the boys alive because they looked as if they were dead.

“Let’s not read too much into it but I think 3,500–4,000 travelling fans deserved some kind of explanation for the first–half performance and it was difficult for me to do that from the confines of a changing room.”

Felipe Caicedo and Robinho scored a brace each before half–time and Stephen Ireland, who starred in City’s midfield, netted the home side’s fifth.

Hull at least salvaged some pride after the break with Craig Fagan, returning after more than three months out with a broken leg, netting a consolation.