Robinho always looks as delicate as a candle flame, but Blackburn could not extinguish him. He also moves as gracefully as a bolt of silk, and his daring runs and quick stepping over the ball bewildered his markers. At one stage, he took a long clearance and stopped it with an exquisite back-heel flick, which left Andre Ooijer hurtling off in one direction as the ball vanished in another. The defender looked distraught and embarrassed, like a man racing after a train who finds he’s dashed on to the wrong platform. When the two of them next came into contact, Ooijer took the desperate option, hooking his outstretched leg around Robinho’s and spinning him over.
David Instone, Independent on Sunday
Nothing better underlines the unusual nature of City's fourth successive win and eighth in nine home League games than the fact Blackburn's goalkeeper Paul Robinson did not make a serious save all afternoon.
Such was the dereliction of duty among the players in front of him that City needed to excel only in flashes to move closer to at least equalling their highest Premier League finish of eighth. But what flashes there were. If they are learning to win away as well, hmm, who knows? Not that their fans haven't heard that before.
Tim Rich, The Observer
Robinho's displays at the fag end of the season have belied the image of a footballer desperate to quit Manchester, and after Blackburn had made a familiar, ham-fisted attempt to clear Elano's cross, Vincent Kompany shielded the ball into the Brazilian's path and his shot travelled with mathematical precision into the corner of Paul Robinson's net. It was at this point – 2-0 down at Anfield – that Rafael Benítez had made his "game over" gesture that so infuriated Allardyce and Sir Alex Ferguson. Hughes might also have been forgiven for thinking the match was done.
Joe Bernstein, Mail on Sunday
Brazilian soulmates Robinho and Elano are finally producing the samba football Manchester City fans have been waiting for all season.
After a freezing winter of discontent, the South Americans have started to shine now that the sun is peeping through the clouds in Manchester.
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