Manchester City put the Carlos Tevez saga behind them with a classy victory at Blackburn that keeps them level on points with leaders Manchester United.

City lost Sergio Aguero to a groin injury in a forgettable first half but they found top form in the second.

Mario Balotelli hit a post before Adam Johnson struck with a magnificent curling effort into the top corner.

Balotelli volleyed home, Samir Nasri hit a deflected third and Stefan Savic headed in to confirm Blackburn's woe.

Rovers are now second-bottom of the Premier League table with four points from seven games and a goal difference of -9.

A number of their fans staged a sit-in protest at full-time to demand the dismissal of manager Steve Kean, who will meet with the club's owners when he takes his squad to India next week.

Life looks considerably brighter for City, who join United on 19 points with a goal difference only one inferior to their rivals' 19.

Their preparations were overshadowed by the fall-out from Tuesday's 2-0 defeat at Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Tevez was suspended for allegedly refusing to come on as a substitute while Edin Dzeko apologised to boss Roberto Mancini after reacting angrily to being replaced.

Before the trip to Ewood Park, Mancini stated "I'm the manager, I'm in control" and he made six changes to his starting line-up - with Dzeko among those making way.

City carried little threat in the early stages and when they did work an opportunity on 10 minutes, Dzeko's replacement Balotelli shot wastefully over the bar.

Apart from a perfectly-timed James Milner tackle that denied Blackburn striker Yakubu, City dominated possession but created little in the way of meaningful chances.

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