Robbie Fowler endured an afternoon of personal frustration as Blackburn made Manchester City pay dearly for a series of missed chances at Ewood Park.

Fowler, yet to score since joining City from Leeds, had half-a-dozen clear opportunities, but was denied by either keeper Brad Friedel or Blackburn defenders.

It was left to David Dunn to take another step towards full rehabilitation - relations with manager Graeme Souness being strained to say the least - by scoring the only goal of a fascinating contest.

As for Fowler, at least he can take solace from the fact he was finding both the positions and the target - though that will have been little comfort for manager Kevin Keegan, who had made a series of changes to the side so thoroughly drubbed by Arsenal.

City shaded the match in terms of possession and chances created, but had performed below par in the opening period.

Indeed from the opening seconds Blackburn put City under pressure when Garry Flitcroft dived to meet Keith Gillespie's corner, but could only make glancing contact with his head.

Dunn drove in a 30-yard direct free-kick which Carlo Nash did well to cling onto in the face of several Rovers players waiting for a slip, then the Blackburn midfielder had a good sight of goal when Gillespie's far-post cross dropped to him, but he his volley was wildly astray.

With 13 minutes gone, however Dunn, the matchwinner against Chelsea a week ago, struck again.

The move building up to the goal was excellent, with skill and patience in abundance as Dunn began and ended a seven-man move.

Tugay played a critical role, setting up Egil Ostenstad to force a brilliant from Nash only for the ball to pop up and allow Dunn to head into an empty net.

City had struggled to push back Blackburn in the opening stages, but midway through the half Fowler twice forced Friedel into action.

First, Fowler met Sun Jihai's cross with a firm header easily held by the American keeper. A minute later he met Nicolas Anelka's pull-back with a beautifully-struck first-time shot which Friedel did exceptionally well to touch over.

Anelka was next to bring a save out of Friedel after tormenting Lucas Neill, before at the other end City were relieved when Tugay's 20-yard drive was blocked.

Having survived a spell of sustained City pressure, Blackburn countered and Dunn's direct running brought his side another free-kick 25 yards out. Again the midfielder forced Nash into action though the shot was at a comfortable height for the City keeper.

Flitcroft was only a yard too high with a sweeping left-foot shot, then Ostenstad picked up an injury allowing Hakan Sukur to taste action in the English Premiership for the first time.

A minute before the break Marc-Vivien Foe fashioned a seemingly unmissable chance for Fowler - but Henning Berg threw himself in front of the City striker to block.

Keegan brought on Ali Benarbia at the break and he swiftly became the focal point of City's industry.

The Algerian almost contrived a breakthrough when he arrowed a through-pass for Anelka, who beat Martin Taylor in the race to the ball, but not Friedel, who arrived a second before him to clear the danger.

Souness ordered a switch to three central defenders, but Blackburn struggled to come to terms with the new formation and City took charge of the midfield.

The home side were indebted to Taylor after Anelka had seized onto Benarbia's delightful backheel and was bearing down on Friedel. A goal seemed on the cards, but Taylor stretched out a long leg to thwart the Frenchman.

Shaun Wright-Phillips then produced an awesome centre, but Friedel flung himself to snatch the ball off Anelka's head.

Fowler stabbed wide from close range then Rovers, for whom chances had been scarce since the break, finally launched a decent attack and Sukur was poised for his first shot when David Sommeil made a crucial intervention.

There was more frustration for Fowler when he rolled a shot past the post from 20 yards, but then relief for City as Andy Cole wasted a chance to wrap the match up.

Sukur's perfect knockdown should have seen Cole at least test Nash, but he tried to cut back inside again and was tackled.

Teams

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Berg, Taylor, McEveley (Johansson 45), Gillespie (Todd 66), Tugay, Dunn, Flitcroft, Cole, Ostenstad (Sukur 42).

Subs Not Used: Grabbi, Kelly.

Booked: Neill, Flitcroft.

Goals: Dunn 13.

Man City: Nash, Sommeil, Wiekens (Goater 82), Distin, Jihai (Wright-Phillips 58), Berkovic (Benarbia 45), Horlock, Foe, Jensen, Anelka, Fowler.

Subs Not Used: Weaver, Bischoff.

Att: 28,647

Ref: S Dunn (Avon).