Man City's winning formula: 4-2-3-1

London: From boardroom to terrace via the dug-out, Manchester City is on a new trophy-getting mission.

For this much-scrutinised "project" to work, though, new players and old must suit the 4-2-3-1 tactics that Mark Hughes believes will bring trophies. Saturday's 2-0 success at Ewood Park showed the rich promise of this formation, a more stylish version of the 4-5-1 configuration Hughes used to good effect with Wales and Blackburn in the past. Such a system will be even stronger when the defence is reinforced, either with the purchase of a centre-half like Joleon Lescott or with a more solid midfield shield.

To the delight of 7,000 City fans, Hughes could certainly not be accused of lacking adventure away from home. He started without an orthodox holding midfielder, leaving Nigel de Jong on the bench and pairing Stephen Ireland and Gareth Barry. Little tinkering is needed with the front four, a kaleidoscope of movement at times. Intriguingly, Craig Bellamy, remarkably recovered from the injury that forced him to miss Wales' midweek match, was the forward point of Hughes' 4-2-3-1 formation.

Bellamy ran hungrily but looked more effective when dropping to the right flank in the second period. Emmanuel Adebayor, the man of the match, operated elegantly in the hole, brilliantly creating and finishing off City's first. Displaying his versatility, Adebayor kept dropping deep, looking for the ball to feet, working one-twos with Robinho or trading passes with Shaun Wright-Phillips.

He even tracked back, not once but twice, a reality that his old Arsenal supporters might struggle to believe. Admirably team-minded here, Adebayor made a crucial clearing header from a Rovers corner and even set up Ireland when he could have scored himself. On joining City, Adebayor appeared the obvious contender to play the target-man role, although it may be earmarked for Roque Santa Cruz, when he is fit. Hughes, the City manager could have permitted himself a smile when thinking about how he can rotate his attack. His options include Santa Cruz, Martin Petrov and Carlos Tevez. When the former United player darted on, Bellamy dropped into the position vacated by Robinho on the left.

Hughes' system is heavily reliant on the wide players, Robinho and Wright-Phillips, dropping back to protect the full-backs. This is not the Brazilian's game and opposing managers may try to exploit the space between Robinho and Wayne Bridge. On the counter, City moved with devastating speed. After one second-half breakaway, Paul Robinson saved from Robinho. When Tevez came on, he was released by a superb reverse pass from Wright-Phillips but again Robinson saved.

"They are going to be good on the break because of the pace and the quality they have," said Sam Allardyce, the Rovers manager. All the good teams have balance and City still need to work on their blend between an average defence and accomplished attack. Richard Dunne and Kolo Toure will be troubled by better strikers than Jason Roberts. Bridge is not in the left-back class of Patrice Evra, Gael Clichy or Ashley Cole. Watched by Franco Baldini, Micah Richards was solid enough at right-back. City need a commanding defender but Saturday's start was hugely encouraging.