THE big freeze of 2010 may finally be showing feint glimpses of coming to an end but there was little on show at Eastlands last night to warm up Rovers’ travelling army.

Too many of Sam Allardyce’s men looked simply frozen to the spot as a shoddy first-half display handed big-spending Manchester Cty a simple victory – without ever really hitting the heights expected of them.

Paul Robinson fumbled Martin Petrov's corner to gift-wrap Carlos Tevez’s seventh-minute opener while Micah Richards was allowed to charge 60 yards unopposed with the ball to double the host’s lead before the break.

In between that, Rovers actually threatened with some half chances of their own, but one can only imagine it would have taken a bit more than last night’s relatively mild temperatures to thaw out Sam Allardyce’s half-time mood.

Rovers actually improved after the break, with Pedersen cancelling out Tevez’s 49th minute strike, giving the impression Citys defence could have cracked if they had been had a go at ealier.

Tevez’s last-gasp curler completed his hat-trick to secure a 4-1 victory – if only Rovers could afford a player of his quality.

Sometimes you just have to put your hands up to class and City should certainly have enough of that with the money their investors have brought to the table – but this was more than just lacking class for large parts of the first half.

Some of Rovers’ defending, all over the pitch, would not have been out of place in England’s lower leagues as Mancini’s money men waltzed their way to victory.

It was a different story for the last half hour as Junior Hoilett’s half-time introduction suddenly breathed new life into Allardyce’s men.

It was all far too late though. Give City a cheap 3-0 lead and you are never going to get back into the game.

Rovers’ next two games, a Carling Cup semi-final against Aston Villa and a must win Premier League home clash with Fulham, will define the mood for the rest of the season.

Win them and they could have a Carling Cup final and a climb up the Premier League to look forward to, lose them and a relegation scrap surely lies ahead.

Rovers opted to go with one up front with David Dunn playing behind lone striker Franco Di Santo, with Lars Jacobsen getting the nod ahead of Pascal Chimbonda at right back.

Benni McCarthy was named on the bench but was withdrawn because of a back spasm during the warm-up, with Steven Reid taking his place in the squad.

Former Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz had the potential to face his old club for the first time after being named on the bench, but Patrick Vieira missed out on his City debut because of injury.

Things started ominously for the visitors with Carlos Tevez looking dangerous with every touch and Martin Petrov’s pace down the right causing constant problems.

A City opener looked inevitable and, sure enough, it came on seven minutes – but thanks to a huge blunder from Rovers’ stopper Paul Robinson.

The England hopeful inexcusably fumbled Petrov’s weak right wing corner when under little pressure and, after Benjani turned the loose ball past him, Tevez was on hand to flick the ball into the empty net from yards out.

Bouyed by their early strike, City started to turn on the style leaving Rovers chasing shadows but, for all their possession, Robinson remained relatively untested for the opening 20 minutes.

The visitors even had a half-chance to level matters on 19, after Morten Gamst Pedrsen’s long throw caused panic in City’s defence, but Gael Givet’s 20-yard volley floated harmlessly wide.

Steven Nzonzi then blazed over from 25 yards as Rovers threatened to get to grips with their opponents – although Mancini’s men always looked capable of killing the game off any second.

Pedersen should have done better as the ball fell to him 20 yards out on 26 minutes, lashing wildly wide, as it was Rovers creating the better chances without ever really playing well.

The absence of Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott was clearly hampering the hosts defensively and it was the resulting uncertainty among the back four that was giving Rovers confidence.

That confidence was suddenly shattered on 40 minutes though when Rovers’ attacking players simply let Micah Richards run 70 yards unchallenged with the ball to slot Benjani through on goal.

The striker’s shot cannoned off the inside of the post but Richards was on hand to slot home the rebound – with Ryan Nelsen and Givet ball watching.

Allardyce threw on Nikola Kalinic and Junior Hoilett at half time, in place of Keith Andrews and Franco Di Santo, as he attempted to chase the game – it was curtains just four minutes later.

Benjani brushed aside Givet’s powderpuff challenge on the left before his pull back was clinically bent into the top corner by the irrepressible Tevez.

The Argentine should have headed home his third on 58, although Nzonzi should have pulled a goal back when he headed wide of an empty net a few minutes later.

Emerton then saw his volley saved by Given before Pedersen took advantage of errors from Given and Vincent Kompany to curl home a consolation on 71 minutes.

Robinho had a goal rightly ruled out for offside with 10 minutes remaining but Tevez did complete his hat-trick in the dying seconds.

Rovers’ woes worsened in the last action of the game with Givet and Nzonzi colliding and both were taken of with head injuries – a worry ahead of Thursday’s visit of Aston Villa.