BLACKBURN Rovers secured a valuable point at big spending Manchester City this afternoon after Nikola Kalinic capitalised on Joe Hart's early error.

Kalinic was able to slot into an empty net midway through the first half after Hart and Kolo Toure failed to deal with a ball forward and, although City levelled through Patrick Vieira 10 minutes after the interval, Rovers will be more than happy with a draw against the richest club in the world.

Adam Johnson caused Rovers problems early on and Paul Robinson had to deny his angled shot – one of several saves the Blackburn keeper made in the first half.

But Rovers took a shock lead in the 25th minute as City keeper Hart and defender Kolo Toure both failed to deal with Morten Gamst Pedersen's long ball forward.

The pair left it to each other and Kalinic, who also benefited from a Tim Howard error on the opening day of the season against Everton, nipped in to seize the loose ball 20 yards out and slide it into an empty net.

Mame Biram Diouf then missed a good chance to make it 2-0 when he poked wide from eight yards but Rovers lost Ryan Nelsen to injury just before the interval.

City levelled 10 minutes into the second half as Carlos Tevez's low right-wing cross was turned into the roof of the net by an unmarked Vieira from inside the six-yard box.

Tevez then saw his left-foot volley deflected against the outside of the post before another effort went just inches wide.

Substitute Jo also saw a shot deflected narrowly wide but Kalinic had a shot saved by Hart late on.

City looked certain to score in injury time but first Gael Givet blocked as Tevez attempted to tap in and then Chris Samba deflected Jo's point-blank shot over the bar with some superb defending as Rovers secured a surprise draw.

Rovers: Paul Robinson; Michel Salgado (Pascal Chimbonda 46), Ryan Nelsen (Martin Olsson 40), Chris Samba, Gael Givet; Phil Jones, Vince Grella (Steven Nzonzi 58), Morten Gamst Pedersen; Mame Biram Diouf, Nikola Kalinic, El-Hadji Diouf. Subs not used: Mark Bunn, Brett Emerton, David Dunn, Benjani Mwaruwari.

Manchester City: Joe Hart; Micah Richards, Kolo Toure, Vincent Kompany, Joleon Lescott; Yaya Toure, Patrick Vieira (Gareth Barry 66), James Milner; Adam Johnson (David Silva 84), Carlos Tevez, Shaun Wright-Phillips (Jo 56). Subs not used: Shay Given, Dedryck Boyata, Pablo Zabaleta, Roque Santa Cruz.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg.

Attendance: 44,246.