Mancini's words after Ewood Park win

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has yet to give up hope of finishing second in the Premier League, but admits it is an unlikely scenario.

The Italian saw his side move to within eight points of Chelsea on Easter Monday after £27million January signing Edin Dzeko scored his first league goal in England to defeat Blackburn at Ewood Park.

City's priority this season was a place in the top four and securing the resulting participation in the UEFA Champions League.

But with five league matches left to play, which includes a game in hand over Chelsea and Sunday's home meeting with relegation-threatened West Ham, Mancini is aware that second place is still mathematically possible.

"If Chelsea lose all their games and we win we can arrive in second position," City's manager told Sky Sports 1 after the victory over Blackburn. "But I think that it is very difficult.

"Now, after this game, I think that we should think about Sunday's game against West Ham because it will be very, very hard like this evening."

Mancini was also pleased to see Dzeko break his scoring duck in the Premier League after a tough few months since leaving Wolfsburg.

"I am very happy for Edin because he deserves to score because he is a good player, a good man," said the former Inter Milan boss.

Mancini also believes that City were worthy winners against Blackburn, who remain just one point clear of the relegation zone.

"I think that in the first half we played a fantastic game," he said. "We should have scored two goals - minimum.

"But in this period I think that all the games are very difficult.

"In the second half the game changed because Blackburn played very hard and we fought with them for every ball."