First game excitement levels were cranked up for City's opener with Sky choosing it as the Friday night live game.
We chose the Pops' garage for the event venue (see above), a cave man sanctuary where we would be safe to shout obscenities at the TV and pace the room.
As usual with Solskjaer's reign at City so far it took a while to work out his team selection and tactics. Sky were utterly convinced it was a 4-4-3 from the Bluebirds but it wasn't.
Adam Le Fondre was playing a deep, wide role in a 4-4-2 system.
Fair play to ALF (above) for putting a graveyard shift in out wide, but why couldn't we just play a wide man there with ALF through the middle?
We were guessing it was another 'SHOCK' tactic which Ole seams keen on every week.
The Bluebirds were good value when they took a 1-0 lead through Kenwyne Jones' massive head and a fiendish Peter Whittingham free-kick flicked on by Mark Hudson.
Super Ken's subsequent celebration (below) showed more energy than the boy's input during the whole of last season.
A somersault I was worried might not be landed at one point.
Although KJ has taken some stick from me since arriving, he had shown he was keen & could be a handful this season.
City had played some sparkling slick football at times, but their flowing style seemed to stop after they went ahead.
The foot came off the gas for some reason and sadly Solskjaer’s lads gifted Rovers an equaliser, from a Peter Whittingham mistake in midfield, dithering on the ball.
What was Whitts up to?
It's not often he gets slated on here but, after getting roughed up a bit in midfield he'd had a strong first half, pulling strings like a bass player and delivering some delicious dead balls.
He should have done more to avoid gifting possession for the goal though and City went in 1-1 at half time.
Whitts was subject of some colourful cussing from Pops in the garage.
The second half was a case of City scrapping in the dirt to keep their point, with centre backs Hudson and Connolly locking things down at the back very nicely.
City seemed tired at times and faded badly as an attacking force. Even spinning midget genius Mats Møller Dæhli was anonymous.
New lad Tom Adeyemi (below) came off the bench and brought energy, pace and bite in the tackle but Blackburn smothered us and seamed content with a point.
Jordon Mutch's replacement Tom shows promise, whereas Mutchy may have been sulking about the place at this point.
It could be argued (maybe) that Solskjaer was bold and brave with his tactics, playing Kenwyne Jones in attack from the start, but having taken command we wanted to see City push on.
They did the opposite.
Given we took a pummelling in the second half though, a point away from home on the opening day at a strong side isn't a terrible thing. Especially when you consider there are several hundred games to go.
Also, when you consider that forwards Guerra and Macheda are about to return from knocks, the squad is looking healthy and there are options.
Even the king of pessimism (above) was upbeat at full time but I drove home thinking City are in for a rough ride this season.
City need to light the fuse Saturday against Huddersfield with a win.
Over to you sir...
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