And that is that - the full time whistle goes. Blackburn gave City a scare in the first half after taking the lead and looking pretty comfortable, but after McAidoo levellled with a real moment of quality City surged in confidence and never looked like going behind again. Teddie Lamb got them ahead in the second half and then the goal really rained in with Reigan Heskey and Oliver Tevenan on the scoresheet. That books City's place in the final for the second successive year and they will be hoping to avenge last year's final defeat to Aston Villa when they take on either Crystal Palace or Manchester United this year. Thanks for joining tonight and hopefully see you back on the MEN again soon.
Well, Blackburn had some decent chances but Hudson saved well from Joseph and Braithwaite took a yellow card to stop a Blackburn attack. The referee then adds six minutes on, which I'm not sure anyone is needed although rules are rules. Is there time for Blackburn to get a consolation?
Blackburn fans have cheered on their players as best they can but haven't had much to shout about in this second half. They weren't best pleased to see one of their players booked by the referee, but when the ball was clipped back in that direction and ended up hitting the ref and knocking the yellow card out of his hand that brought the cheers. It looks like this game has seen all the goals it is going to get but let's see.
This game has been won and it now just comes down to what the final score will be. A flurry of substitutions have been made but City are still pushing for a fifth goal. Floyd Samba thought he had won a hat-trick of penalties but instead he was booked for diving - we aren't close enough to see whether it was a foul but Samba didn't seem to have too many complaints.
Oliver Tevenan makes it 4-1 with a crashing finish from the edge of the box, across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner. City are rampant now and are all over Blackburn as the visitors look for any foothold in the game they can get. City are 20 minutes away from consecutive FA Youth Cup finals.
A second penalty of the night for City after Floyd Samba is wiped out in the box - this one was even clearer than the first. Samba is hurt by the challenge and is down getting some treatment but he gets to his feet. Blackburn players go to the sidelines while he gets treatment for a team talk and when they return it is McAidoo and Heskey over the ball. Heskey takes it, and converts. 3-1 and City in full control now.
City are pushing for a third goal. McAidoo thought he had it when goalkeeper Harry Holt couldn't handle his curling shot from outside the box, but he just about kept it out. Now Ty Samba has gone close to adding another. Joseph is still a handful up front for Blackburn but it is City in control. 2-1
Teddie Lamb is in the goals again. A real poacher's finish, squirming away from his marker on the six-yard box to turn the ball in after Samba's shot in the box had been struck powerfully against the post and just about stopped in the goalmouth. Lamb is properly fired up and loves that goal. City have the lead. Now can they hold on?
We aer back underway in the second half, with City having to try to put that penalty miss behind them over the break. They were getting increasingly bothered by Blackburn's attempts to slow the game down when the visitors were ahead, but now the game is level Blackburn have an interesting choice to make to see if they want to keep slowing things down or try to get themselves in front again.
It's 1-1 at half-time, but City should be in front. Floyd Samba was brought down in the box from a City corner and the referee pointed to the spot. Samba stepped up to take it but his penalty was weak and was easily saved by Harry Holt. It's getting a bit feisty on the touchline between the two sets of supporters and it's all set up for a big second half with City having come back into it but Blackburn getting a huge high from that penalty save.
What a goal from Ryan McAidoo, cutting in on the left and smashing into the net. And what a lack of celebration, simply running back into his own half telling his teammates to follow him so they can start all over again. Four minutes of added time to come.
Reigan Heskey and Ryan McAidoo have been largely quiet on the City flanks but they're starting to get on the ball a bit more with ten minutes to go in this half. Most of City's play is still going through the middle but there are signs of the wingers beginning to isolate their men and get into the box. Heskey played a lovely ball through for Braithwaite that the skipper flashed across goal. Still 0-1
Blackburn's No.9 is still giving City problems and he's holding the ball up really well. There's a decent away contingent in the crowd and they are roaring on every kick from their team. City have had the better of the chances but they can't afford to go any further behind without facing a mammoth task.
City have responded well to conceding, setting up a few decent chances. Unfortunately two have fallen to defensive midfielders Harrison Miles and he had one saves and smashed one over. Tyrone Samba has also jinked into the box and toe-poked towards goal so City are threatening, even if they are still behind
Blackburn have the lead! It's a simple ball over the top but Leke Drake badly misjudges it and it sails over his head into the path of Valentin Joseph. Braithwaite looked to have got back and done enough to put him off but Joseph kept his composure and finished from a tight angle past Hudson. A great start for Blackburn
It's been a bright start from City and they're doing their best to find Teddie Lamb up front. Ryan McAidoo put a cross into the box that Lamb headed towards goal and Tyrona Samba's shot nearly deflected into Lamb's path. Blackburn are offering a threat on the counter but City are having most of the ball.
Ok, here is your City team - and it is attacking.
Max Hudson is in goal, with a back four of Dante Headley, Leke Drake, Kaden Braithwaite, and Oliver Tevenan. The midfield three is Harrison Miles with Floyd Samba and Tyrona Samba ahead of him. Then Ryan McAidoo and Reigan are the wingers with Teddie Lamb up front.
This is the first of the two FA Youth Cup semi-finals being played this year, meaning the winners of City vs Blackburn will have to wait to discover who they will face. The other semi-final is Manchester United against Crystal Palace, which means that there is the potential for a Manchester derby final - but there are two other teams left in the competition who are determined for that not to be the case.
City have already come out on top against Blackburn in the Under-18s league, where they have played home and away. City won 5-0 away in January after a 7-3 home win at the end of August. That helps to show why City are favourites tonight but also carries a warning that the teams all clubs pick in the league are not usually as strong as the ones that are saved for the FA Youth Cup - seen as the most prestigious competition in academy football in England.
As many as three of the starting XI tonight may have first team experience under Pep Guardiola. Kaden Braithwaite made his debut at left-back for the first team at the beginning of the 2024/25 season after catching Txiki Begiristain's eye in his first training session with them, while wingers Ryan McAidoo and Reigan Heskey have played for Guardiola's side this season. That goes to show how much talent is already being recognised in the team.
City beat Everton in the quarter-finals to reach this stage. The Toffees were controversially reduced to 10 men and City were able to complete a 3-0 win.
The Blues dismantled Chelsea in round five, recording a stunning 4-1 away win at a side who has tasted success more than any other in the Youth Cup in recent seasons.
There was also a standout showing in round four when City beat Arsenal 5-2. The Blues opened their run in the competition in round three with a 3-1 win over Fulham.
It's FA Youth Cup semi-final action tonight with City aiming to reach the showpiece for a third year in a row.
The young Blues beat Leeds in 2024 but lost out to Aston Villa a year ago. Standing in their way tonight are Blackburn Rovers, who reached the final of this competition in 2012.
City will be favourites and will hope home advantage can help them into the final.
Kick off is 7pm and you won't miss a kick with our City writer Simon Bajkowski in attendance tonight so stay with us.
