Manchester City's recent poor run of form continued against an injury struck Blackburn Rovers as their hosts opened up a five-point gap between the teams.
Blackburn now look the more likely to challenge for a European place at the end of the season courtesy of David Dunn's 13th minute header.
Blackburn boss Graeme Souness said afterwards: "It was a good battling performance. We started well, the second half belonged to City but we dug in for the points." When it came, Dunn's strike was more than merited as Rovers had piled on the pressure from the start, seeking to make it three wins out of three in the Premier League.
The goal that sealed it was a gem. Dunn started the move on the left, laying inside to Andy Cole whose touch was picked up Tugay. He played a slide-rule pass into Egil Ostenstad's path, his shot was well saved by Carlo Nash but the ball spun up for Dunn to head home.
City picked themselves up well after this setback, fears of a repeat defensive performance of last week's debacle at home to Arsenal were not realised as Robbie Fowler and Nicolas Anelka began to cause problems at the other end.
Fowler headed straight at Brad Friedel before a magnificent block from Henning Berg stopped a certain equaliser for the ex-Leeds striker.
Rovers introduced Turkish World Cup captain Hakan Sukur for the first time since he signed in December. After a couple of injury plagued months, the striker showed nice touches and looks likely to be a useful player in the run-in.
In the second half, Shaun Wright-Phillips' introduction brightened City but they never seemed likely to make good possession count.
Indeed, Rovers should have scored again before the end as Cole twice and Dunn spurned good opportunities but one goal proved to be enough.
City boss Kevin Keegan was disappointed at his side's inability to put the ball in the back of the net. He said: "We made a sloppy start but then created lots of chances and missed them all. You don't always get what you deserve, but that's football."