CITY'S own Lone Ranger admits he works better with an Apache as his sidekick.

Emmanuel Adebayor found it tough as a solo gunslinger in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Liverpool, but believes the arrival of Carlos Tevez as substitute started the Blues firing and changed the course of a previously tight, tense game.

Now, says the big Togolese forward, all Tevez needs to get him back on track is a goal - the £25million man has not scored in the league since his brace against former club West Ham two months ago.

The Argentine ace, nicknamed El Apache after the tough Buenos Aires neighbourhood in which he grew up, did not score at Anfield.

But his busy style and incisive passing changed the game, helping Adebayor to end his own ten-week scoring drought and setting up the Stevie Ireland goal which briefly nudged City in front.

Some Blues fans have begun to question Tevez's contribution this season, but Adebayor says that - although a goal would do him the power of good - his fellow striker brings much more to the table.

And he added that there are no doubters among the players who work alongside the former United man every day of the week in training.

Professional

"We all know how good Carlos is," said Adebayor. "He came in on Saturday, was 100 per cent professional and showed what a fine player he is.

"He was fighting for the team, defending and keeping the ball, and when he came on it made it easier for us.

"I was finding it hard, and him coming on made it better for me, and easier for the team."

Tevez's wayward shooting has been one of the poorer features of his game since the move from Old Trafford.

That is all the more puzzling when you look at Tevez's record, which has rarely dropped below a goal every three games in his eight-year career.

Never seen as a great goalscorer, Tevez has acquired a knack of popping up with important goals at crucial times.

He managed 34 in 99 games for United, and during his spells with Boca Juniors and Corinthians in South America bagged 57 goals in 128 matches. He also finished top scorer at the 2004 Olympics, his eight goals in six games helping Argentina to the gold medal.

His tally at City looks decent on the face of it, with four in 12, but that is boosted by two Carling Cup goals against lower league opposition.

Adebayor has some sympathy, and feels a goal would make all the difference.

"Carlos is a striker and maybe people have been asking why he is not scoring a lot of goals," said the big front man. "At the moment he is not getting the chance to find the net every single game, but he is a good player and maybe he will start finding the net on Saturday. When he does, he might just keep scoring. We all know how good he is at the training ground, he always shows his desire and he is a talented player.

"Maybe he just needs a little confidence to start scoring goals."

Confidence
Adebayor pointed to his former Spurs rival Darren Bent, who suffered a crisis of confidence after missing an open goal against Portsmouth last season, but has thrived since a summer move to Sunderland.

"Every player needs confidence," said Adebayor.

"I remember Darren Bent two years ago at Tottenham Now, even if he is in the corner he can shoot straight into the net. So every striker needs confidence to be a good player."

VINCENT Kompany and Michael Johnson both clocked up valuable minutes as they seek a return to match fitness as City's reserves drew 1-1 with Blackburn last night.

And the Blues also put Benjani and Javier Garrido in the shop window with the transfer window just over five weeks away.

But the midfield pairing of Johnson and Kompany could not overpower a determined Blackburn side, even though the big Belgian almost opened the scoring with a header just over the bar early in the game, in front of 1,115 fans at Leigh Sports Village.

Rovers took the lead on 18 minutes when Martin Olsson's corner was met by Gavin Gunning, whose header gave Gunnar Nielsen no chance. But the Blues were level on the stroke of half time as James Poole turned in a cross from the right.

CITY: Nielsen, Trippier, Cunningham, Boyata, Mee, Johnson, Mak, Kompany, Poole (Nimely 76), Benjani, Marshall.