The Blues looked set to endure a disastrous afternoon when Djibril Cisse and Jamie Mackie overturned Pablo Zabaleta’s first-half strike in between Joey Barton getting sent-off.

But Edin Dzeko rose to give the Blues fresh hope before Sergio Aguero drove home the goal that turned City into champions.

Edin Dzeko replaced Gareth Barry as City threw caution to the wind, requiring two goals in the final 25 minutes to save themselves.

Tevez fired wide before being replaced by Balotelli 15 minutes from time as the City goal attempts began to mount.

Dzeko struck the post from Nasri’s cut-back as QPR remained defiant on the edge of their own box, clearly uninterested in any form of attack.

Kenny denied Balotelli, then Dzeko created room for himself in the box, only to fire his shot so far wide it rolled out for a throw-in.

The QPR keeper turned away Balotelli’s point-blank header as the game entered five minutes of stoppage time.

With precisely three minutes and 20 seconds of injury-time left, Dzeko rose to power home a corner at close range.

City now went for it – and who should be on hand but Aguero to lash home after collecting Balotelli’s return ball inside the box.