ROQUE Santa Cruz struck twice to make it seven goals in four games, as Rovers became the first team to claim a point at the City of Manchester Stadium in a Premier League fixture this season.
Santa Cruz headed home a late equaliser, after three first-half goals in a crazy three-minute spell had set the game alight.
Darius Vassell netted the opener, before Santa Cruz levelled a minute later. An own goal from Rovers skipper Ryan Nelsen put City back in front, but it was the Paraguayan striker who had the last word, with a controversial equaliser late on.
Rovers made two changes to the side that faced Chelsea on Sunday, with Christopher Samba and Bruno Berner replacing Tugay and the suspended Stephen Warnock.
Zurab Khizanishvili kept his place in the team, moving to right-back, as Brett Emerton pushed forward, while Benni McCarthy again had to settle for a place on the bench.
Both sides took a cautious approach to the game with the first real attempt on goal coming almost 20 minutes into the match. An inswinging corner from David Bentley was missed by everyone in the City box and when it fell to Khizanishvili at the back post, the Georgian hit his shot high and wide from a difficult angle.
City had the perfect chance to opening the scoring a minute later when midfielder Martin Petrov fired down the left-wing before picking out in-form striker Rolando Bianchi, only to watch the Italian miss from a yard out.
On 27 minutes, the quick Bulgarian was again sent down the left-hand side and this time his immaculate cross was headed home at the back post by former England striker Vassell.
Rovers wasted little time in finding the equaliser, as just 60 seconds later, Bentley's inswinging free-kick from the left was superbly nodded past City stopper Joe Hart by Santa Cruz at his near post.
However, incensed at throwing their lead away so quickly, Sven-Goran Eriksson's side regained the advantage moments later. The dangerous Petrov was again allowed space down the left and he had enough time to feed a perfect ball into the Rovers six-yard box that Nelsen, under pressure from Bianchi, fired into his own net.
Santa Cruz struck a weak shot at Hart, while Morten Gamst Pedersen smashed a 35-yard free-kick at the City goalkeeper as the first half drew to a close.
Benni McCarthy was introduced for the second-half in place of Khizanishvili, but it was City who opened brightly, with Petrov again causing problems on the left flank.
Pedersen had a shot blocked 15 minutes into the second period as Rovers struggled to create any clear-cut chances, despite enjoying much of the possession.
City substitute Elano went close for the home side on 68 minutes when he chested down and volleyed a spectacular attempt into the side-netting from the edge of the Rovers box.
Bentley saw an effort drilled over the bar from 20 yards, before Rovers finally found the equaliser with just seven minutes remaining.
A corner from the right was quickly taken by Pedersen to Bentley, who picked out Santa Cruz at the near post. The strike was initially chalked off for offside, but after consultation with his linesman, the referee awarded the goal much to the delight of the visiting fans.
Samba finished a striding run with a shot on goal and substitute Tugay could have won it with seconds remaining, but his shot from the edge of the box was too high.
MAN CITY: Hart, Onuoha, Richards, Dunne, Ball, Corluka, Fernandez, Ireland (Garrido 78), Petrov, Bianchi (Elano 64), Vassell.
Subs not used: Isaksson, Geovanni, Hamann.
ROVERS: Friedel, Khizanishvili (McCarthy 46), Samba, Nelsen, Berner, Emerton, Reid, Dunn (Tugay 90), Pedersen, Bentley, Santa Cruz (Roberts 90).
Subs not used: Brown, Olsson.
Booked: Richards (Man City), Berner (Rovers).
Attendance: 42,112