 United look like they could run away with the Premier League title this season. Having, amazingly, kept clean sheets in the last 14 consecutive EPL games, they look impossible to score against, let alone beat. Blackburn are stuck deep in the relegation zone, after a terrible start to the season under their previous manager, and former United player, Paul Ince. Under new manager, Sam Allardyce, Rovers appear to be a lot more willing to fight for the cause.
However fight or no fight this game looked like it would be a clear cut victory for Manchester United. It seemed the fans also assumed that a victory was imminent, as the mood at Old Trafford was very subdued.
Manchester came out with their usually patient style of breaking down teams through quick and accurate passing. But the pitch seems unusually cut up at the Theatre of Dreams, which hampered the United passing game.
Rovers were content to sit back and try to hit Man U on the counter attack. While their attack did look promising their defense looked quite shaky, and surely would not withstand 90 minutes of Red Devil pressure.
It took 23 minutes for United to find the key to unlock the Blackburn defence, when Nani slid a cross through behind the back line for Rooney to toe past Paul Robinson.
United then appeared to step off the gas, assuming that the game was over, due to their uncanny ability to keep clean sheets. And in a rare moment of indecision and poor communication Scholes and Nani both left the ball, allowing Ooijer to pick it up and thread a ball to Santa Cruz. The Rovers forward then coolly rounded Ferdinand and the goalkeeper to pass the ball into the net.
United's run of clean sheets had been ended, but still with an hour to play the Manchester players looked confident that they could find another. Which they did in the form on a Johnny Evans header, only to have it ruled out for an alleged foul.
After the half time break United picked up the tempo and continued to pressure Blackburn, and on 60 minutes Cristiano Ronaldo struck a powerful free kick from a tight angle, beating the Rovers keeper. This time Man U did not look like they would relinquish their lead so easily, and Vidic came on to further cement the back four.
The Red Devils controlled the possession for most of the final 30 minutes, with the exception of the last 5 minutes when Blackburn piled bodies forward and looked like they might just nick an equalizer. But the final whistle blew with United still in the lead, and now 8 points clear at the top of the table.
Overall Match Rating: 3.5/5 |
