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Goals
from Manchester United's strike pairing of Dimitar
Berbatov & Wayne Rooney handed defeat to Blackburn
Rovers as the visitors poor away run continued.
After a
poor 1st opening half, United finally got their act
together when the Languid Bulgarian Genius or "LBG"
controlled Evra's wild shot & volleyed on the turn.
Rooney in
the final minutes doubled United's advantage with a
neat finish across goal after a perfect cross by
Anderson.
With a
centre back crisis giving SAF selection problems it
was "as you were" as Wes Brown (the one with orange
hair (Beware) & Jonny Evans were United's centre
back pairing continuing from where they left of in
midweek against Barnsley. Antonio
Valencia & Nani were given wide roles with Anderson
& Michael Carrick in central midfield.
In
a poor opening passage of play. both sides struggled
to muster much in the line of highlights as Berbatov
& Rooney were guilty of heavy touches, this coupled
with their team mates sloppy passing caused the game
to become somewhat scanty. The home
side finally got into a dangerous rhythm and looked
the better side toward the end of the half when
after a strong challenge on Chelsea loanee Di
Santos, Jonny Evans started an attack on the left
which Evra led a raid down the left flank.
The
Frenchman who was an available outlet all day
centred a ball for Berbatov who turned almost on the
penalty spot only to find his shot blocked by a
class tackle by the Blackburn defence.
United
continued to press for a goal as Michael Carrick
tried a shot from distance, but the best chance of
the match so far came Berbatov's way after Rooney
fed Valencia on the right, the Ecuadorian who has a
growing reputation of a dangerous crosser of the
ball found the "LBG" unmarked on the six yard box
but his poor header directed into the ground was tipped over the bar by Paul
Robinson.
Berbatov
was again influential in the home sides next
opportunity of an opener when Evra began another
raid down the left, this coupled with a driving run
from Anderson saw the ball find Rooney who delivered
a pass into the feet of his strike partner forcing a
save again from Robinson after the shot was hit with
some venom.
With a
midfield performance twenty times better than
against Liverpool, Michael Carrick "guilty" on
several occasions of putting himself about combined
with some quite brilliant passing from Anderson it
didn't feel that Old Trafford would have long to
wait for an opener as the two dominated midfield.
United
id find the net soon after but Berbatov was ruled
offside as United broke with Anderson & Carrick the
standouts again, the Reds wouldn't have to wait though
for a goal as Phil Dowd blew for half time.
United
continued their dominance in the second half and
with ten minutes played, the deserving break through
goal came when Patrice Evra's poor shot was
controlled with a left foot & buried in the bottom
corner with the right in spectacular fashion by the
United's frontman in a deserving and quite artistic style when with little space, he turned on a sixpence and
with ridiculous skill & balance volleyed a searing
effort past Robinson.
Gabriel
Obertan then made his Premiership debut when Nani
was replaced by the young French flyer and showing
appetite to run at the oppositions defence was later
guilty of a bad miss at the far post when JOS &
Antonio Valencia had combined, leaving the chance to
the young Frenchman, Michael Owen a late sub for
Berbatov expected as the rest of Old Trafford
expected a goal celebration, but Obertan was left
with head in hands and it was not to be.
The game
at 1-0 was finally put to bed when Anderson crossed
from the left whereby Wayne Rooney stealing into the
box met the Brazilians cross finishing brilliantly
in the far corner.
Blackburn
then pulled a goal back when EVDS failed to keep
hold of a shot from Benni McCarthy, capitalising on
the spillage and beating EVDS, Blackburn were denied
by Dowd as the referee disallowed the goal for
offside. With replays showing the goal was
indeed on due to Patrice Evra lying oin the deck
after his headed clearance had gotten his team into
trouble in the first place.
United's
Owen who your editor would love to score every goal
United create was guilty again of fluffing an easy
chance when after great build up play involving,
Obertan, Rooney and Valencia gave Owen a golden
opportunity at the far post, however like many of
his chances this season & there has been several
sitters he dragged his shot wide when he should of
scored.
Michael
Owen has an uncanny knack of being right place &
right time, time & time again & once his radar is
fixed will score like buggery for the Reds, fitness
now seems to be fine (a good job by the United
backroom staff, however for the time being tinkering
of his radar is required & can only be fixed by one
man.
Special thanks and a mention goes to
Derek & Lucy Randles for Barnsley (enjoy your
Holiday's Lucy)
The Hetherington's for a combination of electrical
consumption & computer usage while mufcinfo's
broadband is down, Lady Di for the endless supply of
Hot, Milky tea & but less than average soup & Big
Shoulders for the great mouse im forced to have to
use, oh and who can forget the gravy & various
cuisine stains left on the keyboard.
And finally hats of to the gorgeous Mr Steven Abbott
of Flimby, Cumbria for his remarkable MUFC Trivia
brain. |
Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official
Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM.
Berbatov (55),
