Good afternoon and welcome to another Premier League liveblog, this one featuring teams at extreme ends of the table as Manchester United host Blackburn Rovers.
31 Dec 2011
12:35PM
Of course, the moment can’t pass without mentioning Alex Ferguson’s 70th birthday. Yes, we did of course have all of the hullabaloo about his 25th anniversary only two months ago but, whatever you look at it and whatever your thoughts on Ferguson, it is some achievement to be so assertive and so successful at this age.
You only have to think back to the fact that, in this exact fixture in 2005, the United manager was actually booed by his own fans as United fell 2-1 to Morten Gamst Pedersen. That was during an infamous ‘transition’ season, in which Ferguson’s age – and remaining ability – came under a lot of scrutiny.
Of course, he quickly banished all of that by embarking on the most successful run in the club’s history. But we’re no arguably seeing the other side of that now as many have compared this United team to that which so struggled between 2004-06.
Whatever the reality, it isn’t exactly the most ferocious-lloking team from Ferguson…
31 Dec 2011
12:35PM
The teams
Manchester United De Gea, Rafael Da Silva, Jones, Carrick, Evra, Nani, Valencia, Park, Welbeck, Hernandez, Berbatov.
Subs: Lindegaard, Anderson, Diouf, Pogba, Will Keane, Fryers, Cole
The big news, of course, ks that Rooney is rested. Altogether. No space for him even on the bench, to the chagrin of many Fantasy Football managers I imagine.
31 Dec 2011
12:43PM
There are no central midfielders in United’s line-up… except in defence.
31 Dec 2011
12:44PM
The other news today is that Ferguson says he’ll only be in the job three years more…. but then he said exactly that three years ago.
31 Dec 2011
12:46PM
A choir sing ‘The Impossible Dream’ and ‘Happy Birthday’ to Ferguson. He looks genuinely chuffed.
31 Dec 2011
12:47PM
It’s off.
31 Dec 2011
12:49PM
Nani floats an early cross well wide and over.
31 Dec 2011
12:53PM
Nani’s had a lively start and young Henley – despite being the hero earlier in the week – is going to have a difficult day against him.
31 Dec 2011
12:55PM
Great ball Nani but, just as Welbeck is about to turn in and shoot, the ball is nicked off him.
31 Dec 2011
12:55PM
This is already looking difficult for Blackburn. United’s midfield quartet of wingers have a lot of space in which to drift and interchange.
31 Dec 2011
12:58PM
Nani plays a free-kick straight into the first line of the Blackburn defence and then gets booked.
31 Dec 2011
1:02PM
Penalty Blackburn!
31 Dec 2011
1:02PM
Stonewall penalty. Stupid from Berbatov. Yes, there was a bit of general grappling but the Bulgarian then reefed Samba to the ground in the box.
31 Dec 2011
1:03PM
GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Blackburn Rovers
Who’d have thought that. In their first foray forward, Blackburn get apenalty which Aiyegbeni Yakubu coolly converts.
31 Dec 2011
1:06PM
Free-kick to United…
31 Dec 2011
1:07PM
Nani thinks he’s some kind of avant-garde artist with these free-kicks today. He runs forward then backflicks it to Jones, who awkwardly fires it towards goal. Deflected away before then.
31 Dec 2011
1:10PM
Shouts for a United penalty as Evra goes down. But, having miscontrolled, it did have the impression that he was going to go down no matter what happened.
31 Dec 2011
1:12PM
Just not happening for United at the moment. They’re always just a little slow or a little late as Blackburn cover space well.
31 Dec 2011
1:14PM
Rooney looking on frustrated from some sort of fancy director’s box.
31 Dec 2011
1:15PM
Oh so close to an equaliser! A corner is flicked on by Berbatov and, from three yards, Jones tries to side-foot it in but there are just too many bodies in the way.
31 Dec 2011
1:16PM
This from Infostrada
Yakubu has now scored 11 Premier League goals this season, the highest total by a Blackburn Rovers player at this stage for 14 seasons.
31 Dec 2011
1:16PM
Hernandez turns and flashes one just past the post from outside the box.
31 Dec 2011
1:17PM
It’s a very… tentative game at the moment. Both sides – not even Blackburn – going full-gun.
31 Dec 2011
1:19PM
Nani lashes at a chance and sends it well over even though, just before that, it seemed a simple slide-rule ball would have put Hernandez through.
31 Dec 2011
1:24PM
Nani lashes another over from distance. It’s not been his day so far.
31 Dec 2011
1:27PM
This should have been the game where United looked to completely close out City’s goal difference. Instead, Ferguson has tried to surf with an odd formation. If you’re complaiing of injuries, why rest Rooney now?
31 Dec 2011
1:31PM
Great save from Bunn from a Nani toe-poke but, in truth, it’s the first he’s had to make for a while.
31 Dec 2011
1:32PM
Bunn saves from Hernandez as United just enjoy a spell of productivity before half-time.
31 Dec 2011
1:34PM
Three minutes of stoppage time here, by the by. Odd for a first half.
31 Dec 2011
1:35PM
Half-time: Manchester United 0-1 Blackburn Rovers
Not the score you would have expected. But United have been very flat for most of that half.
31 Dec 2011
1:51PM
Anderson apparently coming on for Hernandez at half-time. Odd perhaps to bring of the MExican, since he’d looked lively. Better to bring off a winger? But United do need presence in the middle.
31 Dec 2011
1:51PM
The second half starts.
31 Dec 2011
1:55PM
Nani curls one just over. United getting livelier and a bit closer.
31 Dec 2011
1:57PM
GOAL! Manchester United 0-2 Blackburn Rovers
And that is really shocking. Just after United had looked a touch livelier, a throw-in in their half breaks for Yakubu. He forces his way into the box and fires it low past De Gea.
31 Dec 2011
1:58PM
GOAL! Manchester United 1-2 Blackburn Rovers
Superb response from United. Evra crosses, Rafael shoots and Berbatov dives to head it past Bunn.
31 Dec 2011
1:59PM
Amazing. The whole momentum of the games completely turned twice in a minute.
31 Dec 2011
2:01PM
Young Josh Morris on for Rochina. A defender for a midfielder. That was actually lined up before Berbatov’s goal. This could be bad for Kean.
31 Dec 2011
2:04PM
Berbatov showing a lot of grit to win a tackle there. People have been wondering where that kind of attitude has been for a while.
31 Dec 2011
2:08PM
GOAL! Manchester United 2-2 Blackburn Rovers
There we go. it had been coming since the goal to make it 2-1. After a spell of pressure, Valencia bursts down the right and crosses for Berbatov to power in low and hard. Six goals in three games for the Bulgarian.
31 Dec 2011
2:10PM
Valencia did well for that goal, showing a change of pace to burst through the Blackburn backline. And Berbatov made a difficult finish look simple.
31 Dec 2011
2:11PM
It’s pretty much a draw or nothing now for Blackburn. By taking off Rochina for a defender, they’ve removed one of the options that was causing United anxiety.
31 Dec 2011
2:13PM
Jones diverts Valencia’s cross just wide. All United now and 23 minutes left.
31 Dec 2011
2:20PM
A series of corners here for United but Nani hasn’t provided a good delivery yet.
31 Dec 2011
2:26PM
Nani’s taken 24 crosses today and only has a 21% completion rate. That’s been part f United’s problem.
31 Dec 2011
2:27PM
GOAL! Manchester United 2-3 Blackburn Rovers
Old Trafford goes silent! And David De Gea goes awol! The keeper came for a corner, missed it, and Grant Hanley rose to bravely meet two headers. He deserves huge credit even if it was something of a farcical goal. And, for United, a farcical result.
31 Dec 2011
2:29PM
Into the 84th minute now and Old Trafford is silent.
31 Dec 2011
2:30PM
Berbatov heads just over from Carrick’s cross. Light applause around Old Trafford. You really wouldn’t think we’re where at when we’re at. It’s just so odd… seems to lack urgency.
31 Dec 2011
2:31PM
Will Keane comes on for United. Despite the name and Irish connection, likelier to declare for England.
31 Dec 2011
2:33PM
Anderson blazes well wide. This is very un-United like.
31 Dec 2011
2:35PM
Slew comes on for the hero Yakubu
31 Dec 2011
2:36PM
Four minutes of stoppage time.
31 Dec 2011
2:37PM
It’s in United’s half at the moment as they aim to just get it up the pitch.
31 Dec 2011
2:38PM
Berbatov and Valencia try a one-tow at the edge of the box but, like the rest of the day for United, it fails to come off.
31 Dec 2011
2:40PM
Drama! Evra has a diving header cleared before Jones has a ferocious drive cleared!
31 Dec 2011
2:43PM
Full-time: Manchester United 2-3 Blackburn Rovers
A poor performance and even worse result for United. Not exactly the 70th birthday Ferguson would have wanted. But there were many things about the day which were odd: it started with United’s team selection and ended with the very un-United-like fact they got the equaliser, gave it up again and then didn’t really offer a late rally. Even worse, Kean actually played into Ferguson’s hands with his substitution.
All in all, a remarkable result though with potentially big consequences on the title race, both in terms of shape and momentum.
United, after all, should have been looking to both go temporarily ahead of City and close the goal difference. Instead, they’ve meekly surrendered initiative. That is the most bizarre aspect of all.
As It Happened: Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers
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Manchester United 2-3 Blackburn Rovers
Good afternoon and welcome to another Premier League liveblog, this one featuring teams at extreme ends of the table as Manchester United host Blackburn Rovers.
Of course, the moment can’t pass without mentioning Alex Ferguson’s 70th birthday. Yes, we did of course have all of the hullabaloo about his 25th anniversary only two months ago but, whatever you look at it and whatever your thoughts on Ferguson, it is some achievement to be so assertive and so successful at this age.
You only have to think back to the fact that, in this exact fixture in 2005, the United manager was actually booed by his own fans as United fell 2-1 to Morten Gamst Pedersen. That was during an infamous ‘transition’ season, in which Ferguson’s age – and remaining ability – came under a lot of scrutiny.
Of course, he quickly banished all of that by embarking on the most successful run in the club’s history. But we’re no arguably seeing the other side of that now as many have compared this United team to that which so struggled between 2004-06.
Whatever the reality, it isn’t exactly the most ferocious-lloking team from Ferguson…
The teams
Manchester United De Gea, Rafael Da Silva, Jones, Carrick, Evra, Nani, Valencia, Park, Welbeck, Hernandez, Berbatov.
Subs: Lindegaard, Anderson, Diouf, Pogba, Will Keane, Fryers, Cole
Blackburn Bunn, Lowe, Samba, Hanley, Pedersen, Henley, Nzonzi, Petrovic, Rochina, Formica, Yakubu.
Subs: Kean, Slew, Blackman, Goodwillie, Vukcevic, Morris, Linganzi
The big news, of course, ks that Rooney is rested. Altogether. No space for him even on the bench, to the chagrin of many Fantasy Football managers I imagine.
There are no central midfielders in United’s line-up… except in defence.
The other news today is that Ferguson says he’ll only be in the job three years more…. but then he said exactly that three years ago.
A choir sing ‘The Impossible Dream’ and ‘Happy Birthday’ to Ferguson. He looks genuinely chuffed.
It’s off.
Nani floats an early cross well wide and over.
Nani’s had a lively start and young Henley – despite being the hero earlier in the week – is going to have a difficult day against him.
Great ball Nani but, just as Welbeck is about to turn in and shoot, the ball is nicked off him.
This is already looking difficult for Blackburn. United’s midfield quartet of wingers have a lot of space in which to drift and interchange.
Nani plays a free-kick straight into the first line of the Blackburn defence and then gets booked.
Penalty Blackburn!
Stonewall penalty. Stupid from Berbatov. Yes, there was a bit of general grappling but the Bulgarian then reefed Samba to the ground in the box.
GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Blackburn Rovers
Who’d have thought that. In their first foray forward, Blackburn get apenalty which Aiyegbeni Yakubu coolly converts.
Free-kick to United…
Nani thinks he’s some kind of avant-garde artist with these free-kicks today. He runs forward then backflicks it to Jones, who awkwardly fires it towards goal. Deflected away before then.
Shouts for a United penalty as Evra goes down. But, having miscontrolled, it did have the impression that he was going to go down no matter what happened.
Just not happening for United at the moment. They’re always just a little slow or a little late as Blackburn cover space well.
Rooney looking on frustrated from some sort of fancy director’s box.
Oh so close to an equaliser! A corner is flicked on by Berbatov and, from three yards, Jones tries to side-foot it in but there are just too many bodies in the way.
This from Infostrada
Yakubu has now scored 11 Premier League goals this season, the highest total by a Blackburn Rovers player at this stage for 14 seasons.
Hernandez turns and flashes one just past the post from outside the box.
It’s a very… tentative game at the moment. Both sides – not even Blackburn – going full-gun.
Nani lashes at a chance and sends it well over even though, just before that, it seemed a simple slide-rule ball would have put Hernandez through.
Nani lashes another over from distance. It’s not been his day so far.
This should have been the game where United looked to completely close out City’s goal difference. Instead, Ferguson has tried to surf with an odd formation. If you’re complaiing of injuries, why rest Rooney now?
Great save from Bunn from a Nani toe-poke but, in truth, it’s the first he’s had to make for a while.
Bunn saves from Hernandez as United just enjoy a spell of productivity before half-time.
Three minutes of stoppage time here, by the by. Odd for a first half.
Half-time: Manchester United 0-1 Blackburn Rovers
Not the score you would have expected. But United have been very flat for most of that half.
Anderson apparently coming on for Hernandez at half-time. Odd perhaps to bring of the MExican, since he’d looked lively. Better to bring off a winger? But United do need presence in the middle.
The second half starts.
Nani curls one just over. United getting livelier and a bit closer.
GOAL! Manchester United 0-2 Blackburn Rovers
And that is really shocking. Just after United had looked a touch livelier, a throw-in in their half breaks for Yakubu. He forces his way into the box and fires it low past De Gea.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-2 Blackburn Rovers
Superb response from United. Evra crosses, Rafael shoots and Berbatov dives to head it past Bunn.
Amazing. The whole momentum of the games completely turned twice in a minute.
Young Josh Morris on for Rochina. A defender for a midfielder. That was actually lined up before Berbatov’s goal. This could be bad for Kean.
Berbatov showing a lot of grit to win a tackle there. People have been wondering where that kind of attitude has been for a while.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-2 Blackburn Rovers
There we go. it had been coming since the goal to make it 2-1. After a spell of pressure, Valencia bursts down the right and crosses for Berbatov to power in low and hard. Six goals in three games for the Bulgarian.
Valencia did well for that goal, showing a change of pace to burst through the Blackburn backline. And Berbatov made a difficult finish look simple.
It’s pretty much a draw or nothing now for Blackburn. By taking off Rochina for a defender, they’ve removed one of the options that was causing United anxiety.
Jones diverts Valencia’s cross just wide. All United now and 23 minutes left.
A series of corners here for United but Nani hasn’t provided a good delivery yet.
Nani’s taken 24 crosses today and only has a 21% completion rate. That’s been part f United’s problem.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-3 Blackburn Rovers
Old Trafford goes silent! And David De Gea goes awol! The keeper came for a corner, missed it, and Grant Hanley rose to bravely meet two headers. He deserves huge credit even if it was something of a farcical goal. And, for United, a farcical result.
Into the 84th minute now and Old Trafford is silent.
Berbatov heads just over from Carrick’s cross. Light applause around Old Trafford. You really wouldn’t think we’re where at when we’re at. It’s just so odd… seems to lack urgency.
Will Keane comes on for United. Despite the name and Irish connection, likelier to declare for England.
Anderson blazes well wide. This is very un-United like.
Slew comes on for the hero Yakubu
Four minutes of stoppage time.
It’s in United’s half at the moment as they aim to just get it up the pitch.
Berbatov and Valencia try a one-tow at the edge of the box but, like the rest of the day for United, it fails to come off.
Drama! Evra has a diving header cleared before Jones has a ferocious drive cleared!
Full-time: Manchester United 2-3 Blackburn Rovers
A poor performance and even worse result for United. Not exactly the 70th birthday Ferguson would have wanted. But there were many things about the day which were odd: it started with United’s team selection and ended with the very un-United-like fact they got the equaliser, gave it up again and then didn’t really offer a late rally. Even worse, Kean actually played into Ferguson’s hands with his substitution.
All in all, a remarkable result though with potentially big consequences on the title race, both in terms of shape and momentum.
United, after all, should have been looking to both go temporarily ahead of City and close the goal difference. Instead, they’ve meekly surrendered initiative. That is the most bizarre aspect of all.
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Alex Ferguson Blackburn Rovers kick-by-kick Manchester United Minute-by-Minute Premier League