United 2 Blackburn 0

October 31, 2009

OPENER: Dimitar Berbatov scores

MANCHESTER United big guns Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney fired as the Reds defeated Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford.

Sam Allardyce's men were proving stubborn opposition until Berbatov's acrobatic volley 10 minutes into the second half broke the deadlock.

Substitute Gabriel Obertan made a lively Premier League debut although he missed a great chance to double the lead, sidefooting wide from close range.

But Wayne Rooney's stylish finish after 87 minutes sealed the victory.

Nikola Kalinic had a goal harshly ruled out for offside in injury time for Blackburn.

The result see United return to winning ways in the Premier League after last week's defeat at Liverpool. The Anfield side's loss at Fulham earlier in the day means United are now seven points above them in the table.

The Reds started strongly against Blackburn and as early as the third minute Nani sent a 20-yard shot whistling past the post following a marvellous crossfield pass from Wes Brown.

A mistake by Blackburn defender Chris Samba let in Antonio Valencia 10 minutes later but he failed to take advantage and scuffed a shot off target.

It was a clear opportunity and Blackburn looked nervous at the back at this stage following the mauling by Chelsea last weekend and nine straight defeats on the road.

However the visitors responded in the 21st minute and El-Hadji Diouf got into a good position, only for John O’Shea to make a crucial interception.

A minute later Berbatov nearly made the breakthrough with a downward header following a cross from Valencia.

However goalkeeper Paul Robinson reacted superbly and turned the Bulgarian’s effort over the bar.

Berbatov found the net after Rooney had squared the ball to him in the 40th minute, only to be ruled offside.

Berbatov breakthrough

United made the breakthrough after the break when Berbatov showed great skill when he got on the end of a cross-shot from Evra.

He got the better of Ryan Nelsen, twisting and turning before sending a shot beyond Robinson for his fourth goal of the season.

United boss Ferguson decided to make a change after 64 minutes bringing on Obertan for the ineffective Nani.

He almost made a dream start in the 67th minute following a defence splitting pass by Anderson.

Former Bordeaux winger Obertan raced away only to send a weak shot into the arms of a grateful Robinson.

Berbatov came off in the 79th minute and replaced by Michael Owen, who scored in the cup victory against Barnsley.

United should have extended their lead in the 83rd minute but Obertan again fluffed his lines. Clear in front of goal as Valencia played the ball into his path, he snatched at the chance and sent his effort wide.

Obertan then had a hand in United’s second goal in the 88th minute when he found Anderson on the left flank.

The Brazilian sent a good ball into the area and Rooney was the first to react with a sweet finish.

Substitute Kalinic found the net for Blackburn in stoppage time but his effort was ruled offside before Owen sent a shot wide.

What is your verdict on the performance? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (56) |

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Gilly, Belgium (31/10/2009 at 19:46)

Not the best game , but we won and got two GREAT goals !
well done to Anderson as well , good player, best players on the day was Berbatov and Anderson , Rooney JMO

danny, WILMSLOW (31/10/2009 at 19:55)

Obertan what a player he is going to be one od our best ever signings.
3 points thats the way to do it.
Its a shame we spoilt LIVERPOOLS record run of defeats.Still think we should have given one of the twins a go at right back

MUFC your skint and we know it , salford (31/10/2009 at 20:12)

danny wilmslow , gilly belgium
you got home quick oh sorry i forgot you dont go to ot do you

alan matthews (31/10/2009 at 20:19)

Overall performancs satisfactory good 3pts.T&C did you see Fabregas today thats what you call a wORLD CLASS MID-FIELDER!!!

manc abroad, OT (31/10/2009 at 20:34)

Still not playing well, but winning. As they say the Premiership is a marathon and not a sprint, just hope we are saving our stamina for later in the season. Chel$ki will lose four players to the African Nations Cup and hopefully we will come into form in the New Year.

Stretford Born Blue, Brooklands (31/10/2009 at 20:45)

Adebayore, Adebayore, cost less than Berbaflop and scores a lot more!!

What a god awfull game that was......

We are coming.

Brora boy, Highlands (31/10/2009 at 21:00)

I think left wing is looked after with Tosik an able back up. Nani should be on his bike come January and Valencia is so strong on the ball he is just going to get better and better. Anderson can really split a defence with his pace so when we get Hargo back we are going to have a pretty strong mid field. Would start Fletch and Anderson against Chelsea and Scholes and Carrick against the Russians. We will need Giggs wide left for Chelsea so I would not mind seeing Obertan and Tosick against the Ruskies. Play Nani wide right mid week to rest Valencia. If Rio and Vidic are fit for Chelsea then I would play Brown at right back before JOS. He is just that much tougher and faster.

red (31/10/2009 at 21:09)

this was the best line up we've seen all season. anderson lifts carrick. evans and brown a pretty good understanding at the back for their first match together. berb rooney and to a limited degree nani, who really just filled a slot, some nice combos. obertan a good sub, but showed his rustiness by missing a couple of good chances, much better than nani. valencia a quiet game, needs to get more involved. i'd like to see this team out against chelsea, obertan starts. maybe fletcher, ferdinand and nani as the three main subs, who knows even hargreaves. if ferdinand comes on, there's the option of moving evans into the middle too. not a bad game and three well taken points.

bluemoon risin' (31/10/2009 at 21:21)

Two comments?? Here's my two penneth to your debt kitty! Now you have three comments! lol.

Is It Me? (31/10/2009 at 21:42)

Not too impressed,all that play and not many goals! We seem to be short of a powerful front man and Rodallega of Wigan has impressed me in this department! You never know,Torres may be available before long as he really needs to win something to justify his credentials. He may be OK in a decent team,he is definitely wasted with the Dirties!

Wayne Clarke, picking up that wheel barrow!, Ashton-under-Lyne (31/10/2009 at 21:55)

Tell you what guys, if that's the best United can up with then the league is chelsea's by a COUNTRY MILE! Will be over early in the new year!

mike , denver (31/10/2009 at 22:59)

Your on a wind up! Right, Danny?

Gary Carter (01/11/2009 at 01:52)

Blackburn threw the game and everyone could see it as clear as day

Algernon Blabbermouth, eccles (01/11/2009 at 02:08)

Still not the fluency of recent times. Anderson and Carrick added the energy and craft that was missing at scouseland.
Too many long balls out of defence..what happened to times when we brought the ball out of our half with passing and movement? At times we look like Liverpool! Play like that against the best teams and we will be punished.
On the plus side made quite a few chances,more of which should have been put away.
Would like to see Rooney in mid-field,Owen and Berba upfront..would give us more options in front of goal,more pace in midfield!

Red-Brit-in-It (01/11/2009 at 08:11)

When you're 0-0 or 1-0 up and dominating, you have to finish teams off, otherwise you can end up drawing or losing. We need a confident striker like the Michael Owen of yesteryear. Get the cheque book out Sir Alex, because Chelsea will sign Villa first - and they only need him for cover.

RemiMoses, Ireland (01/11/2009 at 08:26)

Anderson had a good game, just needs a run in the team, as we know............Obertan=Rough Diamond.......Wazza took his goal very well....NOW FOR Chelsea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kubanpete (01/11/2009 at 08:27)

Rooney was awful yet again, Berbatov was one of our best players on the day. Thought Raf may have been given that right back slot back. Still always good to win and what a result down at the cottage, brilliant !!!

bobbydazzler (01/11/2009 at 08:28)

a game of missed chances collectivley united missed 5/6 sitters how berbabtov did'nt score ahat trick is beyond me.

good game from andersen and wesley . potherwise a drab performance from out lot who were still in the could'nt be arsed mode.

Aficionado, Sale (01/11/2009 at 09:34)

Poor game overall but good to get a win. We'll need to play much better to get anything at the Bridge next week. Valencia seems to be more confident and was getting stuck in. I really hope Obertan makes it but it was a very jittery display especially dribbling the ball out of play with his first touch. Hopefully he'll relax and improve. Shame he doesn't have CR's confidence and arrogance. Wes did well and Evra.

Daryl Fisher (01/11/2009 at 10:10)

Has the real Berbatov finally stood up? Superb all round performance and cracking finish.

dog hardy, manchester (01/11/2009 at 10:17)

Danny will you be saying that end of season.As usual a new player comes along,this time very fast.Dribbling with 2 feet very rare these days,but the talk in our pub was ,is he a relation of Bellion who was also very fast but belonged to an Athletic track.Hopefully your right for a change.

World-wide-United, Not-in-wasteland (01/11/2009 at 11:20)

i'm very optemistic about obertan, i wish he plays more league games
also anderson,, the player deserves a fixed role in man u midfield in the future.

roony should focus more and should change his way of attacking cause i think defenders are starting to memorise his style, and thats why most of his shots are blocked by them or staryed away.

berba good job class act,, keep it this way.

Optimus Cretinus (01/11/2009 at 11:25)

An average team would have beaten both of them. Someone should tell Big Sam that football is best played when his team pass the ball to each other. Simply hoofing it upfield in the hope of further advancement is a recipe for disaster. If I were a red, I think I would be very worried.

Fredrik, Sweden (01/11/2009 at 12:29)

Apart from the opening 25 minutes, we played really well and created a lot of chances, despite playing without Rio, Vidic, Fletcher and Giggs. And that's the difference between us and Liverpool with their ultra thin squad.

Is it only me who gets more and more impressed by Arsenal? They are now my favourites to win the title.

steve chew, usa (01/11/2009 at 12:48)

First, a win is a win. But after saying that, what I have noticed so far this season is we have lost our 'watchability' factor. We are not as exciting to watch and our offense lack the killer finish like some of those London teams possess. We are still a very good team but your heart does not pump a bit faster when you watch the games anymore. We are becoming a methodical rather than an exciting team. Maybe this is SAF's strategy. Better to win than to play the beautiful game and have no silverware to show for. Can't say that I disagree with this approach but I yearn to see our 'magic' return and MU can play beautiful AND win silverware at the same time.

What do the rest of you think of this analysis?

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