Saturday December 31, 2011 Day 19 Finished Old Trafford

Manchester United 2 - 3 Blackburn Rovers

  • Berbatov 52’, 62’
  • Aiyegbeni 16’ (pen.), 51’
  • Hanley 80’

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  1. Blackburn claim famous win over United

    Blackburn claim famous win over United

    Underfire Steve Kean celebrated a famous victory after Blackburn stunned Manchester United with a 3-2 Premier League victory at Old Trafford More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Manchester United
    • Blackburn Rovers
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • 90+4' The full-time whistle goes at Old Trafford and underfire Steve Kean is left to celebrate a famous victory at Old Trafford as his Blackburn side claim a stunning 3-2 victory over Manchester United - what a remarkable performance! Thanks for joining us.
    • 90+2' De Gea lumps a long ball upfield, but it's all too slow from United and Blackburn defend stoutly.
    • 90+1' There will be four added minutes at Old Trafford, and United are running out of ideas in attack as Blackburn continue to battle hard.
    • 89' Kean makes his final change as Yakubu comes off and young Jordan Slew makes his entrance.
    • 88' Blackburn make a change as Formica is replaced by Scotland international Goodwillie.
    • 87' The Old Trafford crowd have been left stunned this afternoon, and Blackburn keep the ball on halfway with a slender lead.
    • 85' United make another change as Rafael goes off, and 18-year-old Will Keane comes on.
    • 83' It's desperate stuff at Old Trafford as the hosts frantically launch attack after attack in search of an equaliser after going 3-2 down!
    • 82' Yakubu is causing havoc in the final third, and he turns Jones superbly before firing a tame shot wide!
    • 81' GOAL!!!!! HANLEY SCORES FOR ROVERS! Blackburn are in front once more, and it is shocking goalkeeping from De Gea! Hanley first beats De Gea to Pedersen's corner, then heads for a second time into an empty net!
    • 80' Henley produces a rampaging run down the left and skips past Carrick, with Jones having to cut across to clear.
    • 79' United build from the back once more, but Blackburn are very dogged in defence and clear through Samba once more.
    • 78' Evra races on to meet a through ball from Jones, but he cannot produce a good cut back to Valencia and the opening is wasted.
    • 77' Welbeck chases a long ball once more, but Bunn watches it out and takes his time over the resulting goal kick.
    • 76' Samba does very well to shepherd the ball out of play as a deep delivery looks to pick out Berbatov.
    • 75' Valencia fires over! A deep cross from Nani drifts to the back post where Valencia is lurking, but he shoots high and wide!
    • 73' United go back on the attack, and Nani is at the centre of everything for the hosts.
    • 72' What a chance! Hanley beats De Gea to Pedersen's corner, but his glancing header drifts just wide!
    • 71' Evra scoots down the left and whips over a decent cross, but there is no one inside the box to meet it.
    • 70' Bunn lumps a long ball upfield to Pedersen, and Blackburn are playing pretty fearlessly - it's very good to watch!
    • 69' Blackburn keep the ball effectively inside the United half, and Morris does well to test Rafael down the left but without reward.
    • 67' Yakubu continues to look very dangerous, and he picks up the ball from deep and runs at Carrick, who again looks vulnerable.
    • 66' It's pretty desperate defending now from the visitors are United pile forward in their droves.
    • 65' Nani wins a corner for his side with a dinked delivery to the back post, and Henley has to turn the ball behind.
    • 63' What a change in the atmosphere as the anxiety around Old Trafford is lifted, and suddenly the home fans are buoyant.
    • 62' GOAL!!!!! BERBATOV LEVELS! Valencia zips past Henley down the right and cuts the ball back to Berbatov, who keeps his composure and side-foots the ball beyond Bunn to score his sixth goal in five games!
    • 60' Rovers have kept just one clean sheet in their last 28 Premier League away games.
    • 58' Morris dispossesses Berbatov and finds Yakubu with real composure out on the left.
    • 57' Petrovic is booked for a series of niggly fouls, the last being on Anderson on halfway.
    • 56' Manchester United have won 35 and lost just two of their last 39 Premier League matches at Old Trafford.
    • 55' Rochina departs very slowly as Kean replaces the midfielder with Josh Morris. /// Daniel Marshall believes United will win, while Chris McAuliffe thinks the hosts will score four.
    • 54' The crowd are suddenly in full voice and the atmosphere has become pretty electric after the two goals in successive minutes.
    • 53' Phew, what a remarkable few minutes as both sides score, and Blackburn continue to lead by a slender one-goal advantage!
    • 52' GOAL!!!!! BERBATOV GETS ONE BACK! It's a sudden response from United straight from kick off as Rafael finds Valencia, whose cross is not cleared by Nzonzi, and Berbatov finishes clinically!
    • 51' GOAL!!!!! YAKUBU DOUBLES HIS TALLY! It's from a throw in from Nzonzi as the ball breaks loose to Yakubu, who powers through feeble challenges from Carrick and Rafael before drilling a low shot beyond De Gea!
    • 50' Right, so Anderson has dropped into central midfield. Nani has shifted out to the left and Welbeck is in attack with Berbatov.
    • 49' Lowe takes out Nani on the edge of the box, and he is promptly booked for the infringement.
    • 48' Joshy Bull thinks United are badly missing Rooney, while Josh Meredith believes United will win 2-1. Jim Chapman is going for 3-1 to United, but Finn Watson thinks Blackburn will win. Oscargbo believes United will have to settle for a draw, and Manny agrees, predicting a 1-1 finish.
    • 47' Anderson has replaced Hernandez, and there is very little experience for Ferguson to draw upon from his bench.
    • 46' The second half is underway at Old Trafford, and United will have to improve considerably if they are to take control of this match.
    • 45+3' The half-time whistle goes at Old Trafford, and Blackburn lead Manchester United 1-0 courtesy of Yakubu's penalty in the 16th minute! It's an astonishing scoreline as United have dominated the possession, but the hosts have lacked conviction and pace in the final third. What are your revised predictions for this match? Get in touch and let me know...
    • 45+2' Rochina breaks down the right on the counter attack before being dispossessed by Carrick as United resume their attack.
    • 45+1' The first of three added minutes sees Samba make a fine intervention inside the Rovers box to clear a cross from Nani.
    • 45' Bunn makes another fine save as Hernandez fires a shot on target from close range, albeit an acute angle out on the right, and Rovers are hanging on.
    • 44' Evra swings over another cross from the left, before Nani draws a fine save from Bunn to his left as the winger plants a snap shot on target from inside the Rovers box!
    • 43' Blackburn are defending stoutly, and United's build up play is far too sluggish and pedestrian to test the visitors.
    • 42' Rochina is looking very bright for Blackburn as he jinks inside two challenges and fires wide from 25 yards.
    • 41' Park whips over a superb cross from the left as the ball hangs in the air inviting a header, but Lowe manages to clear.
    • 40' Nani goes down clutching his ankle as he proceeds to roll out of play and receive treatment. It all looks very theatrical, but within seconds he is back on the field.
    • 39' United keep possession in the Blackburn half, but the visitors look more and more comfortable at the back after a very dodgy start.
    • 38' Blackburn have won just one of their last 18 Premier League away games (W1 D7 L10).
    • 37' Again, there are huge appeals from the visitors as Berbatov tugs at Samba, and he is looking a real liability defending set pieces inside the United box.
    • 36' Nani makes space for himself 25 yards out, but the execution of his shot is very poor as he slices it high and wide.
    • 35' Bunn is booed as he dallies over a goal kick, but Blackburn are understandably attempting to consolidate their early lead.
    • 34' Park receives the ball again on the edge of the Blackburn half, but he is harried superbly by Henley and Blackburn clear.
    • 33' Pedersen whips over a fine delivery from a corner out on the left, but Samba's header is poor after rising above Berbatov again - why is the Bulgarian having to mark him?
    • 32' Welbeck attempts a slick one-two with Hernandez, before the ball breaks loose to Nani who drives a shot wide.
    • 31' It's all very slow and patient from United as the hosts remain camped inside the Blackburn half, but unable to force a breakthrough.
    • 30' Formica is afforded an incredible amount of time and space on the edge of the United box, and eventually he shoots with the ball drifting just wide!
    • 29' Hernandez goes close with a sharp turn to evade Samba, and a fierce drive which fizzes narrowly wide of the far post!
    • 28' Man Utd are the only team in the Premier League to have scored in every Premier League game this season.
    • 27' What a block from Hanley! Jones sees a shot blocked from close range as he very nearly scores against his former club, but Grant Hanley gets in the way of the shot!
    • 26' Rochina attempts an absurd - no, make that ridiculous - shot from just inside the United half as Blackburn launch a counter attack, but it's a very tame effort.
    • 25' Carrick is booked for a late challenge on Formica, and this is very scrappy from United, despite all their possession.
    • 24' Nani wins a free kick out on the right, and Ferguson is already venting his fury at the referee. The tempo is far too sluggish.
    • 23' Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League games against Blackburn, winning seven.
    • 22' Rafael finds Welbeck out on the left with a delightful raking ball, before Evra goes down inside the Blackburn box, only for the referee to wave the hosts' appeals away.
    • 21' Jones is awarded a free kick as he collides with Yakubu, and the striker did not really do anything there.
    • 20' Evra gets down the right and dinks over a precise delivery into the box, but Hernandez cannot quite get enough purchase on the header. Nani's earlier free kick was a backheel to Jones, who dragged his shot into the Blackburn wall.
    • 19' United have a free kick in a very dangerous position now as Nzonzi hauls over Hernandez, and Nani is the man to stand over it.
    • 18' You could argue that Samba fouled Berbatov before he had his shirt pulled, but there was no mistake from Yakubu. Totally against the run of play though.
    • 17' Rovers have dropped more points from winning positions than any other team in the Premier League this season (14).
    • 16' GOAL!!!!! YAKUBU PUTS IT AWAY! It's a phenomenal start for Blackburn, who go in front with pretty much their first foray into the United half! Yakubu coolly sends De Gea the wrong way, and the Old Trafford crowd is stunned!
    • 15' PENALTY TO BLACKBURN! Would you believe it? Berbatov tugs down Samba inside the box, and Yakubu will take it....
    • 14' Evra is given a stern talking to by the referee as he fouls Formica with a late trip after squandering possession.
    • 13' Valencia and Rafael combine to good effect down the right, before the winger wins a corner at the right byline. It's all United.
    • 12' To compound Nani's embarrassment over that free kick, he is booked for fouling Yakubu as the forward looks to break clear.
    • 11' Nani attempts to play a free kick short to Park, and that is a hopeless and embarrassing attempt which Nzonzi comfortably intercepts.
    • 10' Blackburn are being completely overrun in midfield, and United are able to get at the Rovers back four with consummate ease at the moment.
    • 9' Since conceding six against Man City, United have shipped just two goals in the last nine matches and kept seven clean sheets.
    • 8' Valencia sprints down the right at pace and finds Welbeck, but his shot drifts wide. United are thriving now, and playing at a good tempo.
    • 7' Nani links the play superbly as Evra rampages down the left at pace, before a return pass sees the winger blast a wild shot wide.
    • 6' United are dominating the possession now, and Welbeck almost picks out Nani in the six yard box with a cut back from the right byline.
    • 5' Jones lunges in rather recklessly on Formica, but it's not even a booking as the referee gives him a brief talking to.
    • 4' Nani whips over a testing corner from the right, but Petrovic manages to head clear under pressure from Jones.
    • 3' It's a fairly subdued atmosphere at the moment at Old Trafford, and the choir's rendition of Happy Birthday in tribute to Sir Alex appears to have altered the mood somewhat.
    • 2' Welbeck breaks incisively from deep before finding Nani outwide on the right, but his cross is too deep and the ball runs out of play.
    • 1' The first half is underway, and Blackburn enjoy a good spell of possession in their own half, with the visitors in their yellow and black change strip.
    • 12:45 We're moments from kick-off now, and OntyBoy has got in touch to predict that the in form Dimitar Berbatov will bag a brace for United. What do others think? Themle6 thinks United will win 5-0.
    • 12:40 Right, it's time for you all to post your pre-match predictions ahead of kick-off. What do you think the scoreline will be today? Who will get on the scoresheet? Get in touch and let me know...
    • 12:35 Blackburn are missing injured duo David Dunn and Junior Hoilett from the side that drew at Liverpool on Boxing Day, but they will be hoping for a similar result at Old Trafford. Can they do it?
    • 12:30 The Manchester United manager reaches the age of 70, and when he takes to the touchline he will immediately join a relatively exclusive group of managers and trainers who have continued to work into their eighth decade. In honour of Fergie's birthday, we take a look at seven other veterans who stayed involved in sport after 70, and how they fared. Full feature
    • 12:25 THE TEAMS ARE IN! Man Utd: 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
    • 12:20 Sir Alex Ferguson intends to remain as Manchester United manager for another three years if his health remains good. Ferguson celebrated his 70th birthday, has confirmed his intention to remain in his job for a period of time that would make him the Premier League's oldest manager. "I hope I have a long time left," he said. "As long as my health stays up, I would hope to have another three years at the club." Read more
    • 12:15 Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov were partnered together in attack by Ferguson, who celebrates his 70th birthday today. Rafael and Phil Jones were back in defence after injury and there was also a place on the bench for Anderson, who has not featured since the beginning of November, as United took on a Blackburn team lacking injured duo David Dunn and Junior Hoilett from the side that drew at Liverpool on Boxing Day.
    • 12:10 Wayne Rooney has scored in four of his last five Premier League games against Blackburn, the exception being their 7-1 win over Rovers at Old Trafford last season, but he is not even named on the bench today!
    • 12:05 Sir Alex Ferguson: "We are at home. We will have the majority of the ball. We have to make sure we are positive when we have it and do enough to win. The pressure on managers in the game today is enormous. In the case of Steve Kean, when the supporters react in that way, you say there is something wrong with society. If he gets poor results, he knows he can lose his job. There has to be a better way of doing it."
    • 12:00 Steve Kean: "Ideally we wouldn't want to rely too much on the young players. But that is what we have got at the moment. We have so many senior players out injured, the young lads are getting their opportunity earlier than they would have normally. The positive is that they have seized the opportunity. You have to grow up fast when you are out on the pitch and the Premier League games are coming round so quickly but they have acquitted themselves very well."
    • 11:55 Manager Sir Alex Ferguson must once again contend with massive defensive problems as Jonny Evans (calf) has joined Nemanja Vidic (knee), Chris Smalling (tonsillitis) and Fabio (hamstring) on the sidelines. Phil Jones (illness) and Rio Ferdinand (back) only have an outside chance of being involved, which might mean Michael Carrick partnering Patrice Evra in central defence, with Antonio Valencia at right-back.
    • 11:50 Martin Olsson is hoping to make his long-awaited Blackburn comeback. The Swede has featured just once for Steve Kean's men since November 5 after suffering a hamstring injury but could ease a major injury crisis for the Lancashire outfit. David Dunn and Junior Hoilett (both hamstring) face late tests but goalkeeper Paul Robinson (calf) is amongst seven senior players definitely out, as is Gael Givet, even though the Frenchman has returned to training following a minor heart procedure.
    • 11:45 Welcome to LIVE text coverage of Manchester United's Premier League clash with Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford. Beleaguered Steve Kean will be pleased to be away from Ewood Park, but a trip to face United does not represent an easy afternoon.

  • Summary

    • 82' Yakubu is causing havoc in the final third, and he turns Jones superbly before firing a tame shot wide!
    • 81' GOAL!!!!! HANLEY SCORES FOR ROVERS! Blackburn are in front once more, and it is shocking goalkeeping from De Gea! Hanley first beats De Gea to Pedersen's corner, then heads for a second time into an empty net!
    • 72' What a chance! Hanley beats De Gea to Pedersen's corner, but his glancing header drifts just wide!
    • 62' GOAL!!!!! BERBATOV LEVELS! Valencia zips past Henley down the right and cuts the ball back to Berbatov, who keeps his composure and side-foots the ball beyond Bunn to score his sixth goal in five games!
    • 52' GOAL!!!!! BERBATOV GETS ONE BACK! It's a sudden response from United straight from kick off as Rafael finds Valencia, whose cross is not cleared by Nzonzi, and Berbatov finishes clinically!
    • 51' GOAL!!!!! YAKUBU DOUBLES HIS TALLY! It's from a throw in from Nzonzi as the ball breaks loose to Yakubu, who powers through feeble challenges from Carrick and Rafael before drilling a low shot beyond De Gea!
    • 44' Evra swings over another cross from the left, before Nani draws a fine save from Bunn to his left as the winger plants a snap shot on target from inside the Rovers box!
    • 29' Hernandez goes close with a sharp turn to evade Samba, and a fierce drive which fizzes narrowly wide of the far post!
    • 27' What a block from Hanley! Jones sees a shot blocked from close range as he very nearly scores against his former club, but Grant Hanley gets in the way of the shot!
    • 16' GOAL!!!!! YAKUBU PUTS IT AWAY! It's a phenomenal start for Blackburn, who go in front with pretty much their first foray into the United half! Yakubu coolly sends De Gea the wrong way, and the Old Trafford crowd is stunned!
    • 15' PENALTY TO BLACKBURN! Would you believe it? Berbatov tugs down Samba inside the box, and Yakubu will take it....
    • 12:25 THE TEAMS ARE IN! Man Utd: 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

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      3.7 5
      Defenders
      5.5 7
      Yellow Card 4.1 5
      4.6 6
      4.4 6
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out85′ 4.1 6
      4.4 5
      Yellow Card 4.7 5
      3.9 6
      Strikers
      Substitution Out45′ 4.2 5
      Goals ×2 6.7 8
      Subs
      Substitution In45′ 4.1 6
      Substitution In85′ 3.3 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.5 8
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 6.8 7
      7.5 8
      Goal 7.3 8
      6.7 7
      Midfielders
      6.7 7
      Yellow Card 7.1 7
      Substitution Out55′ 6.6 7
      Strikers
      Substitution Out85′ 6.9 7
      6.8 7
      Goals ×2 Substitution Out90′ 8.1 8
      Subs
      Substitution In85′ 6.3 6
      Substitution In55′ 6.5 7
      Substitution In90′ 5.8 6

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