Match Report: United 2 - 0 Blackburn
GOALS: Ronaldo (2)
A match played on Remembrance Sunday allowed United to remind everyone that even without the injured Wayne Rooney, they have still not forgotten the way to goal.
The game was over as a spectacle once Blackburn’s David Dunn received his marching orders in the 52nd minute for a second foul. But it was over as a contest before the second half began thanks to a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese winger tormented Blackburn all afternoon and after an opening half hour in which United gradually took control of the proceedings, it was Ronaldo who emphasised the gulf in class between the sides.
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes might have been bored by United’s dismantling of Kiev midweek but he clearly reminded his defenders not to accommodate Sir Alex’s team in the manner of the Ukrainians. However, the visitors erred so much on the side of caution that they sat back and invited United to run at them. Big mistake.
Tevez and Giggs had both troubled the Rovers defence and Samba had struck a United post with a powerful shot, before a Giggs corner in the 33rd minute was met with a bullet header from Ronaldo standing close to the penalty spot. The ball was in the net before Friedel or the Blackburn defender on the line could react.
A minute later, United wrapped up the game with the sort of goal which is fast becoming the team’s trademark. Rio Ferdinand tried to find Tevez on the left flank with a long pass from defence. The ball hit a Blackburn player but was controlled and despatched to its intended target by Louis Saha. The Argentine forward raced towards the Blackburn goal before curling a beautiful pass into the path of Ronaldo, also motoring goalwards from his own half. The pass was stroked home to the stadium’s acclaim.
There was another half to come of measured play by United and some niggly fouls from Blackburn. Ferdinand might have given United the third goal their overall superiority deserved on 82 minutes when his goal-bound shot was well-saved by goalkeeper Friedel.
United finished the afternoon on top of the league and showing the form of champions.
TEAM
EVDS, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Giggs, Anderson, Hargreaves (Carrick 76), Ronaldo, Tevez, Saha (Nani 68)
POST SCRIPT
Sir Alex: “The first half was quite end to end but the decisive moment was a fantastic header from Ronaldo and the second goal killed it. In the second half we were easily in possession of the ball.
“It was a professional performance, we kept possession well and could have scored a couple more goals. But I’m really happy with that result because they are a good side.
“With the front players we’ve got, one is going to produce something on the day we feel - today it was Ronaldo.
“But there was good play from Tevez and Saha and I thought Ryan Giggs was absolutely fantastic - particularly in the second half. Ryan is 34 at the end of month but look at him today and the freshness he showed - he can go on for years yet, he’s a wonderful servant.
“Whenever I play a team managed by one of my former players it crops up. It’s unfair and I’m almost being shoved out of the door quicker than I want to! But I’m fit and healthy and as long as I am I’ll want to carry on.
“The signs are good - it’s an old cliche that you have to win to prove how good you are but we are playing with great imagination and enthusiasm and have individuals who can win games.”
Mark Hughes: “We’re disappointed. I thought we more than held our own in the first half, we created some decent passages of play and had opportunities.
“We were very much in the game in the first half, but we switched off at a set-piece, didn’t mark at a corner and we were 1-0 down.
“We talked about not conceding quickly after a first goal, if it’s going to happen and unfortunately that’s exactly what happened. It also happened in Europe against Larissa and we need to learn from that.
“In the second half, in the first five or six minutes we lose David Dunn to a challenge which is mistimed, but it wasn’t a poor challenge, it wasn’t a violent challenge. He was unlucky to get booked in the first half in my view, and we were harshly done by. In the second half we weren’t able to show what a good team we are.
“We showed glimpses of what we can do in the first half. Unfortunately, the game was taken away from us. We are having a decent season. Today was disappointing, but we go on again.”
