Blackburn 1 Manchester Utd 1: Rooney holds his nerve to seal record 19th title triumph

15 May 2011 14:37
ShareAt 2.37pm, referee Phil Dowd took the whistle to his lips and a beaming Sir Alex Ferguson was able to make his way on to the Ewood Park pitch to perform his 'uncle at a wedding' celebration reserved for special occasions.[LNB]After a few unco-ordinated but enthusiastic jigs, he shared the love. There was a hug for Mike Phelan, his former player and now trusted assistant. There was a high-five and embrace for Albert Morgan, the long-serving United kit man. [LNB]Ferguson proudly glanced towards his players linking arms near the centre circle and doing their own victory dance for the photographers. To the 69-year-old manager's right, 8,000 United fans in the Darwen End jubilantly chanted 'Are you watching Merseyside?' and passed their banner reading 'Top of the Perch' from side to side. [LNB] Holding his nerve: Wayne Rooney scores from the penalty spot[LNB]Fergie's dream had finally come true. From a starting position in 1986 of being 18-7 behind Liverpool in titlewins, his United team had made history and clinched a record 19th championship. [LNB]As ever with United, they did it the hard way, trailing until the 73rd minute when Wayne Rooney stuck away a controversial penalty. But they got there in the end, as they invariably do. [LNB]'It was along day, Christ,' said Ferguson, who unusually held a post-match pressconference afterwards, perhaps determined his side's stellar achievement should not be overshadowed by Manchester City's FA Cup finalwin. [LNB] Spot on: Rooney celebrates after scoring the equaliser[LNB]MATCH FACTS:Blackburn (4-1-4-1): Robinson; Salgado, Samba (Andrews 77min), P Jones, Givet; Nzonzi; Emerton, Olsson, Hoilett (Pedersen 58), J Jones (Dunn 73); Roberts. Subs (not used): Bunn, Kalinic, Santa Cruz, Benjani. Booked: J Jones,Nzonzi, Salgado.Man Utd (4-4-2): Kuszczak; Fabio (Scholes 62), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans; Carrick, Giggs, Valencia, Nani (Berbatov 80); Rooney, Hernandez. Subs (not used): Amos, Evra, Owen, Anderson, Smalling.Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).[LNB]'Being proud of a 19th title is not anything against Liverpool. It's just important for Manchester United to be the most successful club. That's why this championship is special.' [LNB]United closed out the game in surreal fashion, playing keep-ball with Rovers unwilling to tackle, wanting to retain the point they had rather than aim for three. But what went before was anything but gentle. [LNB]For 73 minutes, this was no title procession despite United requiring just a point. [LNB]Blackburn's ferocious energy and determination went beyond the call of duty even fora team fighting to stay up. And Ferguson's decision to rest Edwin van der Sar and throw in Tomasz Kuszczak in goal backfired. The Pole starteda jittery bag of nerves, and got worse, with Rio Ferdinand having a go at him as he stayed on his line, frozen with fear. [LNB] Are you watching Merseyside? United fans taunt their rivals at Ewood Park[LNB]Kuszczak could have cost United their title party. At fault for Blackburn's goal, he was lucky Martin Olsson hit a post with a free header when he should have made it 2-0. [LNB]But those mistakes did not cost his team once Javier Hernandez tumbled over Paul Robinson and Phil Dowd consulted assistant Andy Halliday before finally giving United a penalty, which Wayne Rooneysmashed home despite admitting he had felt 'terrified' with the responsibility. [LNB]On a day made for history, United started like a throwback. Ferguson pushed wingers Antonio Valencia and Nani so far forward their formation resembled a 4-2-4. Blackburn chased shadows as Rooney pulled the strings Nani hit the crossbar and Hernandez shot narrowly wide. [LNB] Hair-raising: Blackburn's Brett Emerton, left, celebrates with Michel Salgado after opening the scoring[LNB]But Kuszczak gave the home side hope when a series of blunders ended in a goal. His misjudgment allowed Olsson to stop the ball running out for a corner, and when the Dane fired in a low cross for Brett Emerton, he smacked in his first goal of 2011. [LNB]The noisy United fans suddenly fell silent, mouths dry. Their team, cocksure before Blackburn's goal, started to play like Arsenal. At times, it was attack versus defence - except the defence, Blackburn's, include a couple of superheroes. Chris Samba was faultless and muscled Rooney off the ball as if he was the school weed. Phil Jones, a young Englishman ofimmense promise, threw his body in the way of a Ryan Giggs shot. [LNB]As theclock ticked down, you had the feeling this might not be United's day. Ferguson threw on Paul Scholes to add composure to his side but Kuszczaknearly lost it for his side when he froze on the line and Olsson headedagainst the woodwork. [LNB] Take that: Emerton threatened to spoil the party with 20th-minute strike[LNB]Then, as United often do, they found a moment of inspiration to change the game. Giggs, 37 and the only survivor of Ferguson's first title in 1993, released Hernandez. The Mexican's touch took the ball past Robinson and even though it was running out harmlessly for a goal-kick, the keeper's momentum meant he was unable tostop crashing into the United striker. [LNB]Dowd was not sure if Robinson had touched the ball first and postponed awarding the penalty until he had spoken to assistant Andy Halliday. [LNB]Rooney put 12 months of pent-up frustration into his penalty and even though Robinson dived the wrong way, a hundred goalkeepers would not have stopped it. [LNB] Celebrations: Rio Ferdinand, John O'Shea and Paul Scholes enjoy the moment[LNB]After that, Roversdid not get a kick in added time as they settled for a draw, perhaps unaware relegation rivals Wolves and Blackpool were winning. [LNB]'We kept our composure at the end. Scholes was magnificent,' said Ferguson.[LNB] A record 19th title is in the bag. United are officially the most successful team in English history. They are top of the perch.[LNB] 19th title: Sir Alex Ferguson revels in the glory[LNB] Blackburn v Manchester United: The action as it happenedUnited set to reward Hernandez with new deal in bid to warn off suitorsScorchio! Stam reveals painful prank which backfired on Schmeichel[LNB] [LNB]  Explore more:People: Wayne Rooney, Paul Robinson, Martin Olsson, Alex Ferguson, Rio Ferdinand, Edwin Van Der Sar, Nani, Mike Phelan, Antonio Valencia Places: Liverpool

Source: Daily_Mail