Source: Team_Talk
United title hopes hit by Rovers draw
Manchester United's Premier League title challenge is all but over after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Blackburn at Ewood Park.[LNB] Despite dominating almost the entire game, Sir Alex Ferguson's men rarely looked like making their pressure tell.[LNB]Paul Robinson needed to make two excellent saves to deny Antonio Valencia before half-time, but afterwards, with United so desperate for the points, the former England number one had surprisingly little to do.[LNB]Not for the first time recently, Dimitar Berbatov was a major disappointment and the fact Rio Ferdinand was feeling his groin towards the end suggested a problem Fabio Capello will not want.[LNB]There are no worries for Chelsea though, who still lead the Red Devils by a point, with a game in hand, knowing the main danger to their championship aspirations now lies much closer to home, at Arsenal.[LNB]Although United had not actually lost their last three games, that is how it felt.[LNB]Even Sir Alex Ferguson spoke in those terms ahead of the clash, a 3-2 win over Bayern Munich apparently not enough to take away the feeling of desolation an away-goals Champions League exit.[LNB]In such circumstances, a rip-roaring response would normally be anticipated, the players sent out to represent Ferguson eager not to let their manager down.[LNB]On this occasion, such urgings fell on deaf ears.[LNB]Although they gradually took control, on a sunny afternoon, the first half took on the air of a pre-season contest.[LNB]On Blackburn's part, the lack of urgency was understandable given their position firmly wedged in mid-table.[LNB]For United it was an altogether different story.[LNB]After all, they are still supposed to be playing for the title.[LNB]Indeed, while it might only be because Chelsea were on FA Cup duty yesterday, the prize for victory was a place at the top of the table.[LNB]Despite their torpor, United should have been in front at the break.[LNB]Valencia was the recipient of both clear-cut chances.[LNB]The first was created by Federico Macheda, making his first Premier League start of the season.[LNB]Valencia charged on to the young Italian's neat pass with purpose and let fly with a powerful effort that was heading for the bottom corner until Paul Robinson made a fine low save.[LNB]Berbatov was the architect of the second.[LNB]Ferguson had little choice other than to declare his trust in the Bulgarian given Wayne Rooney was missing with an ankle injury.[LNB]But it was a largely unhappy afternoon for United's £30.75million record signing, who was reduced to arm-waving and head-shaking as his meaningful contribution until he threaded a pass through to Valencia.[LNB]The South American eagerly latched on to the chance but again Robinson denied him, this time at close quarters.[LNB]As there was no immediate injection of focus or direction after the interval, so Ferguson decided to sacrifice Giggs, who admittedly had been fairly anonymous.[LNB]Outstanding earlier this season, the Welshman has struggled for form since recovering from his broken arm.[LNB]His replacement, Darron Gibson, is at least prepared to shoot, as he proved in midweek.[LNB]The Irishman's aim was a bit askew. But at least he tried as United's season began to crumble around them.[LNB]That Scholes chose to play on as Berbatov was down and apparently injured after a crunching collision with Nelsen seemed to tell its own story about the discontent in the United camp.[LNB]Friction between Edwin van der Sar and Ferdinand would be less easy to understand, although there was a clear lack of communication between the pair as, under no pressure, England's new captain booted a ball out for a corner the keeper was about to collect.[LNB]Berbatov's unhappy afternoon continued when he failed to test Robinson, having been set up by Neville and then fired wide after a long throw from the full-back bounced straight through the Blackburn defence.[LNB]It was almost an epitaph for his entire United career, and when Neville's late scuffed effort rolled wide, the vast travelling support knew their season was destined to end in disappointment.