Blackburn Rovers 0 Manchester United 0: match report

Dimitar Berbatov once again failed to produce for Manchester United as the champions all but handed the title to Chelsea with a dismal draw at Blackburn Rovers. Berbatov, playing as the lone striker for United in the absence of the injured Wayne Rooney, missed two clear chances as Sir Alex Ferguson's team continued their disastrous run of form. With Chelsea now one point clear of United and with a game in hand, the Premier League title now appears destined for Stamford Bridge. Having spoken of the need for freshness following Wednesday's Champions League elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich, Ferguson made six changes to his starting line-up for the trip. Out went Darren Fletcher, Patrice Evra, Rafael da Silva, Darron Gibson and the injured Rooney. Michael Carrick, poor against the Germans, failed to even make the bench. But despite the wholesale changes, United struggled to dominate a Blackburn team that had already taken points off Chelsea and Liverpool at Ewood Park this season. So unimpressive were the champions in the first-half that they had to wait until the 24th minute before they even threatened Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson. Prior to that, Blackburn defender Chris Samba had gone close to putting the home side ahead with a far post header from Vince Grella's seventh minute cross. On a bobbly pitch, United laboured in midfield and their chances were half-chances at best until Berbatov released Antonio Valencia with a sublime pass on 43 minutes. Berbatov had endured a hugely frustrating afternoon until that point, but his pass was top-class as he picked out the Ecuadorian winger inside the penalty box. Yet with only Robinson to beat, Valencia shot straight at the goalkeeper, who used his legs to save the strike. United knew that only a victory would keep their title hopes alive, so their dismal performance was all the more bewildering. Former England goalkeeper Robinson was largely under-worked by a United team who were painfully lacking creativity without the sidelined Rooney. Berbatov, who played as though shorn of any confidence, was handed a half-chance to put United ahead on 66 minutes when a loose ball dropped to his feet 12 yards from goal. The Bulgarian had little time to ready himself, however, and his left foot shot was blocked by Blackburn defender Phil Jones. At £30.75m, Berbatov has done little to justify his club record transfer fee. The effort is there, but the inspiration isn't. And his awful day was rounded off on 79 minutes when, after being freed by Neville's header, he directed another volley into Robinson's arms.

Source: Telegraph