Blackburn Rovers 4 v 3 Manchester United Old Trafford, Manchester
1st February 2006
United were yet again left rueing leaving key players on the bench. Whilst their midfield crisis continues, with this time Rio Ferdinand and Fletcher playing together in the centre of the park.
Vidic and Evra slotted into the back-four, with Brown and Neville trying to keep some kind of consistency and stability across the pitch.
Rooney and Saha were given the task upfront, with Fergie believing that Ruud would benefit from the break, after a crazy 17 games since the start of December. he was wrong to leave the Dutchman on the bench, but in fairness, the team out there should have won comfortably over an average Blackburn side.
Ronaldo was back in the team for the first time in four games (3 were out with suspension,and the last game against Wolves he wasn't needed for), and United were looking threatening.
United dominated the first half, and yet left the field 3-1 down! Bentley was gifted a goal after Vidic played a sloppy ball, and despite Saha equalising with juts five minutes to go, United conceded twice. First Rio headed a ball over the on-rushing van der Sar, leaving Bentley with a tap-in, and then Brown was harshly adjudged to have handled in the box. Neill put the penalty home on the stroke of half-time.
United came out with renewed resilience, and Rooney went close, before Bentley again got lucky after a sneaky flick by Savage.
Van Nistelrooy entered the fray, and his predatory insincts clawed back two goals, but it wasn't to be our day.
Ferdinand was sent off on 88 minutes to add further misery, despite the fact that it had been Blackburn who had been taking the physical side of the game to extremes.
