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Premier League Preview: Manchester United – Blackburn Rovers
Sam Allardyce's Blackburn get the chance to put a spanner in the works of Manchester United's clean-sheets-and-points-collecting machine - but like others before them, they know it won't be easy...
20-Feb-2009 8:43:03 PM
Kick-Off: Saturday, 21st February 17:30 GMT
Old Trafford, Manchester
What A Roo-Turn
He’d been out of the game with a hamstring injury for five weeks, but it took one touch for Wayne Rooney to get back on the score-sheet for Manchester United.
The Scouser's second half goal put the icing on the cake of a terrific 3-0 victory over Fulham from the team deemed “untouchable” by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger during the week.
On this form it’s hard to disagree with the astute Frenchman. Even before Rooney returned to the fray and stole all the headlines, the Red Devils battered the South West Londoners.
In an ominous sign to Liverpool, Sir Alex Ferguson’s charges finally cut loose in this match. They were a constant threat, and the final goal tally from Paul Scholes, Dimitar Berbatov and Rooney should have been bettered.
The Mancunians have displayed a surprisingly functional side during their 14-game run without conceding, winning eight of these fixtures 1-0.
All the Old Trafford faithful were buoyed by the reappearance of the swagger that has swept United to numerous glories under their Scottish manager.
Sam Allardyce’s Blackburn Rovers are next in the champions’ sights. On this form, the Blue and Whites had better brace themselves for a painful 90 minutes.
Big Sam’s Massive Test
Love him or loathe him, there aren’t many better managers to have in your corner during a relegation scrap than Sam Allardyce.
The former Bolton Wanderers boss has transformed an ailing Blackburn Rovers since he took over from the hapless Paul Ince in December.
Sure, Rovers are still trapped in the drop zone in 18th place, but they’ve been transformed by Big Sam’s methods.
Embarrassing defeats punctuated by amateurish defending have been consigned to the past under his tutelage. From conceding more than two goals a game during the Guv’nor’s time in charge, Rovers now boast a miserly ratio of just 0.85 against since he took up the Ewood Park reins.
Assisted by the retention of Paraguayan hot-shot Roque Santa Cruz in the January transfer window, the Lancastrians should extract themselves from the lower reaches of the Premier League by the end of the season.
Their defensive frugality went out of the window in the FA Cup meeting with Coventry City last weekend, though. A 2-2 draw with the Championship strugglers certainly didn’t bear the Big Sam stamp.
The Midlanders’ goals were fortuitous, but the volume of chances they created will worry Allardyce coming into the meeting with table-topping Manchester United. A repeat performance would spell disaster.
FORM GUIDE
Manchester United:
18th February vs. Fulham (H) won 3-0 (PREM)
15th February vs. Derby County (A) won 4-1 (FA CUP)
8th February vs. West Ham United (A) won 1-0 (PREM)
31st January vs. Everton (H) won 1-0 (PREM)
27th January vs. West Bromwich Albion (A) won 5-0 (PREM)
Blackburn Rovers:
14th February vs. Coventry City (H) drew 2-2 (FA CUP)
7th February vs. Aston Villa (H) lost 2-0 (PREM)
4th February vs. Sunderland (H) won 2-1 (FA CUP)
31st January vs. Middlesbrough (A) drew 0-0 (PREM)
28th January vs. Bolton Wanderers (H) drew 2-2 (PREM)
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United:
Sir Alex Ferguson has declared that Wayne Rooney will start this game after his goal-scoring cameo against Fulham. There are doubts over John O’Shea’s participation (knee).
Anderson (ankle) is still a few weeks away from a first team return, and Owen Hargreaves (knee) is out for the rest of the season.
Last starting XI (vs. Fulham): Van der Sar, O'Shea (Evans 62), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick (Gibson 69), Scholes, Park, Berbatov (Rooney 61), Tevez.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Nani, Rafael Da Silva, Fletcher.
Squad: Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, O'Shea, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Gibson, Scholes, Giggs, Park, Fletcher, Rooney, Berbatov, Tevez, Welbeck.
Possible starting XI: Van Der Sar, Evra, Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Gibson, Giggs, Berbatov, Tevez.
Blackburn Rovers:
Sam Allardyce’s hopes of a shut-out have been dealt a blow by the one-match suspension of Congolese centre back Christopher Samba. Right back Danny Simpson is also ineligible to play as he is on loan from this Saturday’s opponents.
Midfielders Brett Emerton (knee) and Steven Reid (knee) are unavailable until next season.
Last starting XI (vs. Coventry City): Robinson, Simpson, Samba, Khizanishvili, Givet, Villanueva, Dunn (Treacy 71), Tugay (Andrews 65), Warnock, Roque Santa Cruz, Roberts (McCarthy 78).
Subs Not Used: Bunn, Nelsen, Grella, Doran.
Squad: Robinson, Bunn, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Nelsen, Warnock, Givet, Olsson, Dunn, Villanueva, Grella, Tugay, Andrews, Diouf, Pedersen, Treacy, Mokoena, Haworth, Santa Cruz, McCarthy, Roberts.
Possible starting XI: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Pedersen, Grella, Dunn, Diouf, McCarthy, Santa Cruz
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United: Rested for the visit of Fulham, Ryan Giggs will be raring to go. His last Premier League appearance saw him bag the all-important winner against West Ham. If he can continue this form, the groundswell of support for the Welshman to receive the Player of the Year award will grow.
Blackburn Rovers: Manchester United’s record breaking-defence seems impregnable, but David Dunn may hold the key to unlocking it. The tricky Blackburn lad has been excellent since his return from injury. He adds plenty of guile to a functional Rovers midfield. If he can lay on a chance for the Lancastrians' strike-force, they could spring an upset.
PREDICTION
Whenever a side in the relegation zone visits Old Trafford you can’t help but feel that they’re cannon fodder.
Big Sam has changed this perception since he shored up Blackburn Rovers upon his arrival, but it’s impossible to predict anything but another Manchester United victory.
Manchester United 3-0 Blackburn Rovers
Matt Monaghan, Goal.com
Old Trafford, Manchester
What A Roo-Turn
He’d been out of the game with a hamstring injury for five weeks, but it took one touch for Wayne Rooney to get back on the score-sheet for Manchester United.
The Scouser's second half goal put the icing on the cake of a terrific 3-0 victory over Fulham from the team deemed “untouchable” by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger during the week.
On this form it’s hard to disagree with the astute Frenchman. Even before Rooney returned to the fray and stole all the headlines, the Red Devils battered the South West Londoners.
In an ominous sign to Liverpool, Sir Alex Ferguson’s charges finally cut loose in this match. They were a constant threat, and the final goal tally from Paul Scholes, Dimitar Berbatov and Rooney should have been bettered.
The Mancunians have displayed a surprisingly functional side during their 14-game run without conceding, winning eight of these fixtures 1-0.
All the Old Trafford faithful were buoyed by the reappearance of the swagger that has swept United to numerous glories under their Scottish manager.
Sam Allardyce’s Blackburn Rovers are next in the champions’ sights. On this form, the Blue and Whites had better brace themselves for a painful 90 minutes.
Big Sam’s Massive Test
Love him or loathe him, there aren’t many better managers to have in your corner during a relegation scrap than Sam Allardyce.
The former Bolton Wanderers boss has transformed an ailing Blackburn Rovers since he took over from the hapless Paul Ince in December.
Sure, Rovers are still trapped in the drop zone in 18th place, but they’ve been transformed by Big Sam’s methods.
Embarrassing defeats punctuated by amateurish defending have been consigned to the past under his tutelage. From conceding more than two goals a game during the Guv’nor’s time in charge, Rovers now boast a miserly ratio of just 0.85 against since he took up the Ewood Park reins.
Assisted by the retention of Paraguayan hot-shot Roque Santa Cruz in the January transfer window, the Lancastrians should extract themselves from the lower reaches of the Premier League by the end of the season.
Their defensive frugality went out of the window in the FA Cup meeting with Coventry City last weekend, though. A 2-2 draw with the Championship strugglers certainly didn’t bear the Big Sam stamp.
The Midlanders’ goals were fortuitous, but the volume of chances they created will worry Allardyce coming into the meeting with table-topping Manchester United. A repeat performance would spell disaster.
FORM GUIDE
Manchester United:
18th February vs. Fulham (H) won 3-0 (PREM)
15th February vs. Derby County (A) won 4-1 (FA CUP)
8th February vs. West Ham United (A) won 1-0 (PREM)
31st January vs. Everton (H) won 1-0 (PREM)
27th January vs. West Bromwich Albion (A) won 5-0 (PREM)
Blackburn Rovers:
14th February vs. Coventry City (H) drew 2-2 (FA CUP)
7th February vs. Aston Villa (H) lost 2-0 (PREM)
4th February vs. Sunderland (H) won 2-1 (FA CUP)
31st January vs. Middlesbrough (A) drew 0-0 (PREM)
28th January vs. Bolton Wanderers (H) drew 2-2 (PREM)
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United:
Sir Alex Ferguson has declared that Wayne Rooney will start this game after his goal-scoring cameo against Fulham. There are doubts over John O’Shea’s participation (knee).
Anderson (ankle) is still a few weeks away from a first team return, and Owen Hargreaves (knee) is out for the rest of the season.
Last starting XI (vs. Fulham): Van der Sar, O'Shea (Evans 62), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick (Gibson 69), Scholes, Park, Berbatov (Rooney 61), Tevez.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Nani, Rafael Da Silva, Fletcher.
Squad: Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, O'Shea, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Gibson, Scholes, Giggs, Park, Fletcher, Rooney, Berbatov, Tevez, Welbeck.
Possible starting XI: Van Der Sar, Evra, Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Gibson, Giggs, Berbatov, Tevez.
Blackburn Rovers:
Sam Allardyce’s hopes of a shut-out have been dealt a blow by the one-match suspension of Congolese centre back Christopher Samba. Right back Danny Simpson is also ineligible to play as he is on loan from this Saturday’s opponents.
Midfielders Brett Emerton (knee) and Steven Reid (knee) are unavailable until next season.
Last starting XI (vs. Coventry City): Robinson, Simpson, Samba, Khizanishvili, Givet, Villanueva, Dunn (Treacy 71), Tugay (Andrews 65), Warnock, Roque Santa Cruz, Roberts (McCarthy 78).
Subs Not Used: Bunn, Nelsen, Grella, Doran.
Squad: Robinson, Bunn, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Nelsen, Warnock, Givet, Olsson, Dunn, Villanueva, Grella, Tugay, Andrews, Diouf, Pedersen, Treacy, Mokoena, Haworth, Santa Cruz, McCarthy, Roberts.
Possible starting XI: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Pedersen, Grella, Dunn, Diouf, McCarthy, Santa Cruz
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United: Rested for the visit of Fulham, Ryan Giggs will be raring to go. His last Premier League appearance saw him bag the all-important winner against West Ham. If he can continue this form, the groundswell of support for the Welshman to receive the Player of the Year award will grow.
Blackburn Rovers: Manchester United’s record breaking-defence seems impregnable, but David Dunn may hold the key to unlocking it. The tricky Blackburn lad has been excellent since his return from injury. He adds plenty of guile to a functional Rovers midfield. If he can lay on a chance for the Lancastrians' strike-force, they could spring an upset.
PREDICTION
Whenever a side in the relegation zone visits Old Trafford you can’t help but feel that they’re cannon fodder.
Big Sam has changed this perception since he shored up Blackburn Rovers upon his arrival, but it’s impossible to predict anything but another Manchester United victory.
Manchester United 3-0 Blackburn Rovers
Matt Monaghan, Goal.com
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