The crushing defeat to Liverpool now a wound from the past, Manchester United now turn their attention to Sam Allardyce’s Blackburn Rovers in the latest round of Premier League matches on Saturday. United will look to put their title defence back on track against a Blackburn side that really struggles away from home. Last time around, Blackburn were whipped 5-0 by a rampant Chelsea side putting up a performance that their manager called ‘pathetic’. However, such is the nature of our performances this season that it is difficult to feel all confident before any match. This season, uncharacteristically, we have struggled against lower-ranked opposition at home with two narrow and unconvincing wins over Bolton and Birmingham apart from a 2-2 draw with Sunderland all we have got to show for. So take my word for it. Against an organized Blackburn side, it is going to be difficult for us.
The task has been made all the more difficult by the news that both Rio and Vida are doubtful for the match. While both of them have been plagued by bad form this season, a home match against Blackburn would have been an ideal opportunity for both to rekindle their on-field prowess. Instead, it is the pair of Evans-Brown who will get an opportunity to show the gaffer that they are more than able claimants for the first-team slots in defence. As for our midfield, the talismanic Darren Fletcher is still out with a groin injury but more importantly should be back for the big one at Stamford Bridge next week. Park Ji Sung’s knee injury has been aggravated and he looks set to miss another couple of weeks. Ryan Giggs has been classified as a doubt but seeing as he completed a full ninety minutes against Liverpool last week, it looks like Nani will get another run-out to prove his mettle. With Obertan’s return to fitness and form, the chances are running out for Nani. Valencia, on the other hand (or rather flank), is going from strength to strength and will almost surely keep his place in the line-up. Michael Owen has staked his claim for a slot in the starting XI by scoring a fabulous goal in the midweek Carling Cup game against Barnsley. Rooney is likely to start after having recovered from his injury fully which would mean a place on the bench for Berbatov.
Meanwhile, Blackburn are reeling under the effects of swine-flu with both Christopher Samba and Jason Roberts ruled out. David Dunn has recovered though and did play a part in their midweek Carling Cup tie. Pascal Chimbonda (calf) and Vince Grella (thigh) look likely to join Roberts on the sidelines so Michel Salgado should continue at right-back.
Sir Alex has predicted a tough fight against Big Sam’s Blackburn and has said that he was extremely impressed by their performance in the 3-2 win over Burnley.
“I saw them recently against Burnley and they played really well in that game. They have always been difficult to beat at Blackburn and I think Sam has built a different team from Mark Hughes’ Blackburn. Quite a few decent players have left like David Bentley and Stephen Warnock and Sam has had to pick up the thread of what was left and replacing players of that quality was not easy.”
Sir Ryan Giggs has expressed his disappointment at United’s limp performance at Anfield and has set his sights on Blackburn now.
“We just didn’t turn up. That is one game you don’t want to lose, against Liverpool at Anfield. We could still have won the match, because we had some chances. But whoever scores the first goal, it is very difficult to claw that lead back. It was disappointing we did not perform as well as we can. But we had a good win against Barnsley. Now we want to get back on track in the league. “With Sam Allardyce as manager, you know they are going to be tough and will be organised. You know you have got to perform.”
Only a convincing victory is an acceptable result tonight and let’s just hope that United rest all talks of a crisis beyond them with an emphatic performance against Blackburn.
Prediction: 3-1 to United
