United Suffer Shock Home Defeat By Blackburn

Manchester United made it an unhappy 70th birthday for manager Sir Alex Ferguson by slipping to a shock 3-2 home defeat to Blackburn Rovers.

After conceding two goals to Yakubu either side of half-time - the first one a penalty - the Reds battled back magnificently to draw level courtesy of a double by Dimitar Berbatov. However, Grant Hanley scrambled a late winner for Rovers against the run of play to ensure the champions finished 2011 on a low note, missing out on the chance to go top of the table.

United's injury problems led to Rafael and Ji-sung Park forming a makeshift central midfield partnership with Michael Carrick continuing in defence. Rovers had problems of their own with David Dunn and Junior Hoillett adding to the list of absentees.

Steve Kean's side didn't start like a team at the foot of the table as they passed the ball around with composure while the Reds started with unusual lethargy. Nani sent a left-footed shot wide and Carrick was squeezed out by Mark Bunn at the near post from a Nani corner but Paul Robinson's deputy in the Blackburn net was rarely troubled.

Disaster struck when awkward customer Chris Samba was felled inside the box as he grappled with Berbatov following a long free-kick by Bunn. Mike Dean had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Yakubu nervelessly sent David De Gea the wrong way to stun Old Trafford with 16 minutes on the clock.

United's response was muted. There was a shout for another penalty when Patrice Evra was sent flying by Radosav Petrovic and man-mountain Samba got his head in the way of a Danny Welbeck drive but the Reds were showing little of the sparkle of the recent fixtures.

Phil Jones was denied a goal against his former club when he met a Nani corner but could only fire against team-mate Javier Hernandez. The Mexican tried to atone with a firm shot from outside the area that flew wide after some fine play by Evra before Nani lashed over after an intricate move inside the box.

Berbatov escaped after another grappling match with Samba at the other end but it was largely one-way traffic and the champions finally started to build a head of steam as half-time approached. Nani, the likeliest source of inspiration, finally extended Bunn with a snap-shot after controlling an Evra cross and the keeper also thwarted Hernandez at his near post as the pressure grew.

Frustrated by some time-wasting antics from the visitors, United played with more fire and the end to the opening 45 minutes at least showed promise of an improved display after the break with Samba hacking over his own bar from another dangerous centre by Nani. Sir Alex introduced Anderson for Hernandez at half-time and reshuffled with Rafael, Nani and Valencia all switching positions.

After Nani had the first effort of the second period, looping a curler over the bar, Rovers doubled their lead with a goal out of nothing. The excellent Yakubu went through Carrick's slide tackle and advanced past Jones to bury a fierce drive under De Gea.

This time, the response was immediate. Rafael drove into the box and fired across goal for Berbatov to steer in a diving header to reduce the arrears and get the crowd on its feet. There is no finer sight in football than Manchester United attacking the Stretford End with gusto and, for the first time in the game, the visitors started to creak.

Bunn kicked away an Evra cross at his near post but was beaten again on 62 minutes when Rafael headed to Valencia and the Ecuadorian, revelling in a return to his familiar right-wing role, sped past a couple of defenders to tee up a firm finish by Berbatov for his second goal of the match and his sixth in three games.

A great run by Rafael led to Berbatov's cross being scrambled away and Jones headed wide from a Valencia cross as the champions attempted to take the lead for the first time in the match. Although Mauro Formica offered a deflcted shot off target at the other end, the Reds had the upper hand and Valencia thrashed a volley over the top when the ball fell to him at the far post.

However, with 10 minutes left, Hanley headed into the air by beating De Gea to a corner and showed enough desire to get the second ball himself through a crowd of players, nodding over the line to the immense frustration of most of the Old Trafford crowd. It was a sloppy goal to concede and it left United with a mountain to climb in the closing stages.

After Berbatov headed a Carrick cross over, a final throw of the dice saw Will Keane introduced for his senior debut in place of Rafael. But there were to be no late heroics and no salvation for the Reds, despite dominating much of the encounter. Keane was denied by a last-ditch Samba tackle and Jones was frustrated by what looked like a combination of Bunn and inadvertently Keane on the line.

Ultimately, the injury problems meant this was one match too many over the festive period and Sir Alex must pick his troops up for the testing trip to Newcastle in midweek.


Shocker: Blackburn got the winner after De Gea was well beaten by Hanley's header