Monday, 2 April 2012

Blackburn v Manchester United - Preview


Blackburn defender Gael Givet is their only doubt, with his recovery from a hamstring problem slower than expected.

Boss Steve Kean has named the same side for the previous three matches, which have brought two wins.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has overcome the back problem that forced him off during last Monday's win over Fulham.

Nani (ankle) is still out, along with Michael Owen, Anderson, Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher.

Victory for United at Ewood Park would extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points after neighbours Manchester City were held to a 3-3 draw by Sunderland on Saturday.

Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson looked like losing his grip on the Premier League title as noisy neighbours City led the Premier League table from mid-October until 11 March, thumping the reigning champions 6-1 at Old Trafford along the way.

But Ferguson's determined Manchester United side - widely considered to be in the collective shadow of City, in terms of sheer talent - went into the most recent round of fixtures three points ahead of them at the top.

Standing in the way of a 10th United win in 11 league matches are a side who were bottom for most of the time that City were top. And the turnaround manager Steve Kean has engineered at Blackburn is perhaps even more admirable than that of his fellow Scot.

Crucial to that 2012 renaissance was a previously unthinkable 3-2 win at Old Trafford on New Year's eve, an improbable result that flooded Rovers players with the belief that they were not certain to be playing in the Championship next season. It also quietened protests from Rovers supporters, many of whom were desperate to see the back of Kean. Not so now, with Blackburn looking good to escape the drop having hauled themselves out of the relegation zone.

But United's current form - especially away from home - is dauntingly ominous. Wayne Rooney has scored 17 goals in his last 17 appearances - and the Red Devils have lost just one of their last 16 Premier League away games (winning 14).

When Blackburn beat United last time out, they scored three goals from three shots on target. That killer instinct might be needed once again if they are to record an unlikely double, and halt another of United's predictably business-like late-season marches.