Manchester United last weekend played against Wigan at home- a game that saw the return of Wayne Rooney, two quick-fire red cards for Wigan and a win that sent United to the top of the table alongside Chelsea as they equalled their points tally.
This weekend United faced Blackburn at Old Trafford. United went into this game knowing that Arsenal had just won at Villa and jumped to the top of the league, they also knew that if they won their match they would go top, at least for a day as Chelsea played
their game on Sunday. So you could say that was reason enough to spur the United players on.
Wayne Rooney started his first premier league game since he departed for the Nike Academy in America for recuperation. Dimitar Berbatov also started after extremely poor recent form, he hadn't scored in his past ten games, so Sir Alex Ferguson was obviously
hoping for some revival in the goal scoring stakes from him, but there was no way he could've known what was to come from Berbatov. Nani and Ji-Sung Park also started with Michael Carrick and Anderson in midfield.
And this side was good enough as they smashed seven; yes you read it right, seven past a tame Blackburn side that had absolutely no invention within their ranks. Berbatov scored five and ended his goal drought in emphatic style, now all he needs is the consistency
and attitude to match.
But it wasn't all Berbatov for United, Anderson for one had a brilliant game. He played with such drive and determination that he let nothing get past him, he looked like he'd never tire. And he also assisted when he passed through to Berbatov who for once
tried to square the ball for Rooney but it was blocked by the covering defender, but fortunately for Berbatov the rebound fell straight into his path and he passed the ball into the unguarded net as the goalkeeper had dived forward to intercept his previous
pass.
That’s how Berbatov got his fifth, and he could've had his sixth if it hadn't been for Paul Robinson saving his header. Berbatov became only the fourth player in Premier League history to score five goals in a single league game as Jermain Defoe did it last
year against Wigan, and Andy Carroll and Alan Shearer have done it in the past.
Wayne Rooney and Nani had commendable games as well. Rooney assisted magnificently for United’s second goal scored by Ji-Sung Park. Nani on the other hand assisted for Berbatov's third and scored United’s fourth, a brilliantly taken goal where he dodged
the defender and finished sublimely into the far side of the net with his weaker left foot.
If there was a blemish on this day for United, it was the fact that they couldn't manage to keep a clean sheet. Phil Jones delivered the ball into United box and Christopher Samba rose highest to plant his header in the corner past Edwin Van Der Sar.
It was a blemish but United wouldn't care much. They won, scored seven, got the points and went to the top of the table, pretty decent day at the office by any standards.
Blackburn on the other hand played an abysmally dead game. They just rolled over and let United stomp all over them. They were so bad that Sam Allardyce even had to come out and apologise to the fans, because the showing truly was unforgivable.
It seems United have found the finishing touch at long last, and if they can manage to keep that up then the Premier League trophy may very well end up at the Theatre Of Dreams and that is certainly what Sir Alex Ferguson will look to do.
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