Manchester United vs Blackburn Rovers - Match Preview
Manchester United will be looking to continue their incredible form, having not succumbed to a defeat even once this season. The Red Devils will be steering their focus on to securing the top position in the English Premier League this weekend, having already
defeated Scottish club Rangers during the mid-week UEFA Champions League action, where they secured the top spot in their group and will proceed on to the next knockout round of sixteen.
By defeating Sam Allardyce’s men, Manchester United will be able to sit on the number one position in the Premier League table. They are currently behind leaders Chelsea, who have seen a slump in their form of late, and hang on to the peak by only a goal
difference on six. Carlo Ancelotti’s team will play Newcastle at St. James Park on Sunday, meaning that United may enjoy 24 hours on top of the table, if the Blues beat the Newcastle at their home.
Blackburn will be looking to upset the Red Devils, as they previously had in September of 2005, where the Rovers famously beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s men at Old Trafford in a match which ended 2-1. The statistics show that Blackburn are unlikely to repeat that
feat as they have only won one of their sixteen matches against Manchester United. United’s last sixteen matches at their home stadium have seen them lose only once to title defenders Chelsea and drawing once with Alex McLeish’s West Bromwich Albion. The Rovers
have lost of Manchester United six times in their last eight encounters, the remaining number resulting in draws.
The return of England international Wayne Rooney will certainly be a plus point for the Red Devils as the striker has scored against the Rovers in his past three appearances in the Premier League. All hope is not lost for Allardyce’s men though, as they
have netted two goals in their past four matches, losing only once in those four to in-form team, Tottenham Hotspur.
Blackburn Rovers are fortunate enough to be one from two teams to possess a player who has managed a hat trick against Ferguson’s men. The player in question is David Bentley who scored thrice in a thrilling match in February of 2006, which saw the ending
score placed at 4-3. Despite United’s unbeaten run this campaign, they have conceded twice this season in six Premier League games. This may not seem a bad record in itself, however one must compare it to last season, where United conceded the same amount
during the whole 2009-10 campaign. Blackburn’s Morten Gamst Pederson has scored twice from free kicks this season, making him the only player to have scored more than once since the opening day in the Premier League.
Pederson may not get a chance to add to his record, as Manchester United’s outfield player Rio Ferdinand has been the only footballer this season in his position to not concede a foul in all of his 720 minutes of playing time. Manchester United will be banking
on Rooney, as Dimitar Berbatov, who netted six goals this season during his first five league appearances, has experienced a slump in form and not managed to find the net in his previous seven appearances for the Red Devils, since his hat trick against Hodgson’s
Liverpool.
Manchester United have scored twenty eight points so far, with Blackburn managing only ten less. The Red Devils have won seven and drawn seven of their matches in the Premier League so far, with Blackburn scraping five wins, three draws and six losses. The
Rovers have conceded eighteen goals as compared to United’s fifteen and scored seventeen as opposed to United’s twenty eight.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side will have to make do without Darren Fletcher and Valencia who both sustained ankle injuries. Owen Hargreaves and Michael Owen are also out for the Devils due to injured hamstrings. Sir Alex may not choose to field Paul Scholes owing
to his groin injury.
Sam Allardyce will miss Andrews and Grella who have groin problems. The Rovers' hamstring injury list exceeds to four players; Benjani, Nzonzi, Olsson and Pederson. Gamst Pederson may be available, but the other three have been side lined.
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