Man United 2 (Ronaldo 34, 35) Blackburn Rovers 0
Christiano Ronaldo scored 2 goals in a minute to end Blackburn’s chances at Old Trafford. In a spirited display, Mark Hughes’ men had chances to score, but the game was effectively ended when David Dunn was sent off early in the 2nd half for a 2nd bookable offence.
In a week when Ronaldo has been criticised in some quarters for not playing as well this season as last and when United were expected to miss the talented Englishman Wayne Rooney, it was fitting that the Portuguese star should get two goals to both silence the critics and letting United fans think Wayne Who?
Ronaldo’s first was a header direct from a corner. He has always been good in the area and this time Ronaldo was allowed time and space and did not make a mistake, putting the ball firmly in the corner. The second was a typical United counter attack ending when Carlos Tevez played a superb ball across the face of the goal straight to the onrushing winger, who played it back past the Blackburn goalkeeper, Brad Freidal.
Dunn’s sending off was perhaps unfortunate. His 2nd booking was fair, a tackle from behind on Saha, but the first, for tusling with Tevez did not look like a booking. Queiroz seemed to think it may have been for persistent fouling, but the referee usually points around the ground to the various spots where the fouls occurred when doing this, and in this case that was not the case.
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I thought Ronaldo’s first was a classic powerful well directed header and his second showed his speed. Let’s hope he keeps it up whilst Rooney is absent.
Really enjoyable game – much better than the Champions League game on Weds. Atmosphere was better as well and Ferguson paid a huge compliment to Blackburn by selecting his strongest available XI – no doubt. Again, the defence was excellent and the two central midfielders protected and linked up well – but the difference between the two sides was in the two wide man and the front two. Ronaldo and Giggs were sensational. You kind of get the feeling that Ronaldo is a little piqued (pardon the pun)at all the attention to Rooney-Tevez partnership has got recently and on Sunday he said “I’m still here!” to all the world. Saha looked rusty, but he still did more than McCarthy and Santa Cruz. Gamst Pedersen is never good enough to play for United, never was – more importantly – never will be! Ignore the Norwegians who say he is!