Wayne Rooney will make his first Old Trafford start in more than a month as Manchester United chase first place in the Premier League. The striker, who Thursday made a half-hearted apology to United supporters, is yet to score a goal in open play this season. Elsewhere manager Sir Alex Ferguson faces midfield selection problems .
Ferguson is without Darren Fletcher, who has a sore ankle, and Paul Scholes, absent with a tweaked a groin muscle sustained in midweek, for Blackburn Rovers’ visit where victory could catapult United to the Premier League summit. United remains second only on goal difference, with Chelsea set to play on Sunday.
The race for the league title now begins in earnest, with the Rooney saga now all but over. Indeed, Rooney could be key in securing United leadership before the New Year with Chelsea faltering in recent weeks.
“He needs games,” said Ferguson of Rooney.
“The way we are going to do that is to keep him on the pitch for 90 minutes. That will continue now as we try to get him to his level. He is rusty, that is obvious, but it is a start for him.
“Playing is the name of the game for him now.”
The absentees in midfield could mean a start for Anderson, who has been rarely used this season due to poor form, fitness and a recent illness. The Brazilian overcame knee-ligament damage sustained in February but suffered with the ‘flu virus that swept the United camp over the past fortnight.
Elsewhere United can welcome back first choice central defensive pairing Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic after Ferguson rested the duo for the visit to Scotland,, with Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling dropping to the bench.
Ryan Giggs may also find himself benched after completing the full 90 minutes at Ibrox on Wednesday night.
The focus remains on Rooney though after the 25-year-old scored the match-winning penalty against Rangers. Ferguson praised Rooney’s “courage” in stroking home the 87th minute spot-kick and is likely to offer the former Evertonian another 90 minutes against Blackburn.
However, Rooney’s apology to United fans on Thursday has not received universal acceptance, coming 22 days after the striker signed a lavish £180,000 per week contract with the club. Rooney claimed to have already apologised – which he had not – before offering a somewhat half-hearted statement.
“I feel like I have apologised to the fans, but everyone keeps saying that I haven’t and, if that is the case, then I apologise for my side of things.
“I have made my point clear since I signed my contract that I am committed to this club for the long term and I want to be successful with this club. I spoke with the manager and [the chief executive] David Gill and they reassured me the club was moving forward and, from that point, it took only two or three hours to negotiate my contract and sign it.
“Everyone is saying that I was definitely going to Man City. Believe me, if I had gone it wouldn’t have been in England.”
However, the striker’s statement contradicts the widely held view that Rooney was prepared to accept a £260,000 per week offer from cross-town neighbours Manchester City before bowing to media and supporter pressuring and inking a new deal at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce is missing several key players for the short trip to Old Trafford. Keith Andrews, Vince Grella, Benjani, Steven Nzonzi, Martin Olsson and Brett Emerton all miss the match through injury, while Mame Diouf is ineligible to play against his parent club.
Blackburn has not beaten United since the 4-3 victory at Ewood Park in February 2006 – a run of nine matches. United, with Rooney seeking a first goal in open play this season, has little intention of letting that
run end today.
Opposition
Blackburn – 451 – Robinson; Samba, Givet, Nelsen, Salgado; Dunn, Pedersen, Goulon, Hoilett, Diouf; Roberts. Subs from: Chimbonda, Jones, Bunn, Hanley, Morris, Kalinic, Hanley, Doran.
United
United – 442 – van der Sar; Rafael da Silva, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra; Nani, Anderson, Carrick, Park – Rooney, Berbatov. Subs from: Kuzszazk, Amos, Fabio da Silva, Evans, Smalling, O’Shea, Brown, Gibson, Obertan, Bébé, Giggs, Hernández, Macheda.
Officials
Referee: Lee Probert
Assistant referees: Patrick Keane & Trevor Massey
Fourth official: Chris Foy
Form
United – WDDWWW
Blackburn – WLWWLL
rooney is full of shit because he is essentially a misguided, misadvised thick cunt
HOWEVER, we need him and need to embrace him back with open arms. forgive but don’t forget and we will all forget if he goes on now to drag us towards a trophy or two.
he can make a difference – a massive difference. with nani displaying more consistent displays of world class ability, and hernandez having that golden knack of scoring, there is more to be positive about.
prediction; 2-0 United.
I would prefer to have Hernandez playing alongside Rooney instead of Berba.
Instead of Park, we could put Rooney in that position and put Chicha in Rooney’s. Fuck, we desperately need a few good midfielders…
1:1
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Anderson, Park, Berbatov, Rooney.
Subs: Kuszczak, Giggs, Hernandez, O’Shea, Evans, Fletcher, Obertan
Carrick and Anderson will be interesting
VDS
Rafael / Rio / Vidic / Evra
Nani / Anderson / Carrick / Park
Rooney / Berbatov
Another great lineup.
fucking hell
berbs scores………..
Get in
This could be the first good performance of the season
come on reds
focus and wipe the floor with them
parkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
fucking useless
Class move, nice finish
We’re playing soem decent football with Rooney back
shrek has 2 assists
go and get a goal as well
Fucking Berba
Top draw
porn star is back……….
3-0
fucking hell
blown them away thus far
go get a few more for the goal difference
link?
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=95555&part=sports
Carrick doing a good job of sniffing out danger and playing it cool
Berba’s enjoying his football today.
well he should enjoy his football more often……miserable sod
Nani…ffs… pass the fuckin ball…
That’s a fucking penalty
Berbs hattrick
five!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a move
Berba is an amazing footballer
Get innnnnnn
Fuckin hell… best football we’ve played in a long time…
Beautiful…
am spunking up as we speak……….
Anderson’s ball to Nani was class in glass
Berbs has his hat trick… now watch him do his best to set up Rooney.
love to see shrek get a couple
even though i still think he is a cunt
he is a “united” cunt…….
Nani ffs… one touch tto many.
Rooney is back in the fans favour…
can the porn star get a 4th?
It’ll be good if we keep another clean sheet as well…
yes he cannnnnnnnnn
My balls are drained to the max.
4 for Berbs…
Berbaaaa
if he gets 5 he will equal andy coles tally against ipswich 15 years ago…
I think Rafa is going to be the best right back we’ve had in a long time… brilliant forward play.
i see my spunking analogy has been taken up……………..
can we jezz all over them and get a 7th?
Got to get one for Rooney…
according to the stats united have had 6 shots on target and scored 6 times…….
five for Berbs!!!!
Berba gets 5
Fuck sake… why didn’t I keep Berbs in my fantasy team?
The defending was just fucking shocking
fucking hell
i dont belieeeeeeeeeeeeve this
berba on 5
omg
Why can’t this Anderson show up every week. Get rid if the imposter
i owe the bulgarian an apology for the past few weeks
he has been awesome today
I think the record could go here…
“Attack attack attack” United fans
My cock is absolutely shot at! My bellend looks like someone has been chopping wood on it!
can we rack up a few more goals?
this score will send a fucking earthquake over to the rent boys
Just for the record. No one player has ever scored 6 goals in a prem game.
FC United still 1-0 in the Cup, so a game against United in the third round is a possibility
has the foot come off the gas…
haven’t scored in the last 10 mins…
Nice rendition of Viva Ronaldo
come on reds
1 more
rooney please
Absolute cunts
bugger
city fucks 1 up
FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
how the fuck did black burn score
fuckers
Let’s hope we can hang on for another 5 minutes
come on united
bugger them with an 8th
I wanted the clean sheet for my fantasy team Sid… I’m having a brutal season…
In other good news, Cleverly and Welbeck have scored. That’s a good run of goals Welbeck’s putting together.
But what do we do with a player like Berba? 10 scoreless games and then 5 in 1. He’s got a 11 goals for 11 games started now.
So close from Berba
Wicked ball in from Rooney
The Bitters have blown it… 1-1…
Performance of the season
Thought it might be after the early goal
Stoke equalise 1-1
brilliant game
blackburn were shite but considering they had won 4 out of the previous 5 games, united made them look awful
shame about the late goal going in but berbatov looked all of a 30 million pound player today
hope this will do his confidence the boost he needed
brighton bum bandits just missed a pen
great performance, why cant berba do that every week, fc united drew 1-1
hi han, cant wait to see match of the day.
hey mad red
where u been hiding?
missed a blinder from the guys
work as usual, never mind as long as we win, were we that good or were rovers shite
the whole team was fantastic, top notch.
berbatov worked very hard against rangers, and the same today. the goal with which he scored his hattrick was exceptional. he won the ball in defence, made a backheel to evra, got it back, swept a super cross field pass to nani and was in the penalty area to finish.
if obertan had scored, that would’ve been one of the goals of the season. 10 seconds from 1 penalty area to the other.
every single player was great, except johnny evans, poor guy.
anyway, welbeck scored again although sunderland lost, and cleverly won a penalty and scored wigan’s only goal, although they lost. good stuff.
unbelievable performance.
Well done Berbatov. Now to do this on a regular basis.
Not a chance!!! We have to win the league and he has to finish our top scorer before i stop thinking he is a waste of money. He has not scored in the Champions League for us you know….
I know that Cal. He is not my favorite but give him credit for a top performance today. We like moaning when he does fuck all so give him his due today.
awesome. our squad must be really shit – top of league, maxed the GD, still undefeated. i blame the PIKS for that last goal.
You just knew we were going to concede when Evans came on. He should have written his telephone number on his forehead so that Samba could arrange to back to his place and dry rape him. Had Vidic stayed on the pitch, there’s no way he would have let Samba rise unchallenged to meet the header.
All in all, that was easily our best performance of the season. Even players like Park and Carrick played really well. Rooney looked sharp and hungry – as did Berbatov. Nani was outstanding today but Anderson was my man of the match. The way he kept things ticking over in centre mid but also kept driving forward and making decent passes was phenomenal. Fergie has to let Anderson have a run in centre mid alongside Carrick as Fletcher has been shite thus far and it would be unfair on Anderson to drop him for Scholes.
What was particularly pleasing about today was that we played so well without Scholes and Giggs.
anderson is young, and thus our future…..scholes is the best midfielder we have and like it or not Fletcher is our most energetic…..they should be our 3 in the middle…Carrick is at the the age where he needs to be sold…..not the player we bought and hasn’t kicked on…..he is the one to be dropped so Anderson can grow
harsh but true
quality! but Park has been playing consistent well for a number of games
anderson played brilliantly because he had space in front of him – he is exceptional on the counter when he can run. it’s when he doesn’t have the ball, and when the opposition drop back, when he is a clueless cunt.
yep, he’s a genius no doubt – has the Veron factor about him but the system doesn’t fit him for him to go fucking ape in a season. hwr its clear that the energy and dynamism that rooney brings to the front and middle of the park, helps him and everyone. some of their interaction was class.
OK it was blackturd but fuck it, something to shout about and for us to build upon into the Dec and NY period.