SMOOTHLY DOES IT

 

(Image taken from Manutd.com)

Last season Backburn were gaffered by Mark Hughes. Their first encounter with United last season was a 2-0 win for United at Old Trafford. Straightforward enough but our trip to Ewood Park wasn't so smooth, we were only able to get a 1-1 draw. Blackburn only just missed out on European football that season though settling for a midtable spot while we went on to claim our second title in a row, thus getting the last laugh that time around. Added to that, you don't have to go that far back for the last time we got three points out of Ewood Park! Back in 06/07, we beat Sparky's men 1-0 at Ewood Park though admittedly that had been the last time we'd won there since the late 90s.

This season, Sparky's gone to Man City and has been replaced at Blackburn by another victim of the clearout of '95, Paul Ince. Incey hasn't done badly in his first season as a Premiership manager, in fact his side were actually ahead of United in the Premiership table going into this match at Ewood Park. Still, we have remembered how to win games again recently so we're back in the position where we shouldn't be fearing anybody...we just need more wins so we can get into the title mixer where we belong. To that end it was Brown at right back, Anderson and Fletcher centre mid and Giggsy left mid(and captain). Time to grab another three points.

Well Blackburn came out looking to give us a match with Matt Derbyshire coming close to opening the scoring for the home side. However United took the warning seriously and started counter attacking, gradually taking over. Blackburn tried complaining about one incident in their box but the ref wasn't interested. Neither was he bothered when Rooney crossed to Wes in the 30th minute to head past a seemingly decked goalie. From there on it it was a United show with the Reds having enough chances to go 2-0 up before half time. Those chances went begging but still, we were in the driving seat. It was up to Blackburn to come and get us, if they could.

Credit where credit's due, Blackburn certainly went on the attack in the early stages of the second half but that proved to be just a flash in the pan. The game was effectivly won by the calliest United move of the season so far. Ronaldo cruises down the flank in the 64th minute, then picks up the pace for a cross to Rooney who effortlessly puts the ball in the net. Perfection, and it's a wonder that we haven't seen more like it. We certainly had the chances to make it three but our assasins couldn't get the ball on target. Blackburn certainly weren't in the latter stagers of the match though so this has to be filed down as mission accomplished.

Elsewhere, City's loadsamoney status doesn't seem to be helping them too much. The Scousers gave them a pretty serious reality check by beating them 3-2 at the City of Manchester Stadium, the Blues blowing a two goal lead, oh dear, oh dear! Another significant result from a MUFC point of view is Wigan losing 1-0 to Middlesborough in the JJB Stadium. Credit to Steve Bruce's team for giving Boro a tight game but the bottom line says they came up empty. That puts United up to 8th in the Premiership table, just two points behind Villa and a UEFA Cup spot while six points ahead of Newcastle and relegation. That's still not really where we want to be but we still have a game in hand.

North of the border, Aberdeen have been having a messy time in the SPL. Credit to the Dons for managing to give Celtic a match at Celtic Park but though they held the lead at one point in the second half the Greens still came back to win 3-2. Arguably a bigger disaster was to come though at Pittodrie with the Reds getting beaten 2-1 by Hibs thanks to Jimmy Calderwood's team conceding a late penalty, dare I say it, how secure is Calderwood's future? One thing for certain is, from here on in the only way is up. The Dons lie 12th and bottom of the SPL and that means they're heading for relegation. They're level on points with Falkirk but with a -1 goal difference deficit.

The UEFA Cup group stage draw has also taken place. Top three out of each group of five to go through. The biggest eyebrow raiser is the fate of Portsmouth. They're in Group E alongside, AC Milan, Heerenveen, Braga and Wolfsburg. Doable if you ignore the Italian giant. Spurs are in Group D and face Spartak Moscow, Udinese, Dinamo Zagreb and Dutch side NEC. Doable, if Spurs can find something resembling form in these games. Villa are in Group F alongside Hamburg, Ajax, Slavia Prague and Slovakian side MSK Zilina. The match against Slavia will be crucial for Villa. Man City face Schalke 04, Paris St Germain, Racing Satander of Spain and FC Twente. If the Blues survive that it'll be tight.

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