Carlos Tevez came to Manchester United's rescue with a late header to secure a 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers.
Tevez heads late equaliser after Santa Cruz put Rovers in front
Carlos Tevez came to Manchester United's rescue with a late header to secure a 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers.
United's title hopes appeared set to meet with a serious setback at Ewood Park after Roque Santa Cruz had put Rovers ahead on 21 minutes after poor defending from the visitors.
Jason Roberts had earlier had a fair penalty shout for the hosts, while United also had claims for a spot-kick in a first half short on chances.
The Premier League leaders improved after the break and were thwarted on numerous occasions by the agility of Brad Friedel, while they could have been awarded a penalty when Michael Carrick's header hit Brett Emerton's arm.
However, United never gave up and forced an equaliser two minutes from time when Tevez headed home from close range after Paul Scholes had flicked on Nani's corner.
The result leaves United three points clear of title rivals Chelsea ahead of next week's Stamford Bridge showdown.
Lacklustre
Even though Carrick had a half chance in the second minute, which was cleared to safety by Ryan Nelsen, United looked lacklustre, especially in the first half.
Play switched back down the other end and Jason Roberts scampered into the box, only to be upended by Tomasz Kuszczak.
The home supporters screamed for a penalty but referee Rob Styles would have none of it.
United almost made the breakthrough after 11 minutes when Tevez got on the end of a cross from Wayne Rooney, only for Christopher Samba to make the block.
Blackburn went ahead in the 21st minute following a long throw from
Morten Gamst Pedersen.
Nemanja Vidic won the header for United but it came off Rio Ferdinand's back and broke kindly to Santa Cruz, who took advantage to fire a shot beyond Kuszczak.
The Red Devils responded and Cristiano Ronaldo won a free-kick in the 29th minute after being tripped by Pedersen but his effort was taken cleanly by goalkeeper Friedel.
Rovers continued to look dangerous on the counter attack and two minutes later David Bentley whipped in a shot from 25 yards that Kuszczak did well to turn over the bar.
Wayne Rooney's frustration took hold in the 39th minute when he was booked for a late challenge on Samba.
Rooney, however, then delivered a good ball into the path of Carrick two minutes later. He cut it back into the area only for Johann Vogel to make a timely interception.
From the corner Giggs picked out Ronaldo but his close-range header was palmed away by Friedel.
Valuable equaliser
Nani was quickly into action after replacing Giggs at half-time and was hauled back by Steven Reid in the 52nd minute as he tried to burst forward. Ronaldo, however, directed his 20-yard free-kick straight into the wall.
Ronaldo almost grabbed the equaliser in the 64th minute when his effort beat Friedel but came back off the post.
Rovers responded and two minutes later, as Kuszczak hesitated, Santa Cruz headed over the bar following a free-kick from Stephen Warnock.
Blackburn nearly extended their lead in the 74th minute when Pedersen skipped away from Wes Brown only to send his effort across the face of the goal.
However United had increased the tempo and Rooney picked out Ronaldo in the 78th minute. Vogel did enough to put Ronaldo off but Tevez picked up the loose ball.
However he was not able to make a clean contact and Friedel parried and then responded quickly to grab the ball as it spun towards the goalline.
Friedel again came to Rovers rescue when he pushed away shots from Rooney and substitute John O'Shea in quick succession.
However, United were not to be denied and Tevez reacted quickly to Scholes' near-post glancing header to head home a valuable equaliser.
| Blackburn Rovers |
Team Statistics |
Manchester United |
| 1 |
Goals |
1 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 2 |
Shots on Target |
9 |
| 2 |
Shots off Target |
5 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
6 |
| 3 |
Corners |
8 |
| 16 |
Fouls |
13 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 61.9 |
Passing Success |
78.6 |
| 24 |
Tackles |
32 |
| 70.8 |
Tackles Success |
59.4 |
| 34.8 |
Possession |
65.2 |
| 48.3 |
Territorial Advantage |
51.7 |
|
