Scrapping Past Blackburn

Manchester United 2 - Blackburn 1
Scorers
Manchester United: Rooney (23), Ronaldo (60)
Blackburn: Santa Cruz (32)

Team: Kuszczak,Rio, Evans (Vidic 61), Rafael, Evra, Carrick, Scholes (Giggs 82), Nani (Tevez 61), Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov

Our 14 game clean sheet record came to an abrupt halt in the 32nd minute when Santa Cruz passed the ball into an open net after Kusczak and Rio both commited early and clashed into one another.

This happened after a bright start by United in which Rooney opened the scoring for us. Rooney's looking sharp after his injury layoff and starting to look like the player we've always known he would be.

After surrendering the lead, we played sloppily. Ronaldo was at his classless best, lashing out at David Dunn in the second half. He was then booked for a dive, which would have won over the pundits on Sunday's Oscars. Unfortunately this was the wrong stage. It seemed like Ronaldo was on a one-man mission to get himself sent off. Up to that point, any neutral would have been glad to see him see the red card. As a United fan, it was disgusting to see our best player act like a petulant manchild.

Just as I was silently cursing to Kentona and Kiat, who were watching the game with me, Ronaldo came up with a show of class. His freekick from an acute angle rifled past Robinson. Words cannot give justice to just how well-taken and incredible the kick was, so I wouldn't even try. Just take it from me that it was artistry at it's finest.

Despite the greatness and importance of the goal, I still have to say just how disgusted I am with Ronaldo's behaviour on the pitch.

We continued to play sloppily for the rest of the game and Blackburn had a number of good chances to equalize but a combination of piss poor refereeing and bad luck denied Blackburn.

Rafael was extremely luck not to have conceded a penalty when he pulled Pederson down in the box. Nelsen then hit the post after being fed free and Diouf fired the rebound straight at Kuszczak.

It was a lucky escape for our lads. With the victory, we extended our lead at the top of the table and closer to the prize with only 12 games remaining. On the other end of the table, Blackburn remain rooted in the relegation zone, but I'm sure they would climb out of it sooner rather than later. They are too good of a team not to. I'm just relieved that we wouldn't have to face them again this season.