Filed under: Blackburn Rovers, Manchester United, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Dimitar Berbatov scored a spectacular 46-minute hat-trick and five goals in total, the perfect response to growing speculation that his future might be in doubt at Old Trafford after an unproductive period.The £30 million United striker joins an illustrious list of Andy Cole (1995), Alan Shearer (1999) and Jermain Defoe (2009) to have scored five goals in a Premier League game.
They were the Bulgarian's first goals since a September 19 hat-trick against Liverpool but his overall contribution and enthusiasm were in complete contrast to many of his recent perfunctory performances.
He took just 72 seconds to find the net. After Paul Robinson and Michael Sagado failed to clear properly, Nani crossed from the left with Wayne Rooney flicking on for Berbatov to convert comfortably from six yards.
In the 23rd minute, Rooney produced his second assist of the game, playing a terrific one-two with Ji-Sung Park as the South Korean continued his run and easily beat Robinson.
Berbatov made it 3-0 after 27 minutes after a disastrous back-pass from Pascal Chimbonda played the forward straight through on goal for a 12-yard finish.
And barely 90 seconds after the restart a sublime pass from Berbatov found Nani and allowed the winger to ease his way into the area, past Chimbonda, before dragging the ball back for the Bulgarian to complete his hat-trick from 12 yards.
Moments later, Nani himself claimed the goal he deserved by taking an Anderson pass in his stride, beating the hapless Chimbonda yet again and switching feet before burying his shot past the dive of Robinson.
The massacre continued just after the hour when Rafael sprinted to the by-line and pulled back for Park whose initial shot, blocked by Christopher Samba, fell for Berbatov to score easily from six yards.
His fifth followed after 69 minutes when Anderson fed Berbatov for yet another shot, this blocked by Ryan Nelsen, with the rebound falling kindly for the rampant striker to power into the back of the goal.
The Blackburn consolation came seven minutes from time when Samba rose to head in a Josh Morris cross from six yards.
Berbatov might even have set a record by becoming the first player to score six in a Premier League game but his 89th minute header was touched onto the bar by Robinson.
Mark Davies snatched a dramatic late equaliser for Bolton to deny Blackpool what looked like being a memorable victory. Goals from Ian Evatt and Luke Varney had put them in control and looked like taking them into the top half of the table.
TO COME: ALL THE REACTION
WHAT IT MEANS:
United are top and unbeaten in 29 games - what do you think it means? Rooney continues to look sharp and Berbatov, when he looks interested as he was today, appears like he could prove a potent attacking partnership with the England centre-forward. Admittedly, the desperately miserable Blackburn performance means much of this result has to be put in some sort of perspective but this ranks as one of the few times this season that the Reds have looked their convincing selves. For Rovers, after competently beating Villa last week, this was one to write off as a bad day at the office ... or at least that's what Allardyce will be saying.
MANCHESTER UNITED 7 (Berbatov 1, 27, 46, 62, 69, Park 23, Nani 48) BLACKBURN 0
PLAYER MARKING:
Manchester United (4-4-2): Van der Sar 7; Rafael 8, Ferdinand 8, Vidic 7 (Evans 63, 6), Evra 7; Nani 9, Carrick 7, Anderson 7, Park 8 (Obertan 72, 7); Rooney 8, Berbatov 10.
Subs (not used): Giggs, Hernandez, O'Shea, Fletcher, Kuszczak.
Blackburn (4-5-1): Robinson 5; Salgado 4, Nelsen 4, Samba 5, Chimbonda 2; Emerton 5 (Linganzi 51, 5), Goulon 3 (Hoilett 27, 6), Jones 5, Dunn 4, EH Diouf 5 (Morris 51, 5); Roberts 5.
Subs (not used): Givet, Bunn, Benjani, Hanley.
ATTENDANCE: 74,850
REFEREE: Lee Probert
NEXT UP:
- Manchester United v West Ham (away), Carling Cup, 130/11. 1945 GMT
- Blackburn v Wolves (home), Premier League, 04/12, 1500 GMT
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