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.
REACTION: Sir Alex Ferguson paid tribute to five-goal Berbatov and his partnership with Rooney: "Today he was back to normal. It was a fantastic achievement and I think Andy Cole was the last one to do it for us here. He could have had a six late on but Robinson made a very good save but him and Rooney were fantastic today. Their movement and passing and one-twos, it was a really top performance.
"They have an understanding anyway from the previous two years so its pleasing to get that. The goals are so important for our goal difference and I don't know where that places us but it helps us improve."
On the all-round display: "It was a good team performance and Nani and Ji-Sung Park played well, so all round we are really pleased."
On 15 games unbeaten in the league this season: "he fact we are undefeated says a lot and we are getting some rhythm into our game and you saw that today."
On the pressure on Chelsea:
"It's too early to say that and I don't think it will affect Chelsea at all. The important thing is that the performance registers with us."
Berbatov was understandably elated:
"I don't think anybody could have guessed the scoreline today. It was a great team performance. In the end I'm pleased with the performance and the goals I scored, personally I was very impressed with myself."
On whether he had scored five before?
Yes. I've done that before but it was a long time ago back home. To do it in the Premier League when only four other players have done it, to stand next to Shearer, Andy Cole, is a great honour."
On his partnership with Rooney:
"Of course its good. He's the type of player who knows how I play, I know how he plays, he understands very well how we play on the pitch and it showed today. The things you see on the pitch come from trying very hard on the training ground and sometimes you have a game where everything comes together.
"Lets not forget sometimes you have so many games, one after another, people tend to forget we are human beings and it's difficult. We need a rest as well. Today was excellent, we ran all over the pitch supported each other and scored a lot of goals."
On whether he was worried about his goal drought: "A little bit. When you are a striker people tend to only look at the goals you score. For me, it is more about how I play, the assists I give, how I link with other players but today I scored so I am very pleased."
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce admitted it was a day to forget: "It wont be an easy one to forget but its one we will have to try and put behind us. We were completely outplayed from the 72nd second. I'm disappointed with the way the team has gone under but I have to give credit about how ruthless United were. They never gave up and kept exposing our weakness and our players couldn't cope with it.
On United: The quality of Manchester United goes without saying and the difference between the capabilities of the players they can buy is why we lost 7-1. From my point of view I need a fully committed team who wants to do that but unfortunately we didn't have the desire to do that. To be fair to our players, It would have been a different story if we had those players fit today.
"I said to the coaches today the first 5-10 minutes will be a big test. When I saw their starting line up I thought it would be a big test and from start to finish, lets face it we were not able to cope with it."
On Berbatov: "Our poor defending and his great ability and the quality of his finishing, he has always been a quality player for me. They used to talk about Anelka being sulky, but he was never sulky with me. He's kick started his season again today."
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 1 (Samba 83)
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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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2010/11/27/man-united-7-blackburn-1-five-star-dimitar-berbatov-answers-his/
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