WHAT a difference a day can make particularly if that day is spent in the lap of luxury, having body and soul gently massaged back to health. Instead of fleeing the scene of their European Cup defeat last Wednesday, Alex Ferguson decamped his team in Germany for another 24 hours.
Legs were rested and appetites voracious, no small matter with half a side absent: Ryan Giggs, Peter Schmeichel, Denis Irwin and David May all injured, David Beckham on the bench.
None reaped the benefit more than Andy Cole, hitherto enigmatic in red, but purposeful on Saturday. Ferguson fielded a surprisingly attack-minded team - Eric Cantona lurking in the space behind Cole and Ole Solskjaer, with Paul Scholes in midfield.
"I don't think you'll see Cole out of the team from now on. He's looking fresh," said the United manager.
Fresh was one word for Cole's destructive performance. Awesome another.
He was the fulcrum for every move of note: a blocked shot freeing the excellent Nicky Butt to be brought down by Jeff Kenna - Cantona fluffing his penalty kick; finishing a sweeping one-touch move by threading a low shot between Colin Hendry's legs for his sixth of the season and exchanging passes with Phil Neville outside the area, before turning smartly and picking out Scholes on the right. Head down, right foot, first time, 2-1.
That goal, three minutes before half-time, ripped all animosity from proceedings. Where landmines had been detonating across the field, United could now relax, waiting until the 81st minute before unleashing Cole once more. Then Butt curled a floating long ball out to the right where Solskjaer made delivery and fed it back to Gary Neville.
Enter the number nine, who hopped round Wilcox, charged into the area along the byline and set up Cantona for the simplest of tap-ins. It was a wonderful goal.
Rovers' 35th minute equaliser came when Graeme Le Saux had been brought down by Scholes: Raimond Van der Gouw came out to punch a free kick from Jason Wilcox that he should have caught and Billy McKinlay volleyed the rebound into the bottom corner.
The second two minutes from time, was worse. Per Pedersen was given space to find Paul Warhurst, who comfortably evaded a leaden-footed challenge.
Blackburn must wait for safety - and Roy Hodgson. "I'm just hoping he's going to bring a mini-bus full of players," sighed care-taker manager, Tony Parkes.
