United fail to press home full advantage

Blackburn Rovers made their point last night: they are capable of competing with the best in the land and not being humiliated. Sadly for them the point was not enough and while some might say they have been playing in a different league to Manchester United all season, come August Rovers will definitely be doing so.

Relegation only four years after pipping United to the Premiership by a single point will be hard to stomach but their manager Brian Kidd, so scathing about his players for their shortcomings last weekend, could at least be proud of them last night.

Potentially just as important is the fact that this season's title race remains open. United will probably need to beat Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday - Arsenal still have hope.

Rovers run out to The Final Countdown, which is not only a dreadful song but inappropriate given the circumstances. Maybe it was in honour of Ryan Giggs who began his countdown to two finals back on the left wing, his first game since his decisive turn in the FA Cup semi-final replay.

At kick-off Giggs lined up against Keith Gillespie, a former Old Trafford colleague and one of four players signed for around £16 million by Kidd who started for Blackburn.

That would just about buy Giggs and in the first 10 minutes alone he looked worth every penny, speeding to the by-line three times to spear in a couple of arrowhead crosses and then hit a post with a header.

Phil Neville, in midfield for the injured Roy Keane, also had a useful shot save by John Filan in United's sparky opening, one that had Kidd out in his box issuing frenetic instructions. Darren Peacock, who had already perpetrated two poor half-clearances, was the subject of most of them.

It was nearly 20 minutes before Peter Schmeichel was similarly concerned, Gary Croft squeezing in a shot under pressure that swept by Schmeichel's right-hand post. It was United's only worrying moment of the first half.

Generally their superiority was reflected in the accuracy of their passing and occasionally that allowed each individual time on the ball. There were great roars from the home stands every time a red shirt was dispossessed, but the noise was an infrequent one. When they did achieve possession, the under-confidence surging through Blackburn's players shone, the ball ping-ponged around with Gillespie in particular guilty of finding the opposition rather than a team-mate.

When this happened once again in the 36th minute, enabling Gary Neville to launch a 50-yard pass to Andy Cole, it seemed Rovers were about to concede their 52nd League goal of the season. However, Cole, unmarked, shot weakly and wastefully.

Shortly before half-time Ronny Johnsen delivered a header that must have disturbed Filan momentarily, but it looped past the far post and the sides went into the interval level.

That suited neither, although clearly Blackburn's situation was the more alarming.

A combination of that, a rousing Kidd team-talk and the sight of David May replacing the imperious Jaap Stam, should have been the catalyst for home passion and commitment. There was no lack of zeal, but the beginning of the second period was injury-interrupted and rhythm difficult to establish.

But then in the 55th minute a break from midfield by young David Dunn ended with a smart shot that had Schmeichel twisting in mid-air to tip over. The volume rose immediately.

Unfortunately for Blackburn, so did United's tempo. Denis Irwin and Gary Neville began to move forward and Filan made another swift block from Giggs following an incisive pass by David Beckham, the visitors' most influential performer.

Nevertheless, the Rovers defence which had creaked so badly against Nottingham Forest last Saturday was displaying significantly greater resolution and with 20 minutes to go United's missing penetration saw Teddy Sheringham come on for Cole and Paul Scholes replace Philip Neville five minutes later.

Blackburn: Filan, Croft, Henchoz, Peacock, Davidson, Gillespie, Dunn, Carsley, Wilcox, Ward, Jansen, Broomes (Johnson 81). Subs not used: Davies, Duff, Broomes, Flowers.

Man Utd: Schmeichel, G Neville, Johnsen, Stam (May 45), Irwin, Beckham, Butt, P Neville (Scholes 75), Giggs, Yorke, Cole (Sheringham 71). Subs not used: Solskjaer, Van Der Gouw. Booked: Butt, Beckham.

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham).