Blackburn Rovers 1 Manchester United 1: Three days after being unable to navigate a passage past Burton Albion in the FA Cup third round, Manchester United found the League Cup far more to their liking last night and, in the process, rediscovered some of their old self-esteem.
Once little more than an afterthought at Old Trafford, the beleaguered competition has taken on greater significance this season, and Alex Ferguson will be satisfied with the draw that puts them in a position of strength for the second leg of this semi-final.
Though conspicuously short of their fluent best, United edged long spells of a tie that flickered without truly igniting. Morten Gamst Pedersen's splendid equaliser meant they could not take full advantage of Louis Saha giving them the lead, but it was a reassuring performance for Ferguson coming so shortly after one of the most galling results of his 19 years in charge.
The most popular ale in Burton this week has been a commissioned new brew called Fergie's Fury, and after Sunday's harrowing events for his team beside the Trent it was no coincidence Ferguson had abandoned his plan A, namely to bring a weakened team to Ewood with Saturday's Manchester derby in mind.
Last Friday, with Ferguson blissfully unaware that his players were about to have their reputations dragged through the Pirelli Stadium mud, he slightly demeaned this competition by speaking extensively about playing a shadow XI and holding back key players for Mancunian rivalries.
Yet, having had his fingers burned at Burton, Ferguson clearly did not want to see his whole arm catch fire by taking the same risk again. Only Ruud van Nistelrooy was missing from what amounted to an otherwise full-strength XI, his place going to Louis Saha who is showing flashes of his old form after a difficult first two years at the club.
The former Fulham striker took his goal, just after the half-hour, with great composure, scoring with a precise drive after Ryan Giggs had slipped him through the Blackburn defence.
United looked a far more accomplished side than that which had floundered on Sunday, but Blackburn came into this match on the back of five successive victories. Mark Hughes has assembled a robust team with discernible self-belief, and whereas many teams would have wilted, his simply picked themselves up, dusted themselves down and within five minutes were level.
It was a goal that reflects on Gary Neville, who allowed Pedersen to steal inside him after Shefki Kuqi had flicked on a long punt from defence. The flimsiness of United's defending will certainly have pricked Ferguson's temper, but Pedersen, who scored both Blackburn goals in their 2-1 win at Old Trafford in September, deserves the highest acclaim for the ferocity of his shot, a right-foot volley that was still rising as it billowed Edwin Van der Sar's net.
Blackburn could also reflect on the clearest other opportunities of the first half, not least when United's defence went awol to leave Robbie Savage with a glorious opportunity inside the first 30 seconds. Savage hit his volley too close to Van der Sar, but it was not the only time United looked vulnerable throughout an opening half that became increasingly tetchy as it drew to its close and saw Robbie Savage, Alan Smith and Wayne Rooney intent on doing each other a serious injury.
All three were rightly cautioned. Amid the flurry of other yellow cards from Rob Styles's back pocket, Craig Bellamy's means he will be suspended from facing his former club Newcastle United on January 21st.
Rooney will also serve a suspension, meaning Burton's supporters need not fear his rampaging runs at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Rooney, inevitably, was at the hub of most of United's brighter moments, but Bellamy was causing just as many problems at the other end.
One run early in the second half culminated in him setting up Kuqi for a shot that was weakly sent into the advertising hoardings.
Another left Wes Brown shaking his head in fury. But Blackburn's attacks began to peter out and United started exerting a sense of authority.
BLACKBURN ROVERS: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Gray, Bentley (Emerton 76), Savage, Tugay (Reid 76), Pedersen, Kuqi (Dickov 84), Bellamy. Subs not used: Enckelman, Khizanishvili. Booked: Bellamy, Savage, Tugay, Dickov. Goal: Pedersen 35.
MANCHESTER UTD: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre, Ronaldo, Fletcher (O'Shea 85), Smith, Giggs, Rooney, Saha (van Nistelrooy 82). Subs not used: Howard, Bardsley, Rossi. Booked: Smith, Rooney, Saha, O'Shea. Goal: Saha 30.
Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).
