Ronaldo impresses as Reds title charge gathers momentum

MANCHESTER UNITED’S sixth successive league victory may not have come as a surprise at Ewood Park, nor did the fact that Blackburn’s manager Mark Hughes sees similarities between the side being assembled by Alex Ferguson and the team he helped to their first Premiership title 14 years ago.

But one feature that did go against the grain was the performance of Cristiano Ronaldo, English football’s public enemy number one after his exploits for Portugal at the World Cup, but one whose sublime talents are slowly being appreciated by an audience beyond Old Trafford.

United’s Portuguese winger was not alone in falling over on more than one occasion but, tellingly at a time when the issue is so prevalent, he could never once be accused of diving or feigning injury, a fact appreciated by at least a small percentage of Rovers fans who applauded him off the pitch as he was substituted with an ankle injury.

If Ronaldo is ever to be fully rehabilitated into the wider English game, perhaps this was the day that process started. “Ronaldo is a big talent and that talent is working hard now. He knows his role in the team,” said Hughes.

“When he first came into the side he was a young guy and people didn’t make allowances for the fact he was still trying to learn the game. But he knows the Premiership now and United know how to get the best out of him.

“I wasn’t privy to what was said after the World Cup but he has come back and has got his head completely focused on the job, which is to try to get another Premier League title for Manchester United. There are a lot of guys in that team who will be thinking the same way.”

Certainly, the 14 players on duty for United will all need some convincing that this is not to be their year as they ground out an impressively workmanlike victory, courtesy of Louis Saha’s well-taken 63rd minute goal, the result of fine crossing from John O’Shea and, even more so, Ryan Giggs.

Giggs had an interesting role at Ewood, starting on his customary left-wing position but switching with Wayne Rooney and allowed Giggs to play in the “hole,” behind Saha.

The performances of Giggs and Ronaldo, and United’s general attacking style, certainly left Hughes in no doubt that the title could well be destined for Old Trafford with the Rovers manager confessing to a wistful dose of deja vu when he analysed Saturday’s opposition.

“I think there are similarities between this side and the one I was involved in — the one that first won the Premier League,” he said. “We had flying wingers and they certainly have them. And they are strong in the middle of the park as well.

“I just think the way the team is set up is the same. It is very similar to our side with the two wide guys and they are full of pace and energy in those areas. I would have loved to play with Ronaldo, but I wouldn’t have been able to read his step-over. Mind you, Andre Kanchelskis used to drive me nuts as well.”

Predictably, for a Hughes team, Rovers’ work rate could not be faulted and Zurab Khizanishvili, Morten Gamst Pedersen and Benni McCarthy all came close to stealing what would have been a largely undeserved point for the hosts.

Instead, United held on to a victory which, rather than United’s 1993 team, had more in common with many similarly efficient Chelsea performances of the past two championship years.

“Hopefully this is one of those 1-0 wins that get you the title,” said Ferguson.

Opta Fact: Louis Saha has scored in three of his last four appearances against Blackburn.

Opta Fact: Blackburn have conceded at least one goal in every Premiership home game they have played this season.