Famous five for Berbatov as timid Rovers roll over

Manchester United 7 Blackburn Rovers 1

United, and Berbatov, have been distinctly below par this season — despite their unbeaten record — but that changed on Saturday as the Bulgarian ran this match from start to finish, although he was undoubtedly helped by a disgracefully passionless and abject performance from Blackburn Rovers, who deserved to lose by this scoreline if not more.

Berbatov’s five finishes — including a 46-minute hat-trick — ended a two-month goal drought for one of the most enigmatic and mystifying players in world football.

The £30.75m signing is like the little girl with the little curl right in the middle of her forehead. When he is good he is very, very good. But when he is bad, he is horrid.

He has lurched more towards the latter state than the former in recent weeks after having failed to score in 10-matches since his hat-trick defeated Liverpool at Old Trafford on September 19.

What kind of striker beats a team’s most hated enemy, then hibernates for two months before coming back to score five goals in a single afternoon? No wonder United’s fans are still making their minds up about whether they love Berbatov or consider him a languid luxury.

“I was a little bit worried (about the lack of goals)” Berbatov said.

“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.

“In the end I’m pleased with the performance and the goals I scored, personally I was very impressed with myself.”

While Allardyce was visibly embarrassed by his side’s showing and uncharacteristically brief in his post-match assessment of United’s performance, he was full of praise for the man who had humiliated his side.

“You have to understand the intelligence of Dimitar Berbatov,” Allardyce said.

“He is a wonderful talent. People criticise him but he’s misunderstood and he proved what a class act he is. Show me a manager who wouldn’t want him in his team?

“How he finds spaces in tight areas, how his touch very rarely deserts him and how he looks slow but he is actually quicker than he looks.

“Everyone can go through periods when they don’t

and just because he hasn’t scored doesn’t mean he hasn’t played well.”

And what about the whisperings on the Old Trafford terraces that Berbatov just does not do it regularly enough and that he just does not want it enough?

He looks likely to forever provoke debate and a split among United’s fans but it is clear what side of the fence Allardyce comes down on.

“Everyone says a player has to be an instant success when he’s cost £30m. But when you join United you have got to get used to the pressures that it brings,” he added. “Berbatov is scoring goals — how many has he got — 12 now? Well, stop moaning then.”

Blackburn were missing the influential Morten Gamst Pedersen, who pulled his hamstring against Aston Villa last weekend, and without him Blackburn just could not get on the ball as Wayne Rooney, Anderson and Nani ran the game from top to bottom and from left to right.

Berbatov slipped in the first goal after just 72 seconds when Rooney played him through on goal just six yards out and it was with little surprise when Ji-Sung Park superbly doubled United’s lead midway through the first half.

The South Korean brilliantly carved Blackburn open with an intelligent run to the edge of Blackburn’s box and after clever interplay with Rooney he slotted past Robinson to double the advantage.

Just four minutes later, and still before the half-hour mark, Berbatov secured his second goal when Pascal Chimbonda totally misjudged a back pass and allowed him to calmly beat Robinson to underline that this match was already effectively over.

Straight after the interval, United scored twice within three minutes and both goals were of the highest quality.

Firstly, Berbatov started a passing move in his own half which eventually saw him receive the ball back from Nani close to the penalty spot and he thrashed past Robinson, before Nani did exactly the same just 90 seconds later.

United were not finished there either as Berbatov then got lucky when a Park shot was blocked in the six-yard box which allowed him to poke home his fourth.

United refused to rest on their laurels and continued attacking, Berbatov slotting in his fifth and United seventh from a tight angle after Nelsen had blocked his original effort.

Blackburn did manage to salvage some pride as Samba headed home a Josh Morris cross to beat Edwin van der Sar with seven minutes remaining but by then Rovers’ humiliation was well and truly complete.