Striking contrast as United on fire

THE contrast could not be greater between the two Manchester United forwards, Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney; one of whom seemingly cannot fail but score each and every time he takes the field for the Premier League leaders, the other who is currently mired in his joint worst goalscoring run for three years.

Three more goals, the third hat-trick of this prolific season after three against Liverpool and a five-goal performance against Blackburn, took Berbatov’s tally for the season to an astonishing 18, 17 in the league in 18 starts, and, as his manager Alex Ferguson pointed out, the Bulgarian might have scored more.

His partner Rooney continues to play with great élan and confidence, at least until he reaches the six-yard line, and had a significant hand in three of United’s goals in their perfunctory romp against a frankly awful Birmingham side which was clearly focusing upon Wednesday’s Carling Cup semi-final second leg against West Ham.