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.

But it is when Rooney has a sight of goal that the contrast between the two players is most marked. Then and there, the England centre-forward plays like a player who has just two league goals since March 21 of last year, one of those from the penalty spot.

Against a Birmingham team, which was in full surrender mode from the 90th second when Berbatov headed in John O’Shea’s goalbound header from a Ryan Giggs corner, Rooney failed with a couple of good chances and one glaring opportunity when he completely missed a free far-post header in front of an open goal just after the restart.

Ferguson has made it his mission in life to wax lyrical every game about how well Rooney is playing, to bemoan his bad luck and talk about the goals “coming soon”.

Yet Rooney’s effort against West Brom on New Year’s Day — his only goal in open play in his last 16 league appearances for United — was supposed to be the goal that opened the floodgates and there is still no sign of the anticipated deluge.

The veteran manager knows the risk of upsetting Rooney, after all he tasted the bitter pill of an angered Rooney, or at least his angered agent, earlier this season when the forward questioned United’s ambition and, momentarily at least, handed in a transfer request.

But it would be surprising were Ferguson not mildly concerned about the lack of productivity from a player who, until his ankle injury against Bayern Munich 10 months ago, was a by-word for consistency and productivity in front of goal.

Of course, until earlier this season, similar reservations were expressed about Berbatov and his lack of results in the scoring department, concerns which now look wholly ridiculous and, not for the first or last time in his United career, Ferguson’s judgement and his steadfast backing for Berbatov have been fully vindicated.

“He’s an amazing talent,” said Republic of Ireland defender O’Shea after his own impressive first outing since November. “We know if we get the supply line to him he’s going to create for himself and for other players too.

“So we’ve just got to keep supplying him the ball and nine times out of 10 he’s going to take the chances. He was unlucky with a shot with the outside of his foot as well, he took it really early and Ben Foster couldn’t even move for it so we know he’s an amazing talent and a couple of hat-tricks… long may it continue.”

As for Rooney, it might have been Ferguson himself talking as O’Shea trotted out the tried and trusted party line.

“We know he’ll always do his best for the team and he’ll be back on the goal trail in a matter of no time because of the quality he’s got and the chances he’s creating for other players too,” claimed O’Shea. “He’s a tremendous asset and I’m sure ones, like the one he missed towards the back post, will be flying in in no time.”

Of course, complaining too vociferously about Rooney’s poor goal output rings a little hollow given United’s unbeaten league record — 22 games this season, 27 dating back to last — and the fact they are positioned so impressively in the table, two points clear of Arsenal with a game in hand and a superior goal difference by three.

Birmingham are the latest overwhelmed opponent who can testify to just how well United are performing. Berbatov’s second, after half an hour, came from a Rooney pass and killed off the contest. Berbatov and Rooney were instrumental in a brilliant goal for Giggs on half-time before Berbatov completed his hat-trick following sharp inter-play from Rooney and Giggs. Nani, who shot virtually on sight all day, finally got the goal he sought, 15 minutes from the end.

Next up for United is a rearranged visit to Blackpool tomorrow in which victory will leave the league table with a worryingly “one-horse race” look about it. “It won’t be for the faint-hearted,” said O’Shea. The roller-coasters will be busy that day!”