Fergie finally comes unstuck

“ONE game too far,” was how one interviewer described this stunning loss to the Premier League’s bottom-placed club, and it was an assessment that Alex Ferguson, with all his 70 years’ experience, was forced to agree with.

For a number of weeks, Ferguson has chopped, changed and stuck together his weakened team with sticking plasters yet somehow not only maintained pace at the top of the table with neighbours Manchester City but actually gained acres of lost ground.

An impressive 5-0 St Stephen’s Day win over Wigan saw Ferguson field a less-then-impressive (on paper at least) central midfield pairing of Ryan Giggs and Darron Gibson, with Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick concluding the game in the centre of defence.

Against struggling Blackburn, therefore, Ferguson unveiled an even more eyebrow-raising central midfield partnership of Rafael and Ji-Sung Park and then expressed surprise that his team failed to create a meaningful chance during the first 45 minutes.

The defeat will only have added fuel to the fears of those cynical United fans who question whether their beloved manager is being economical with the truth when he claims he has his owners’ millions to spend this January but simply prefers not to.

Because, as Blackburn’s two-goal hero Yakubu pointed out, injury problems are not the unique preserve of United. Blackburn, too, came into the match with numerous first-team players absent but made light of their worries.

“If you look at our team it is the same,” he said. “We had some players missing. The kids have breathed new life into the team. These players want to play, no matter what age, the Premier League is a great league to play in. All around the world people are watching.”

Former Blackburn favourite Phil Jones, partnering Carrick in the centre of another unfamiliar United defence, supported Yakubu’s observation and pointed to the far more relevant factor that his side were simply not good against a scrappy Rovers side.

“It doesn’t help but it’s no excuse,” said Jones of the injuries. “We were nowhere near good enough today. I think it will be an unhappy New Year’s Eve, yes. I feel worse now than I did last year when we [Blackburn] got smashed 7-1 off United, so that puts it into perspective how disappointed I am.”

Yet for much of the second half, it appeared United might be about to stage one of their trademark late recoveries.

After the impressive Yakubu had scored twice, the first from the penalty spot after Dimitar Berbatov had tugged down Chris Samba, Berbatov redeemed himself with two well-taken goals of his own.

Relentless pressure ensued and, with nearly a half-hour remaining, a United victory looked little more than a formality. But … “I think that was our downfall, coming back too soon,” said Jones. “We thought we’d won it.”

Instead, with 10 minutes to play, United goalkeeper David de Gea was beaten to a corner by defender Grant Hanley who then, in turn, reacted more quickly than Rafael to the loose ball to head in the winner.

It was a remarkable conclusion to a remarkable game and, while Ferguson ended the year with his birthday celebrations presumably put on ice, at least his opposite number, the much-maligned Steve Kean, can look ahead with new optimism.

“If we don’t win we are going to be under pressure. Now he is winning. What did they expect?” said Yakubu of the Rovers’ fans still critical of their manager.

“They should give him a break and support the team.”