Scholes century keeps United on track

Manchester United 3, Blackburn Rovers 1

Paul Scholes brought up a century of Manchester United goals at Old Trafford this afternoon to keep the Red Devils title dream alive.

Plucky Blackburn looked like frustrating the Premier League leaders when Henning Berg nodded home a David Dunn free-kick to level Ruud van Nistelrooy’s 38th goal of the season.

But Scholes struck either side of the interval – his second effort taking him to exactly 100 – to ensure maximum points, although with goal difference looking increasingly likely to decide the title, United may eventually rue a host of wasted opportunities late on.

Sukur nodded his first chance just over but Neville was continuing to be an unlikely source of attacking opportunity for the home side, Dunn unable to contain his left-wing bursts.

Van Nistelrooy had a close range effort blocked by Freidel and then Giggs’ effort on the rebound was cleared away by Tugay.

Solskjaer was given his chance eight minutes from time, with Giggs given some welcome rest ahead of the Real Madrid clash and it was the Norwegian who set Van Nistelrooy up with another shooting chance, which Friedel magnificently saved.

Then Solskjaer had a chance himself which bobbled agonisingly wide before Ricardo, having a rare touch of the ball, gifted Yorke with a golden chance which he failed to convert.