Tevez grabs late equaliser

Blackburn 1 Manchester United 1

Carlos Tevez put Manchester United in sight of a second successive title with a dramatic late equaliser at Ewood Park.

The Argentina striker headed the ball home with two minutes remaining after Paul Scholes had flicked on a corner from substitute Nani.

United are now three points clear of Chelsea and the teams meet next Saturday at Stamford Bridge.

Victory for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side would surely see them retain their crown given their vastly superior goal difference.

However they were given a fright by Blackburn, who took the lead through Roque Santa Cruz, before giving a spirited second-half performance.

Even though Michael Carrick had a half chance in the second minute United looked lack-lustre, especially in the first half.

Carrick rattled in a shot from inside the area that was cleared to safety by Ryan Nelsen.

Play switched back down the other end and Jason Roberts scampered into the box, only to be upended by Tomasz Kuszczak.

The home supporters screamed for a penalty but referee Rob Styles would have none of it.

United almost made the breakthrough after 11 minutes when Tevez got on the end of a cross from Wayne Rooney, only for Christopher Samba to make the block.

Backed by a capacity crowd Rovers surged forward four minutes later but Santa Cruz’s header was easily taken by Kuszczak.

United were taking time to find their rhythm and Ryan Giggs sent a cross high into the crowd after being released by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Blackburn went ahead in the 21st minute following a long throw from Morten Gamst Pedersen.

Nemanja Vidic won the header for United but it came off Rio Ferdinand’s back and broke kindly to Santa Cruz. He took advantage to fire a shot beyond Kuszczak to stun United.

They hit back and Cristiano Ronaldo won a free-kick in the 29th minute after being tripped by Pedersen but his effort was taken cleanly by goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

Rovers continued to look dangerous on the counter attack and two minutes later David Bentley whipped in a shot from 25 yards that Kuszczak did well to turn over the bar.

Wayne Rooney’s frustration took hold in the 39th minute when he was booked for a late challenge on Samba.

Rooney, however, then delivered a good ball into the path of Carrick two minutes later. He cut it back into the area only for Johann Vogel to make a timely interception.

From the corner Giggs picked out Ronaldo but his close-range header was palmed away by Friedel.

Nani was quickly into action after replacing Giggs at half-time and was hauled back by Steven Reid in the 52nd minute as he tried to burst forward. Ronaldo, however, directed his 20-yard free-kick straight into the wall.

Ronaldo was struggling to get into the game but released Nani in the 61st minute. He cut inside only to send his effort high over the bar to Rovers relief.

Ronaldo almost grabbed the equaliser in the 64th minute when his effort beat Friedel but came back off the post.

Rovers responded and two minutes later, as Kuszczak hesitated, Santa Cruz headed over the bar following a free-kick from Warnock.

Blackburn nearly extended their lead in the 74th minute when Pedersen skipped away from Wes Brown only to send his effort across the face of the goal.

However United had increased the tempo and Rooney picked out Ronaldo in the 78th minute.

Vogel did enough to put Ronaldo off but Tevez picked up the loose ball. However he was not able to make a clean contact and Friedel parried and then responded quickly to grab the ball as it spun towards the goalline.

Friedel again came to Rovers rescue when he pushed away shots from Rooney and substitute John O’Shea in quick succession.

However United were not to be denied and Tevez reacted quickly to Scholes’ near-post glancing header to head home a valuable equaliser.