United vs Blackburn Rovers Premier League Preview

Introduction

Manchester United return to action on Saturday lunchtime as they strive for the single point that will see them crowned league champions for a record 19th time. Sir Alex has had a free week with which to prepare for this game as well as the impending Champions League Final with Barcelona. The team will no doubt still be basking in the glory of defeating closest rivals Chelsea last Sunday which has put them on the brink of their historic achievement.

I would expect the manager to select a relatively strong side on Saturday as the ideal scenario will see United crowned champions thus allowing a skeleton side to be chosen in the final game against Blackpool at Old Trafford next Sunday. Preparations for the final can then begin in earnest behind closed doors next week giving  the boss the luxury of almost two complete weeks with which to explain and practice the masterplan to defeat the La Liga champions.

The Opposition

Blackburn have had a mixed season with a haul of 39 points from 36 games. New owners Venky's dispensed with the services of manager Sam Allardyce in December 2010 barely a month after taking over the club. His assistant Steve Kean was put in caretaker charge before being given the job on a full time basis shortly afterwards.

Blackburn probably need another point to be safe from relegation with two games left. Their Achilles heel this season has been goalscoring which mirrors similar woes from last year. Their leading scorer in the league is Kalinic with five while United loan striker Diouf has six in all competitions but this includes a hat-trick in the League Cup against Norwich.

Their strength lies in defence where the likes of Samba, Nelsen, Robinson and Givet have all had decent seasons.

I would expect Blackburn to target our full back area with the likes of Pedersen and Emerton as well as the full backs launching crosses in for the likes of Roberts and Santa Cruz. As always, they will be a threat from set pieces yet resolute and tough to break down in defence.

Some statistics regarding our opposition:

• Won 7 and lost 5 of 18 at home.
• Won 1 of last 5 at home.
• Won 1 of last 8 home and away.
• Only scored 42 goals all season.
• Of 16 games where opp scores first, won none and lost 14.
• Record against top half is worst in the league: 3 wins and 3 defeats from 19.
• Have worst second half record in the league - concede more than twice as many goals in 2nd half.
• Have not lost when winning at half time.

United

With a point still needed, I am expecting a strong United side to face Blackburn at Ewood Park. Chris Smalling is likely to replace Ferdinand in defence bearing in mind the ex England captain's injury record in recent years. It is vital that he is 100% for Wembley. If fit, I would expect Evra to return at left back and O'Shea to start on the opposite side in a bid to assist against the home side's long balls. It is possible if Evra has not recovered, that the Irishman will switch sides with Wes Brown starting on the right.

With Ryan Giggs taking a well earned break after his exploits last Sunday, I will plump for Anderson to play alongside Carrick in the centre of midfield. Paul Scholes is another option but recent history shows that these two do not play well together. The concern would be Anderson's poor level of performance away from the comfort of Old Trafford. With this in mind, playing Gibson as part of a three is a possibility and this formation could see Scholes included ahead of Carrick. However, despite the logic of this, I think the boss will stick with 4-4-1-1. Out wide, I would expect a rest for Park which would see a return on the left for Nani with Valencia looking to build on his best performance last weekend since his return from injury when he tormented Ashley Cole.

Up front, I will go for Rooney and Berbatov with Hernández starting on the bench. The Bulgarian needs a game or two to increase sharpness and the Mexican can observe after a busy schedule following his move from Chivas last summer.

Scoreline Prediction

With the pressure mostly off both teams for obvious reasons, I would expect a low intensity match for once at Ewood Park. Clearly, both would settle for a draw but it is not in United's nature to sit back and play the game out. I, therefore predict a narrow 2-0 victory with goals from Berbatov and Nani. I cannot see how the home team will threaten us sufficiently to cause more than the odd flutter of worry.

If my prediction (or we gain just a point) comes to fruition then the seemingly inevitable title will be ours after a one year sabbatical at Stamford Bridge! All eyes will then turn to Wembley and the match up with Barcelona. Preparations will have been made by the management team to ensure that the squad are in peak shape for the 28th May with only the celebrations at Old Trafford after the Blackpool match to get in the way.

It promises to be yet another exciting conclusion for a club that tends to specialise in such occurrences. It would also be the perfect riposte to those critics who dared to suggest that the manager had lost his touch and that the squad was the weakest in recent memory. In fact, if two trophies are secured between now and the end of May, Sir Alex Ferguson may well be reflecting on one of the greatest achievements in the club's history.

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