Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
Manchester United will be looking to add further woe to Steve Kean’s season by defeating Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford in their final Premier League match of 2011 on New Year’s Eve.
United will know that if they win the game that they will end the year top of the Premier League, three points clear of Manchester City who play next away to Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland on New Year’s Day in what could be a very tricky game indeed.
With City drawing blanks at West Brom on Boxing Day, it is vital that United keep on raising the bar to Roberto Mancini’s side and make the battle for supremacy at the top of the table as it tough as it can be for the boys in blue.
Blackburn despite being bottom of the table will have to go into the game confident of picking up a point. After all if you’re a struggling side going into games thinking you’re going to get thrashed you might as well not even turn up.
This is a fixture that Blackburn’s owners the Venky’s will have dark memories of from last season when it’s alleged that the Indian’s threw a massive VIP party back in India only to see United thrash them 7-1 much to their embarrassment.
That result effectively cost Sam Allarydce his job at Blackburn and they would love nothing more than to see their side led by the much maligned Kean to prove the doubters wrong and leave Old Trafford happy.
So what can we expect from the game. What will be the key battles on the pitch?
Rio Ferdinand v Yakubu
Both Rio Ferdinand and Yakubu were written off at the start of the season. Past it, over the hill, not good enough, etc, were all terms that were labelled at the duo whose best days in all honesty are probably behind them.
Opinions can quickly change in football though and whilst Ferdinand has done all that can be asked of him this season, the Yak’s been outstanding scoring 10 league goals showing that the old dog isn’t finished quite yet.
Phil Jones v David Dunne
Due to United’s injury woes in defence, a lot of added responsibility has been dumped on Phil Jones. He hasn’t needed to bed in and get used to life at Old Trafford and has just got on with it playing out of his skin every week.
His versatility has impressed everyone and he could very well line up in midfield against his former Blackburn team-mate in David Dunne who despite being past his prime can still hurt teams with his vision and passing ability.
Dimitar Berbatov v Christopher Samba
Fresh from scoring a stunning hat-trick against Wigan Athletic on Boxing Day, an in-form Dimitar Berbatov will be eager to start up front alongisde Wayne Rooney this weekend. After all he did put 5 goals past Blackburn in this fixture last season.
Christopher Samba though will be eager to stop him and Rooney from running riot and will put his big body on the line to frustrate them although it may be a battle too far to put up with for 90 minutes who will need lots of help in defence.
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In terms of a prediction for the game tomorrow, as I stated earlier on in a predictions article, at the start of the month, I believe United will stroll to comfortable 4-0 win with Wayne Rooney scoring twice and will end 2011 top of the table.
It will be a bad result for Kean but one that he would have prepared himself for and he will know that if his side make United work hard for the win then there are signs maybe that his team with a few tweaks can avoid relegation this season.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
