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Electronic Telegraph


Tuesday 7 April 1998
Issue 1047


Second-half spree ensures United stay one step ahead
By Henry Winter


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   Blackburn (1) 1 Man Utd (0) 3
   
   MANCHESTER United moved six points clear of Arsenal, who have three
   games in hand, in a real game of two halves at Ewood Park last night.
   Trailing to Chris Sutton's strike, United rejigged at half-time and
   hit back with goals from Andy Cole, Paul Scholes and David Beckham.
   
   United welcomed back Peter Schmeichel, Giggs and Gary Pallister from
   injury, though Alex Ferguson resisted the temptation to restore Teddy
   Sheringham, available after suspension. How United, starting like a
   car with grit in the gears, could have done with Sheringham's ability
   to link play in an impoverished first-half performance, to hold and
   turn in the no-man's land between midfield and attack.
   
   Instead, the opening period belonged to a clever forward who had
   famously filled these support duties during Blackburn Rovers'
   championship season of 1994-95, the only time in the last five years
   the title trophy has not been at Old Trafford.
   
   While United's strike force of Cole and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was
   largely detached from the midfield, Sutton was operating in tandem
   with his deeper colleagues, often lifting passes forward for Kevin
   Gallacher to chase.
   
   Sutton's influence pervaded a half in which his 31st-minute goal
   separated the teams. Scarcely two minutes into the game, he initiated
   a move which saw the ball fly between Gallacher and Garry Flitcroft
   before Gary Neville made an emergency clearance.
   
   Sutton again played the conduit after 23 minutes, transferring
   Flitcroft's pass to Jeff Kenna, whose low shot was eventually tamed by
   Schmeichel and served to bring a slow-burning half to life. An
   indication of the variety of Sutton's movement materialised just
   before the half-hour when Pallister tugged him back on the halfway
   line. Sutton, ghosting in and out, was everywhere.
   
   He even created Rovers' penalty, sending Damien Duff running into the
   area where he was clearly hauled back by Gary Neville. The offence
   began outside the box, but with Neville continuing to cling to Duff's
   shirt there was little disputing the outcome when Duff finally went
   down.
   
   Gerald Ashby, hitherto booed by Ewood for his controversial dismissal
   of Henning Berg three years ago, earned a rare and prolonged cheer
   when he pointed immediately to the spot. Sutton's conversion, low and
   hard, raced past Schmeichel.
   
   Only the most rabid Red could have argued with Rovers' reward. United
   were looking ragged, unable to retain possession such was the midfield
   industry of Flitcroft, Duff, Billy McKinlay and Tim Sherwood.
   
   United had to change. Ferguson withdrew Solskjaer at half-time,
   unleashing Nicky Butt into midfield and pushing Scholes forward into
   the Sheringham role. Suddenly, and thrillingly for their legion of
   supporters scattered around Ewood, the champions were a revitalised
   force, reclaiming central midfield and the game. Rovers were pushed
   into reverse.
   
   The pressure built irresistibly. Gary Neville could have atoned for
   his earlier error but fluffed his chance when Jason Wilcox froze under
   Giggs's cross. But then came Cole, scoring a superb goal, the ball fed
   to him through the quick minds of Scholes and Beckham. On Cole raced,
   arrowing in from the right, soon to be confronted by Stephane Henchoz.
   The Swiss defender attempted to usher Cole away from goal but the
   United forward, twisting inside, created a yard of space and shot
   confidently in past Alan Fettis.
   
   Newly inspired, United were in the mood, tearing into tackles, never
   afraid to confront opponents. Even Ferguson, enraged by Wilcox's hand
   in Beckham's face, rushed out to give the benefit of his
   short-syllabled opinion to the referee's assistant.
   
   Yet soon United's impassioned manager was leaping up and down like an
   excited schoolboy. On 72 minutes United took the lead with a goal
   brilliant in its inception and bizarre in its execution. Gary Neville
   intercepted the ball down the right, allowing Beckham to take up the
   running. The England player's cross curled around the unfortunate
   Colin Hendry and was diverted off Scholes's knee past Fettis.
   
   Rovers refused to be muscled out. Hendry and then Kenna brought good
   saves from Schmeichel, Gallacher shot wide as United held on to the
   full complement of points. In the final minute, to confirm their
   comeback, Beckham added a third from Giggs's pass. Liverpool are next.
   _________________________________________________________________
   
   Blackburn (1) 1 Man Utd (0) 3
   Sutton 32 pen; Cole 56, Scholes 73, Beckham 89.
   Blackburn: Fettis, Kenna, Sherwood, Hendry, Gallacher, Sutton, Wilcox,
   Flitcroft, McKinlay, Henchoz, Duff. Subs Not Used: Davidson, Ripley,
   Dahlin, Broomes, Williams. Booked: McKinlay, Flitcroft.

   Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Johnsen, Pallister, Beckham,
   Cole, Giggs, P. Neville, Scholes, Solskjaer (Butt 46). Subs Not Used:
   May, Sheringham, Thornley, Van Der Gouw. Booked: Pallister, P.
   Neville, Johnsen.

   Att: 30,547
   Ref: G R Ashby (Worcester).
   _________________________________________________________________

   Soccer-Cole goal sparks Manchester United fightback
   (adds detail, quotes)
   
   By Jeremy Butler
   
   LONDON, April 6 (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson
   admitted his side had almost handed the premier league title to
   Arsenal before coming back from a goal down to beat Blackburn Rovers
   3-1 on Monday.
   
   Strikes from Andy Cole and David Beckham sandwiched around a fluke
   Paul Scholes goal were enough to see United home after Blackburn's
   Chris Sutton had opened the scoring with a first half penalty.
   
   It was during a sterile opening 45 minutes by United that Ferguson
   thought his team were about to be torn apart by rampant Blackburn.
   
   Sutton and Kevin Gallacher gave United's back line a torrid evening
   with a high class showing of forward play.
   
   A relieved Ferguson said later: "I can't remember getting as big a
   going over as we did in the first half.
   
   "We were absolutely outfought, outrun and outplayed and had to improve
   in the second half. With a bit of bad luck we could have been well out
   of the title race by halftime because they were that good.
   
   "But I believe we will play far better in future. I expect Ryan Giggs
   and Gary Pallister to be better for the game after coming back from
   injury and I expect one or two others to improve."
   
   Ferguson felt Cole's 56th minute strike was the turning point.
   
   "To see an equaliser go in when you have been playing so well and were
   on top certainly would have knocked them," he said.
   
   "The United boss played down his clever tactical switch of sending on
   the terrier-like Nicky Butt for the second half in place of
   ineffective Norwegian striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
   
   "I think Butt was instrumental in getting us going by getting a foot
   in the middle of the park and turning it around," he said.
   
   Disappointed Blackburn manager Roy Hodgson claimed his side should
   have been given a second penalty in the 76th minute that would have
   levelled the scores.
   
   Gallacher was tripped in the box by Pallister but referee Gerald Ashby
   ignored the Blackburn's protests.
   
   Said Hodgson: "You have to give United credit, though. To come back
   from 1-0 down away from home and turn it around against a team playing
   so well is an achievement."
   
   Cole's goal, only his second in his last 13 league appearances, was a
   beauty. He broke down the right, cut inside full back Stephan Henchoz
   and beat goalkeeper Alan Fettis with an acutely angled shot for his
   23rd strike of the season.
   
   Scholes's goal in the 73rd minute was more mundane but no less
   important. Beckham crossed from the right, the ball bounced off
   Scholes's knee, wrong-footing Fettis, and trickled into the goal.
   
   Beckham put the icing on the cake in injury time when he broke clear
   and steered his shot wide of Fettis.
   
   Blackburn's penalty was awarded in the 32nd minute when England full
   back Gary Neville hauled down Damien Duff just inside the area after
   being beaten for pace by the Ireland international.
   
   United's win stretched their lead to six points over Arsenal who have
   played three games fewer.
   
                        © 1998 SportsLine USA, Inc.
   _________________________________________________________________

   April 7 1998 FOOTBALL 
   
   Ferguson's side confirm title pedigree at Ewood Park
   
   Happy returns for United
   BY OLIVER HOLT FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENT
   
   Blackburn Rovers ...1 Manchester United ...3
   
   Top of table 
   
   A LOCAL paper had labelled the quartet of returning players "The
   Crunch Bunch". Another was saying that the restoration of "The Famous
   Four" would stop Manchester United's championship jitters turning into
   a fully fledged case of the shakes. Sure enough, just when the title
   seemed to be ebbing further away from them in the fraught surroundings
   of Ewood Park last night, The Crunch Bunch came through.
   
   As Arsène Wenger and his Arsenal team gathered around their television
   sets and rubbed their hands in expectation of another United stumble
   in the struggle for FA Carling Premiership dominance, a United team
   restored to something like full strength fought back from a goal down
   to surge past Blackburn Rovers.
   
   United are now six points clear at the top and although Arsenal have
   three games in hand, the way that United celebrated this victory
   suggested that its cathartic value, its capacity to steady shredded
   nerves and steal back momentum that had slipped away to North London,
   may mean it was the latest of many turning-points in the battle at the
   top this season.
   
   The Crunch Bunch - Schmeichel, Pallister, Butt and Giggs - all absent
   during much of the recent period of United's travails, gave
   performances that suggested United will be hard for Arsenal to
   overhaul now that they are fully fit. In this mood, United will beat
   Liverpool on Good Friday and make the hill even steeper for Arsenal to
   climb.
   
   After they had been thoroughly outplayed in the first half and had
   deservedly gone behind to a penalty from the excellent Sutton, United
   hit back after the interval with a fine goal from Cole. Scholes put
   them ahead with a strike that owed something to fortune, but United
   finished things off in style in the last minute when Giggs freed
   Beckham, who slid his shot past Fettis.
   
   Alex Ferguson, the United manager, had betrayed his own view of the
   importance of the match in the second half, leaping off the bench to
   remonstrate with referee and linesman after the tackles and the elbows
   had started to fly in. Afterwards, he admitted that defeat would have
   given Arsenal a significant advantage in the run-in.
   
   "I have been replaying the last two years in my mind," Ferguson said,
   "and I cannot recall us ever being given the kind of doing that
   Blackburn gave us in the first half. We were out-thought, outfought,
   outrun and outplayed. We just had to try to impose ourselves on the
   game a little bit, at least do that.
   
   "Let's be honest about it: if we had lost tonight, it would have given
   Arsenal a massive boost. We have had a warning about our performance
   level here. I would expect us to play far better against Liverpool on
   Friday. Giggs has come through with no problem at all and that will
   have done him good. It was a really gritty performance and we are
   going to need that now. I just pray that Blackburn can play like they
   did in the first half against Arsenal next week. They should bottle
   that."
   
   Ferguson had sprung a surprise before the game by deciding not to
   restore Sheringham to the starting line-up after his one-match
   suspension. Solskjaer began in attack with Cole but, in the first
   half, they hardly got a kick. Blackburn, with Sutton and Gallacher
   outstanding in attack and McKinlay dominant in midfield, were in
   control.
   
   Schmeichel was in uncharacteristically uncertain form, dropping
   crosses here and free kicks there, but he escaped unpunished. So did
   United until, after 31 minutes, Duff escaped from the shackles that
   Gary Neville had clamped on him and burst into the area. Neville
   appeared to push him to the ground, the referee awarded a penalty and
   Sutton dispatched it low past Schmeichel.
   
   In the second half, though, Ferguson brought on Butt for Solskjaer and
   pushed Scholes into a more advanced position, and United were a
   different team. Giggs hit his stride, Cole's runs carried more
   conviction and Butt held everything together as passions began to run
   high.
   
   Nine minutes after the interval, Gary Neville almost made amends for
   conceding the penalty when he forced his way in front of Wilcox in
   Blackburn's six-yard box and found himself with a clear shooting
   chance. The ball did not fall kindly for him, though, and he could
   only direct his shot weakly at Fettis.
   
   A minute later, however, United equalised. Beckham played a cushioned
   chip down the right wing into the path of Cole, who cut inside Henchoz
   as if he was not there and sent a scything, left-foot shot skimming
   across the grass, across Fettis and into the bottom corner of the
   goal.
   
   Ferguson came storming on to the touchline to protest at a linesman
   who was flagging for a foul by Beckham on Wilcox and had to be
   restrained by the fourth official, Uriah Rennie. Ferguson soon forgot
   his anger, though, when Gary Neville intercepted a pass by Wilcox and
   fed the ball to Beckham. His curling cross hit the on-rushing Scholes
   on the thigh and, with Fettis wrong-footed, the ball rolled slowly
   into the net.
   
   Schmeichel showed his true worth in the dying minutes, first saving
   Hendry's powerful header from a corner and then blocking Kenna's
   close-range shot with his legs. Beckham wrapped it up with his cool
   finish after Giggs's incisive through-ball had ripped open the tiring
   Blackburn defence. The Crunch Bunch had done their job.
   
   BLACKBURN ROVERS (4-4-2): A Fettis - J Kenna, C Hendry, S Henchoz, J
   Wilcox - G Flitcroft, W McKinlay, T Sherwood, D Duff - K Gallacher, C
   Sutton.
   
   MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): P Schmeichel - G Neville, R Johnsen, G
   Pallister, D Irwin - D Beckham, P Neville, P Scholes, R Giggs - O G
   Solskjaer (sub: N Butt, 46min), A Cole.
   
   Referee: G Ashby.

   Copyright 1998 Times Newspapers Ltd. 
   _________________________________________________________________

   United raise title tempo
   By David Lacey

   Tuesday April 7, 1998
   
   Paul Scholes swung a tense and often heated match Manchester United's
   way at Ewood Park last night when he put them ahead 18 minutes from
   the end with a shot that bobbled into the Blackburn Rovers net off his
   knee after Colin Hendry had failed to intercept David Beckham's
   centre. Earlier in the second half Andy Cole's second Premiership goal
   this year had brought the scores level, United having fallen behind to
   Chris Sutton's penalty.

   Then in the 90th minute Ryan Giggs hit a perfectly flighted ball from
   midfield for Beckham to wrap it up.

   The outcome was always going to decide how much life this season's
   championship had left in it. Arsenal, 13 points behind United at
   Christmas, were now sniffing at the champions' heels.

   With victories from each of their last three visits to Ewood, United
   clearly hoped to add further weight to the theory of horses for
   courses; Red Rum, that is, rather than Devon Loch. To this end they
   had recalled a trio of thoroughbreds to their side.

   Peter Schmeichel, Gary Pallister and Giggs were all fit, Giggs after
   missing eight games. Yet Teddy Sheringham, having served a one-match
   ban, began the match only on the United bench. Five defeats in a dozen
   Premiership games had kept United in Arsenal's sight at the top, but
   five in nine had raised doubts about Blackburn's staying power in the
   contest for places in Europe.

   The potency of the Blackburn attack was quickly in evidence. In the
   third minute Sutton instigated a movement which saw Gallacher's
   back-heel release Garry Flitcroft for a dangerous low centre which
   Gary Neville diverted beyond the far post before Sutton could reach
   it.

   By then Giggs had already reminded Jeff Kenna, Blackburn's right-back,
   of his explosive pace. But with Nicky Butt among the substitutes a
   midfield partnership of Paul Scholes and Phil Neville took a while to
   establish some sort of parity with Tim Sherwood and Billy McKinlay.
   Hodgson's decision to start with Flitcroft, rather than Stuart Ripley,
   on the right strengthened Blackburn's resistance against Giggs but
   deprived them of natural width on that side of the field. On the left
   they looked to the wiles of Damien Duff but the team had lost some
   balance.

   To get the better of Pallister near goal Sutton needed a more regular,
   and more accurate, supply of crosses than came his way in the opening
   half-hour. Schmeichel was a spectator for long periods, although he
   did make one edgy save from Kenna midway through the first half and
   later fumbled a free-kick from Stephane Henchoz.

   With Giggs finding it difficult to evade both Kenna and Flitcroft and
   Beckham a peripheral figure on the right, little of consequence
   reached the United strikers Cole and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Sutton,
   with his ability to link up the play and then get on the end of
   movements, remained the game's best chance of breaking a scrappy
   stalemate.

   Which is precisely what he did just past the half-hour. A neat return
   ball to Duff gave the winger the chance to take on Gary Neville for
   speed and skill. As Duff was beating his man Neville brought him down,
   leaving Sutton to give Blackburn the lead from the penalty spot - and
   score the 100th goal of his career.

   Not surprisingly Solskjaer gave way to Butt for the second half,
   enabling Scholes to move forward in support of Cole. United need to
   raise the tempo of their own game but there was little immediate sign
   of this happening, and after Butt's slip had enabled to Duff to run at
   an undermanned United defence the champions were relieved that
   Gallacher's poorly-aimed cross dropped into Schmeichel's hands. This
   was soon to prove a watershed for Rovers.

   After 53 minutes a much better centre from Giggs exposed Blackburn's
   defence for the first time. Jason Wilcox, misreading the flight,
   missed the ball and it fell to Gary Neville who had only Alan Fettis
   to beat but topped his shot.

   Two minutes later Cole showed how it should be done. Beckham's pass
   gave him an opportunity to threaten Blackburn on the right. Henchoz
   moved across to cover the danger and appeared to be forcing Cole
   towards the corner flag. But quickness on the turn is Cole's stock in
   trade and the Swiss centre-back was left helpless as the United
   striker cut past him on the inside before driving the ball low into
   the far corner of the net.

   As the tension grew, and Beckham and Wilcox exchanged fouls, a
   protesting Alex Ferguson had to be pulled away from officials,
   inclouding the reserve referee Uriah Rennie.

   Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2): Fettis; Kenna, Henchoz, Hendry, Wilcox;
   Flitcroft, Sherwood, McKinlay, Duff; Sutton, Gallacher.

   Manchester United (4-4-2): Schmeichel; G Neville, Johnsen, Pallister,
   Irwin; Beckham, Scholes, P Neville, Giggs; Cole, Solskjaer (Butt,
   h-t).

   Referee: G R Ashby (Worcester).
 
   Guardian
   _________________________________________________________________

                    Blackburn v Man United 06/04/98 8.00
                                      
Blackburn               (1) 1 Man United              (0) 3 FT
Sutton 32 (pen)               Cole 56
                              Scholes 73
                              Beckham 89

   Paul Scholes will score many better goals in the future, but if
   Manchester United retain their title next month, he will score few
   more important goals than the one which effectively put them six
   points clear of Arsenal.
   
   Alex Ferguson had seen his side run ragged by a one-man demonstration
   of the art of forward play by Chris Sutton, even though he had
   recalled Peter Schmeichel, Gary Pallister and Ryan Giggs.
   
   Sutton's first-half penalty, after Gary Neville had brought Damien
   Duff crashing to the ground, was no more than Roy Hodgson's side
   deserved.
   
   With Sutton dominant, Rovers controlling midfield and Colin Hendry a
   tower of defensive strength, they looked on course to record only
   their second win in 12 Premiership attempts over the Reds.
   
   But Ferguson's introduction of Nicky Butt as a half-time substitute
   saw United drag themselves back into the game by their bootstraps.
   
   Andy Cole, released by David Beckham, twisted past Stephane Henchoz to
   claim his 23rd goal of the season, but only his second in the League
   in 1998.
   
   Then Scholes struck the vital blow. Beckham sped down the right before
   firing in a low cross which Hendry could not quite reach and the ball
   struck Scholes on the outside of his right knee and dribbled past a
   helpless Alan Fettis.
   
   With virtually the final kick, Beckham, freed by a sliderule pass from
   Giggs, sealed the victory with an assured finish that puts the
   pressure back on the Gunners, even if they have three games in hand.
   
   It all came right in the end, but at half-time it was certainly not
   what Ferguson had envisaged when he put the names of Schmeichel,
   Pallister and Giggs on his team-sheet.
   
   Giggs' return after an eight-match lay-off - United had won just two
   in his absence - saw Ronny Johnsen return to the defence, with Ole
   Solskjaer surprisingly continuing as Cole's striker partner and Teddy
   Sheringham left on the bench.
   
   From the outset, though, Sutton seemed determined to turn the match
   into a one-man show.
   
   Perhaps it was the memory of his Old Trafford red card, perhaps just
   being reunited with Kevin Gallacher - the most prolific partnership in
   the Premiership this term with 30 goals between them at the start.
   
   Whatever the reason, Sutton was sensational, giving Pallister and
   Johnsen an evening they will want to forget, and one which makes his
   row with Glenn Hoddle all the more regrettable.
   
   Inside four minutes Sutton soared above Pallister to nod down for
   Gallacher, but the most impressive of back-post interventions by Gary
   Neville prevented him from converting Garry Flitcroft's low cross.
   
   Flitcroft was one of the three tigers in the Rovers midfield tank,
   Billy McKinlay and Tim Sherwood joining him in crowding out United,
   and supporting Sutton.
   
   Giggs had drifted out of the game, even though Hodgson's men had no
   natural width on the right, while Sutton's dominance saw Pallister
   booked for one crude grapple.
   
   Despite that, the first shot on target did not come until the 23rd
   minute, Sutton - inevitably - releasing Jeff Kenna to cut inside and
   shoot weakly.
   
   Schmeichel, however, failed to hold it first time and then spilled a
   high ball from deep and a Duff corner.
   
   His uncharacteristic fumblings did not help United settle and when
   they pushed forward, Hendry was outstanding. On the half-hour Rovers
   earned their reward.
   
   The Ewood fans had not forgiven Gerald Ashby for the controversial
   penalty he had awarded against Henning Berg - then at Rovers - in
   their championship season, but this one was clearcut.
   
   Sutton fed Jason Wilcox, who laid the ball into Duff. The young
   Irishman was confronted by Scholes and Neville, who initially hitched
   a piggy-back ride on Duff just outside the box.
   
   But he took the ride all the way inside, so that Duff had nowhere to
   go but down, and when Mr Ashby awarded the penalty, Sutton drilled the
   ball home under the diving Schmeichel.
   
   United had to improve and when Butt - whose calf problem meant he had
   not been risked from the start - replaced the disappointing Solskjaer,
   United were a different proposition.
   
   McKinlay and Flitcroft, who had been so formidable, were both booked
   within four minutes of the restart for fouls on Beckham and Phil
   Neville respectively, and the chances started to come.
   
   Gary Neville wasted the first by shooting weakly from eight yards at
   Fettis - deputising for the injured Tim Flowers - when Wilcox went to
   sleep as Giggs centred from the United left.
   
   Two minutes later, though, Cole equalised, receiving Beckham's driven
   pass down the right, turning inside Henchoz as if he was not there and
   planting a low, left-footed shot past Fettis into the bottom corner.
   
   Now everything changed, United suddenly showing the conviction lacking
   earlier as Butt's presence gave them the drive they had been so
   clearly missing in the opening period.
   
   Even so, Rovers had Sutton and he was so close to converting Wilcox's
   pass after Duff's flick had sent the makeshift left-back away.
   
   But Giggs was also finding room and he was released by Cole for a
   cross that Scholes met firmly, but a fraction off target before the
   passions boiled over.
   
   Beckham, incensed by what he claimed was an unpunished elbow by
   Wilcox, went in high in retaliation and Ferguson himself remonstrated
   with Mr Ashby and his linesman, before Scholes flew in on McKinlay.
   
   United, though, had the bit between their teeth, aware of how vital
   victory was, and pushed forward in search of the goal that could prove
   so crucial come May 10.
   
   Even when it came - Scholes rightly claimed the goal, even if he did
   not know too much about it - Blackburn could have claimed a point.
   
   Sutton dragged one shot wide, before Hendry, up to meet Flitcroft's
   corner and left unmarked, thundered his header straight at Schmeichel.
   
   It was still not over. Mr Ashby played on when Gallacher was dumped,
   but Schmeichel stood up to foil Kenna and Gallacher fired wide after
   outpacing Johnsen.
   
   But United stood firm and finished Rovers off in the final minute,
   Giggs brilliantly releasing Beckham, whose finish was impeccable.
   
   United play Liverpool on Friday, with the chance to really put the
   pressure on, but this, for 45 minutes at least, was a champions'
   display.
   
   Blackburn: (4-4-2) Fettis, Kenna, Sherwood, Hendry, Gallacher, Sutton,
   Wilcox, Flitcroft, McKinlay, Henchoz, Duff.
   Subs not used: Davidson, Ripley, Dahlin, Broomes, Williams.
   Booked: McKinlay, Flitcroft.
   
   Man United: (4-4-2) Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Johnsen, Pallister,
   Beckham, Cole, Giggs, P. Neville, Scholes, Solskjaer (Butt, 46).
   Subs not used: May, Sheringham, Thornley, Van Der Gouw.
   Booked: Pallister, P. Neville, Johnsen.
   
   Attendance: 30,547.
   Referee: G R Ashby (Worcester).
   _________________________________________________________________

   COLE SPARKS GREAT ESCAPE

   By Martin Lipton, PA Sport Chief Soccer Writer
   
   Alex Ferguson sighed with relief after a stunning Ewood Park
   turnaround and admitted he feared his men were blowing the title.
   
   Run ragged by a Chris Sutton wondershow that only earned Blackburn a
   spot-kick reward, United seemed to be kissing goodbye to their
   Premiership crown.
   
   But sparked by the interval introduction of Nicky Butt, Andy Cole
   hauled United level with their first real shot of the game.
   
   Then a fluke from Paul Scholes - he converted David Beckham's cross
   with the outside of his right knee past a wrong-footed Alan Fettis -
   nudged them ahead, before Beckham sealed a 3-1 victory in the final
   minute from Ryan Giggs' perfect pass.
   
   It was a win that put United back six points ahead of Arsenal,
   although the Gunners have three games in hand.
   
   But Ferguson revealed he feared the title was slipping from his side's
   grasp at the break.
   
   "We could've been out of the match, and out of the championship race,
   by half-time," said Ferguson.
   
   "If we'd got beaten it would've given Arsenal a massive boost, three
   points behind with three in hand, and that was the way it was looking.
   
   "I honestly can't remember the last time we got a 'doing' like we did
   in the first half.
   
   "We were absolutely out-thought, out-fought, out-run and out-played.
   Sutton and Kevin Gallacher were brilliant for them, the interchange
   and movement was outstanding.
   
   "We started to impose ourselves when Butt came on, stopping Billy
   McKinlay from running the game, but the turning point was Cole's goal.
   
   "I knew we were going to come back at some stage - although I couldn't
   see when - and 1-0 is always dangerous.
   
   "But Cole got a goal out of nothing and suddenly, from a position of
   absolutely slaughtering us, it was 1-1.
   
   "They still played some excellent football and they've got the right
   to feel sorry for themselves because they played the better football.
   
   "At this stage of the season your fighting qualities are important. We
   didn't give up. It wasn't a good performance but it got us a very
   important result."
   
   Ferguson's own fiery determination was shown in his response to a
   clash between Beckham and Jason Wilcox after the United man felt he
   had been caught by a flailing hand.
   
   The Old Trafford boss rushed from his dug-out to stand toe-to-toe with
   referee Gerald Ashby and his linesman, but laughed it off afterwards.
   
   "I just gave a little reminder to everyone if they think I'm going to
   retire and have a nice easy life!" said Fergie.
   
   "Wilcox definitely hit him with the hand and the linesman should've
   seen it. If a season goes by without me losing my temper, will you
   tell me and let me do something about it?"
   
   While Ferguson said his side had been handed "a warning" by their
   display, Rovers boss Roy Hodgson seemed almost inconsolable.
   
   "It wasn't a bad performance but it was a very bad result - and I find
   myself saying that too often for my comfort or the team's comfort," he
   said.
   
   "It's a crumb of comfort that Alex said we'd played the better
   football but I'd much rather have played the worst and won the game.
   
   "We had more chances and didn't defend badly, had the lion's share of
   possession, but they got the three points and that's why they're going
   for the championship.
   
   "Either I'm talking rubbish, or there's something wrong. And that's
   something we have to put right."
   
   Maybe so, but Ferguson would certainly be happy with more of the same
   from Hodgson's side when they entertain the Gunners next Monday.
   
   "I just hope they can play like that again," said Ferguson, whose side
   can extend their lead to nine points when they host Liverpool on Good
   Friday.
   
   "They should bottle that. As a manager you just hope you can produce
   that kind of performance."
   
   © PA Sporting Life
   _________________________________________________________________


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