Blackburn stun Manchester United
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-09-25 13:56

MORTEN Gamst Pedersen struck twice to stun Manchester United as Blackburn Rovers won at Old Trafford overnight.

The surprise defeat hammers another dent into United's title challenge, leaving them ten points adrift of English Premiership leaders Chelsea in fifth place while Rovers move out of the bottom three and up into 12th.

Netherlands striker Ruud van Nistelrooy had brought United back into the game when he equalised Pedersen's 33rd minute opening goal with a close range effort midway through the second half.

But a mistake by Paul Scholes allowed Norway midfielder Pedersen to complete a deserved victory, prompting a chorus of jeers around Old Trafford as United boss Alex Ferguson and his players left the pitch to contemplate a title chase that is already shaping up to be a daunting challenge.

The inquest into United's defeat will undoubtedly centre on Ferguson's decision to leave volatile England striker Wayne Rooney on the substitutes bench.

Having struggled to create a chance of note during last weekend's drab, goalless draw with Liverpool, Ferguson was hoping his side would provide a performance that would support the manager's belief that his side are capable of challenging champions Chelsea.

But instead of a convincing victory over one of the Premiership's more workmanlike sides, United rarely clicked and their wastefulness in front of goal bore all the hallmarks of side struggling for form.

Blackburn's opening salvo may have been impressive and would have brought an eighth minute goal if Rovers striker Paul Dickov had connected with Pedersen's teasing low cross, but it was United's failure to bury a succession of chances that proved decisive.

On another day, Scholes and South Korea's Park Ji-Sung would have scored when presented with clear shots 12 yards out, and Alan Smith and Cristiano Ronaldo would have done better with free headers.

However, Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel remained largely untroubled as Ferguson's decision to leave out Rooney looked increasingly costly.

United's shooting misery only bolstered Blackburn's self-belief and they edged their way back into the game with Dickov, Michael Gray and David Bentley all forcing saves from Van der Sar.

Pedersen put Blackburn ahead when his 33rd-minute free kick was allowed to drift through a sea of heads and inside the far post.

The introduction of Rooney ten minutes after the break soon paid dividends and he was responsible for setting up Van Nistelrooy's goal.

But Scholes gifted the points to Blackburn when he conceded possession, allowing Pedersen to complete a memorable match for Rovers manager, and former United favourite, Mark Hughes.

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