Stead Strike Sinks Substandard United

Blackburn's on-form striker Jonathan Stead was on hand to fire home Rovers' Premiership safety at Ewood Park and sink Manchester United's hopes of 2nd spot into the abyss.

Chelsea hammered 4 past mid-table Southampton at Stamford Bridge today meaning they go 4 points above the Red Devils in 2nd spot, leaving United's chances of automatic qualification into the Champions League incredibly unlikely.

Graeme Souness' outfit are now guaranteed a place in the 2004/2005 season after Leicester City and Wolves both got relegated this afternoon.

Sir Alex Ferguson snipped and cut his Manchester United team today and decided to leave out duo Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy, who have both been linked with a move away from Old Trafford. Louis Saha was also mysteriously left out of the team.

World Cup winner Kleberson made a return from injury and was in a starting XI that included Nicky Butt, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Phil Neville. Young American centre-half Jonathan Spector was named on the bench.

Neither side failed to make an impression in the first half and you could see that both teams lacked width.

Norwegian forward Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took advantage of Rovers' lazy defending early on. He found room in the box for Giggs to pass into but Solskjaer's shot went flashing wide of Brad Friedel's goal.

The recently former striking partnership of Jon Stead and former United striker Andy Cole seemed to be working and the pair caused havoc in-front of goal. Cole managed to find the back of Tim Howard's net 19 minutes in but was dubbed offside. Stead grazed the post with a close shot moments later.

A flurry of attacking misses soon followed as Solskjaer's driven and powerful cross made Friedel work whilst Kleberson tried an optimistic scissors kick from the edge of the area.

Kleberson tired his luck from a freekick with seconds of the half to go but his piledriving effort was stopped by the wall.

The first real chance of the game came mid-way through the second half when Tim Howard pulled off an amazing save to stop a fierce Tugay volley.

Sir Alex added some spice to the United attack minutes later and brought on attacking pair Darren Fletcher and David Bellion who, like most of the other 20 players, were flat.

Friedal replicated his fellow countryman Howard's save when a goal-bound Ryan Giggs effort was terrifically blocked by the American.

Former Huddersfield striker Jonathan Stead claimed the only thing this dull game was missing, a goal. The 21-year old was on hand to fire Rovers home a winner and secure their Premiership safety.

Full time: Blackburn Rovers 1 - Manchester United 0
                                Att: 29, 616

Manchester United: Howard, Gary Neville, Silvestre, Brown, O'Shea, Phil Neville, Butt, Djemba-Djemba, Giggs, Kleberson, Solskjaer. Subs: Bellion, Forlan, Fletcher, Spector, Carroll.

Blackburn Rovers: Friedel, Neill, Babbel, Johansson, Gray, Andresen, Flitcroft, Tugay, Douglas, Stead, Cole. Subs: Reid, Gallagher, Yorke, Emerton, Enckelman.