United Draw With Rivals

By David Hobbs
September 11 2004

Manchester United came from behind to draw level with Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers right at the last minute courtesy of a late Alan Smith goal. Paul Dickov took the lead and Lorenzo Amoroso was dismissed later on in the game.

Smith Strike Salvages Late Point

Manchester United came from behind to draw level with Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers right at the last minute courtesy of a late Alan Smith goal.

Graeme Souness' side took the lead 17 minutes into the game thanks to new-recruit Paul Dickov, bagging his second goal for the club since his move from Leicester City in the summer and were reduced to 10-man after Lorenso Amoruso was dismissed for a violent tackle on Louis Saha.

Kleberson started in midfield along with Eric Djemba-Djemba and Cristiano Ronaldo whilst Jonathan Spector continued his spell at left-back.

Rovers fielded debutant Gamst Morten Pedersen, a £2.5 million signing from Tromso, on the left-hand side of midfield. Pedersen was once scouted by The Red Devils.

A defensive dilemma between both John O'Shea and goalkeeper Tim Howard could have resulted in Paul Dickov taking the lead earlier on in the game. Howard's bad clearance found Dickov but couldn't make anything of the situation.

Seconds after Rovers substituted an injured David Thompson for a fresh Brett Emerton, they took the lead via some great control by Dickov, who truned and volley home past Tim Howard from an acute angle.

Brazilian Kleberson came close moments before the interval but Brad Freidal tamed the midfielder's thunderbolt strike.

Just one half-time substitute from United, Louis Saha replace Kleberson to make his first appearance of the season.

United went flat out to claim an equaliser in the second period but Rovers produced some fantastic defensive blocks to deny a number of attempts from the visitors.

Lorenzo Amoroso saw red from referee Alan Wiley after a bad-timed tackle on Louis Saha. He had previously been booked earlier on in the game.

Brett Emerton did well to set up new-boy Gamst Morten Pedersen but the Norwegian couldn't convert his fine ball to seal the points.

United grabbed a surprise equalizer deep into injury time through a controversial Louis Saha pass that met Alan Smith who fired home form close range. The Frenchman was said to have handled the ball but United came away with just the one point.

Final Score: Blackburn Rovers 1 - Manchester United 1

United: Howard, Gary Neville, O'Shea, Silvestre, Spector (Miller 75), Ronaldo, Djemba-Djemba (Bellion 80), Kleberson (Saha 46), Giggs, Scholes, Smith.

Rovers: Friedel, Neill, Short, Amoruso, Matteo, Thompson (Emerton 16), Ferguson, Tugay, Pedersen, Stead (Yorke 64), Dickov (Johansson 71).