No room for complacency says Scholes

AS Manchester United prepare to tackle relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford tomorrow (5.30pm), veteran midfielder Paul Scholes refuses to accept the Premier League title race is over.

The victory against Fulham is midweek stretched United’s advantage to five points over second-placed Liverpool, eight clear of Aston Villa and 10 ahead of Chelsea.

Scholes (34) said: “Five points is a good lead, but there is still a long way to go and each of our remaining 13 games is a big one.

“Liverpool still have to play at Old Trafford and they will come here fancying their chances.”

Scholes says every one of the United players is fighting for his place in what is arguably Sir Alex Ferguson’s strongest squad in the Scotsman’s 22 years as manager.

“There is a lot of competition throughout the team, and especially in the centre of midfield where I play, but that can only be good for the club,” explained Scholes.

Despite scoring a spectacular goal in the 3-0 victory against Fulham, which capped a vintage individual display, Scholes is far from certain to make the starting line-up tomorrow.

Such is the strength and depth of the United squad, the former England international basically plays only every other game.

Looking at the players who missed out on Wednesday, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher as the midfield pairing, with Scholes and Michael Carrick stepping aside.

Scholes admitted he has been worried at the way his goals have dried up. He scored twice last season and Wednesday’s effort was only the second of the campaign.

Scholes said: “Not scoring goals has been a slight worry.

“I have still had the chances, but I have not managed to put them away. Hopefully there will be a few more to come.”

But it hardly matters that Scholes is not as prolific as in his heyday.

United appear to marching towards their third successive Premier League title and record-equalling 18th crown.

The statistics are ominous for opponents, with 14 consecutive clean sheets in the league, a sequence spanning almost 22 hours.

They have won 10 straight competitive fixtures and had 11 home league victories in a row.

Blackburn’s larger-than-life manager Sam Allardyce and his No 2 Neil McDonald, the former Athletic midfielder, were both at Old Trafford in midweek.

Since Allardyce succeeded Paul Ince in December, Blackburn have lost only once in seven league matches, a 2-0 home defeat against Aston Villa.

They have collected 10 points from those seven league matches but remain in the bottom three.

Unfortunately for Rovers fans, there is little likelihood of that position improving tomorrow.