Ferguson facing injury pile-up

Man United 2, Blackburn R 1

OLD PALS Sir Alex Ferguson and Sam Allardyce got involved in a furious exchange of views as Manchester United scraped past Blackburn at Old Trafford.

A magnificent Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick was enough to give United a 2-1 win.

But Blackburn were aggrieved Ronaldo was still on the pitch after escaping a booking for a petulant kick at David Dunn.

As he went on to pick up a yellow card for a dive, the Rovers camp knew the world player of the year might have been sent off.

And irritation turned to fury later on as Rafael Da Silva put his hands on Morten Gamst Pedersen’s shoulders inside the area, only for referee Howard Webb to rule there had been no foul as the Norwegian hit the ground.

``The boy Pedersen dived,’’ argued Ferguson. ``There is no question about that at all. Yet Cristiano Ronaldo gets booked for the same thing and Pedersen doesn’t.

``Both cases were the same. You have to give either a penalty or a yellow card.’’

Allardyce clearly reached a different conclusion.

``You would have to ask Howard Webb about the kick on Dunn ,’’ said Allardyce. ``As far as Pedersen goes, Sir Alex has his opinion, I have a different one.

``Unfortunately, most clubs might not get a decision like that here. It wasn’t a blatant one but it was a penalty. Pedersen got pulled and tugged.’’

It was the major talking point from a game United ‘just about’ deserved to win according to Ferguson, but one in which they also lost their magnificent defensive record.

After 1,334 minutes, United were finally breached by Roque Santa Cruz after a mix-up between Nani and Paul Scholes created an opening before Rio Ferdinand and Tomasz Kuszczak - standing in for the rested Edwin van der Sar - got involved in a tangle.

``It was a really bad goal to give away,’’ said Ferguson. ``It was so soft and indicative of our performance really.’’

Wayne Rooney had put United in front when he finished off Nani’s low cross that Ryan Nelsen had failed to cut out.

Then it was left to Ronaldo to profit from his reprieve by driving home a superb free-kick.
Yet Ferguson was left bemoaning a lengthening injury list ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League showdown with Inter Milan.

Nemanja Vidic is suspended and both Gary Neville and Wes Brown have been ruled out already. Now Ferguson seems certain to be without Jonny Evans, who limped off immediately after Ronaldo’s matchwinner.

It means Ferguson is crossing his fingers that John O’Shea recovers from a sore heel in time to play against Jose Mourinho’s side at the San Siro.

``It is a nightmare,’’ admitted the United chief. ``Somewhere I have to find two centre-backs but it is looking very doubtful because Jonny is unlikely to play now.’’

If O’Shea does not make it, Ferguson is facing the uncomfortable prospect of calling up reserve-team rookie James Chester or playing one of his more experienced players out of position.

Ferguson’s concerns are very different to those of Allardyce, whose team visit Coventry in an FA Cup fifth round replay on Tuesday still firmly entrenched in the relegation zone.

``We had a couple of opportunities to get ourselves in front, one just before half-time and another after it when Ryan Nelsen hit a post,’’ said the Rovers chief.

``It would have been a real bonus for us today.’’