Valencia Leads United Avengers

Just when Mancini thought he could become a prophet if he didn't choose management, United manager Alex Ferguson somehow managed again to find a way to grind out victories.

For most of the match they didn't gain an upper hand and were even looking more like the side to first concede, but two late goals from the in-form wingers earned Manchester United three important points at Ewood Park.

Blackburn had been on good form lately, grabbing seven massive points before losing out to Bolton away. Well aware of the challenge, especially their historical struggle at Ewood Park, Sir Alex went for a conservative approach to start Phil Jones in midfield alongside Carrick and Scholes. Should Javier Hernandez be able to convert a long pass to goal, Alex Ferguson's plan would seem to be going at the right direction.

But when Hernandez failed to convert once again a low cross from Valencia, which Paul Robinson saved with the help of the post, United didn't look like a side that could inflict Blackburn's third loss in the last 13 home games.

The imbalance squad left Evra to be the only threat from the left, and this was way too demanding for a 30 years old left back who has seldom absent himself from games in the past six years. When Rooney chose to operate at a deeper role and Jones was the only one who would go box to box, though often confused with positioning in the final third; all of United's threats were coming from the right side.

The lack of support from both flanks left Hernandez being crowded in the middle and his poacher nature was left unexposed with limited quality supply.

If not of De Gea's great saves before half time, denying Olsson's powerful volley and Hanley's header, the dreadful result on the last day of 2011 at Old Trafford may well be repeated.

Certainly, De Gea was determined not to let the Blackburn duos ruin his Red Devil's career once again, when he was dropped to the bench after the 2-3 loss on 31st of December.

Mancini would have brought a smiling face into his tea break during interval. He would be even more encouraged by Blackburn's effort in the second half, when Yakubu had started to get into the game. The Nigerian was just a split second slower than Rio to meet Marcus Olsson's cross which would have left De Gea with no opportunity to palm that away. Pedersen hit the net with a spectacular left foot shot, but N'Zonzi's volleyed low cross was ruled out of bounds beforehand.

Rooney struggled to lead the United front to score. On a day when he passed more than shot, he dropped way too deep to overlap with Scholes and Carrick's role. Giggs came in and restored the balance of the attack, but they took out Hernandez and opted for Welbeck, a striker more well-known of his off-ball movement outside the box rather than inside the box. On a night when Rooney wasn't as aggressive as usual, the effort by the wingers was wasted.

Luckily, Valencia did not wait till the last minute to alter the game plan. Seeing his crosses unmet again and again, he blasted the ball towards far post instead and beat Robinson in the 80th minute. The passionate celebration by the Ecuadorian and his 70 years old manager could tell how massive this goal meant to United's title hope.

Valencia flies away to celebrate breaking the deadlock

Ashley Young’s wonderful strike left Robinson hopeless to prevent Blackburn dropping three points at home, but Steve Kean definitely deserved more than the angry moaning by the fans that left the stadium early. They had fought hard enough to be only 10 minutes away from stealing a point from the reigning champions; their comeback performance in 2012 has put them in a much better position in the relegation battle as well. Blackburn fans should be more appreciative and supportive towards their brave manager, particularly in April, a crucial month in EPL.

Meanwhile, Alex Ferguson would be happy that they have more home games left than away games. They certainly look more confident and unbeatable at home. The fluency seems to have vanished when playing away from Old Trafford. Fortunately, the fighting spirit and that winner's belief were still there to carry them forward tonight.

Now Mancini will have to work out where could that extra five points come from in the last seven games and how to deal with the upcoming mind games.