They won the title here at Ewood Park last year and when Antonio Valencia struck with a quite breathtaking finish on this occasion, it certainly felt as though Manchester United had just done so again.
Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated wildly with his staff, the 7,000 travelling supporters burst into song and somewhere in an exclusive Cheshire suburb, an Italian with more than a passing interest cursed his luck and probably cursed a few of his Manchester City players too.
Roberto Mancini had said this would be a draw, and after correctly predicting United’s recent victory against Tottenham it did appear he might have called it right again.
After all, it took United 81 minutes to break the deadlock against a Blackburn side fighting valiantly for their Barclays Premier League lives. It took an extra special goal to penetrate a superbly organised defence. Time after time Valencia had seen his crosses from the right repelled by Scott Dann and Grant Hanley as Blackburn’s centre halves combined brilliantly to frustrate a United side who enjoyed so much possession.
But when Valencia accelerated on to a ball forward from Rafael Da Silva and approached the edge of the Blackburn penalty area, he unleashed a shot that was travelling with such pace it beat Paul Robinson at his far post.
That stunning strike was followed by a similarly impressive effort from Ashley Young five minutes later, the United winger collecting a pass from Valencia before turning to squeeze a right-foot shot between Robinson and his left-hand post.
Moments later United’s jubilant fans asked that Ferguson give them a wave. But he responded with a trademark shake of the fists, summing up the significance of a victory that takes his side five points clear of their now not-so-noisy neighbours.
If they extend that advantage to eight points with victory against QPR at Old Trafford on Sunday, they face the mouthwatering prospect of being able to secure a 20th league championship for the club at The Etihad Stadium on April 30. It is performances like this that win titles, though, because this was no easy contest for United when Blackburn remain so determined to avoid relegation under the guidance of Steve Kean.
When United came here last year, they were held to a draw yet still secured their 19th title. The year before they were held to a draw that handed the initiative to Chelsea and enabled them to win the championship.
Last night Blackburn threatened to put a dent in United’s title challenge again. David de Gea had to make four world-class saves. Rio Ferdinand had to make one of the finest tackles you will see this season. And it took the sharp eyes of an assistant referee to spot that the ball had gone out of play before Steven Nzonzi delivered the pass Morten Gamst Pederson met with a terrific low drive that proved beyond even De Gea.
The goalkeper’s last League encounter with Blackburn was a disaster. Three months later, he was superb, his contribution crucial to the seven-match winning streak that has seen United first catch City and then surge past them.
At times here their their football was outstanding. Before Young’s goal there were more than 40 passes. But Ferguson’s tactics were spot on, too, and the fact that he was able to dispatch players of the quality of Danny Welbeck, Ryan Giggs and Young from the bench told its own story.
Furthermore, none of them refused to warm up, and nobody bitched at the manager when they were taken off.
It was an interesting side Ferguson selected, with Wayne Rooney wide on the left and Phil Jones to the right of a midfield three that also included Michael Carrick and and Paul Scholes. Then there was the deployment of the centre halves, with Ferdinand to the left of Jonny Evans.
But at no point did those travelling fans appear concerned. They were far too busy suggesting their main rivals were ‘cracking up’.
United started brightly, an excellent ball from Rooney inviting Javier Hernandez to score but the striker dragged his effort wide.
Not that United were having it all their own way. This game was every bit as important to Blackburn and they too showed some early promise, not least in the form of some darting runs from Yakubu and Junior Hoilett.
Hernandez went desperately close in the 10th minute when Valencia delivered a perfect cross from the right flank. The Mexican’s shot hit the post and bounced against Robinson’s back but the Blackburn goalkeeper recovered just in time to stop the ball crossing the line.
At the opposite end Hoilett continued to shine and a surging run ended with a terrific shot that forced a fine save from De Gea.
It was all the more impressive because Blackburn’s midfield were sitting so deep they allowed Scholes and Carrick to dominate that area and so provide their front men with more ammunition.
By the time the interval arrived, though, De Gea had made two more truly outstanding saves, first to push a blistering effort from Marcus Olsson to safety and then to block a header from Hanley from the resulting corner.
After the break United increased the pressure. Rooney sent an effort over the bar and then forced a superb save from Robinson with an excellent free-kick.
But it would require more heroics from De Gea to deny Pedersen, as well as the sharp eyes of the officials moments later. Then Ferdinand had to time his challenge to perfection to take the ball off the feet of the rapidly advancing Yakubu when it seemed he would reward a cross from Hoilett with a goal.
But there was no stopping Valencia. Afterwards he said it was half cross, half shot. ‘50-50’. It may still bring home 100 per cent of the title.
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