Dimitar Berbatov scores five goals as Man United blank Indian-owned Blackburn Rovers 7-1 to top Premier League chart
Dimitar Berbatov scores five goals as Man United blank Indian-owned Blackburn Rovers 7-1 to top Premier League chart
Manchester United moved top of the Premier League as an incredible five goals from Dimitar Berbatov helped Sir Alex Ferguson's side humiliate Blackburn Rovers 7-1 on Saturday.
Wayne Rooney made his first Old Trafford start since he almost left Manchester United last month, but it was Berbatov who stole the show on a memorable afternoon for the Bulgarian striker.
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In a sign of what was to come, Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson failed to clear properly, as did Michel Salgado when he attempted a rescue act and their ineptitude allowed Nani to get the ball to Rooney who played in Berbatov and he swept past Robinson after 72 seconds.
It was his first goal since netting a hat-trick against Liverpool on September 19 and set United up to totally dominate the encounter.
Nani had a fine start to the game as he ran repeatedly at the Rovers' defence and Chris Samba almost turned the ball past his own goalkeeper after 15 minutes.
Blackburn were missing the influential Morten Gamst Pedersen who pulled his hamstring against Aston Villa last weekend and without him Blackburn just could not get on the ball.
Manchester City held
Matthew Etherington was Stoke's last-gasp hero as Manchester City were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium in Stoke.
City boss Roberto Mancini was about to celebrate his side's second away win inside six days and confirmation that his big-money stars were finally beginning to gel together as genuine Premier League title contenders.
But Etherington changed all that in the blink of an eye two minutes into injury time with his dramatic equaliser.
Arsenal thrash Villa
Arsenal briefly led the table after getting back on track at the end of a traumatic week with a 4-2 victory at Aston Villa.
The Gunners crashed 2-0 at Braga in the Champions League in midweek, just days after blowing a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to north London rivals Tottenham.
But Andrey Arshavin opened the scoring in the 39th minute and Samir Nasri increased Arsenal's lead six minutes later.
Ciaran Clark's 52nd minute strike briefly gave Villa some hope before Morocco forward Marouane Chamakh poked in the third goal.
Clark scored again from close-range in the 70th minute but Jack Wilshere sealed the points with a diving header in stoppage time.u00a0
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