Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated his 70th birthday at Old Trafford on Saturday. A choir of young ladies dressed in United garb serenaded him before kickoff, and the calendar had served up what looked to be the ultimate cream puff for the Red Devils to devour: Blackburn Rovers, dead last in the Premier League, a club that had not won on the road since last season. The script called for a thumping to welcome in a New Year in which United would have ended 2011 in first place.
Talk about spoiling the party.
Blackburn won, 3-2, thanks to two goals from Yakubu””a chunky, globe-trotting Nigerian forward who made a name for himself in the Israeli league and spent most of last year on loan in the second flight””and one from Grant Hanley, one of six players on the pitch younger than 20.
I watched the game before leaving for travel; Ugh. Manchester United was outplayed.
Well, do remember that Man U did rest a couple of stars, too.
Not to take away from your disappointment or anything.