Rovers topple Man United

FULL-TIME: Utd had their final push on goal - but Friedel the saviour collected well

The fans are going mad, an excellent win an performance by Rovers.

Rovers continue to attack and play down the clock.

Rovers win 1-0

15:51: It's getting tense as Rovers have a free kick 20 yards out - its deflected wide for a corner.

15:50: Utd get their lifeline with three minutes of time to played

15:49: One minute of normal time to play and the Rovers fans sense victory.

Yorke has a golden oppportunity to seal but shoots wide

15:46: It's fingetnail bitting time as with three minutes to go Rovers hang on by a thread to their lead.

15:45: Blanc makes a mistake and nearly lets Cole in, he's one on one with Bartez, but Bartez gets to the ball first.

15:44: 5 mins to go plus stoppage and Fergie is getting worried as Rovers again have another good chance to increase their lead.

Utd's final change sees Blanc come on for P Neville.

15:42: Keane is brought down by Flitcroft and wins the free kick - those trips to anger management course seem to be working.

15:41: Things are getting very scrappy as Tugay passes straight to Beckham - the red shirt must have confused him.

15:40: A Man Utd trwo-in is penalised for being to in the wrong place. It's Rover turn and a good run is created from it.

15:38: Rovers counter and the attack sees two Irish 'friends' do battle as Keane does well to stop Duff's run down the left.

15:36: Less than 15 minutes to go and Rovers seem determined not to let their lead slip.

Rovers 1 Man Utd 0

15:35: Todays attendance is an impressive 30,475 - the Christmas cheer has definitly come to Ewood.

15:34: The challenge has effected Duff as he breaks down the left and misses putting Rovers further in front by mear millimeters.

15:32: Yorke misses another good chance to Rovers in front, as he and Cole again team up in the box.

The first yellow card of the game goes to G Neville for bringing down Duff on the halfway line.

15:30: With 20 mins remaining Beckham comes on Giggs, but Rovers keep up the pressure with two good chances. Neill with the best, it's a pity is isn't a striker.

15:28: P Neville brings down Cole 40 yards and must thankful Cole is in the Christmas spirit as he makes nothing of it.

15:26: Nistelrooy is through on goal with only Friedel to beat, Friedel does well and forces him to shoot wide, a just result as Nistelrooy was offside.

15:25: Utd are playing some good football and keeping and Rovers on the back foot. They don't want to leave Ewood without a goal - the question is how much inquiry time will David Elleray allow them to get it.

15:23: A good ball by Scholes to Giggs sees Utd attack again but they just can't manage to produce the final touch.

Handball by Duff sees utd with a free kick 25 yards out on the right - it's headed away for a corner.

15:20: Utd have another corner as they continue to press, it is again wasted but they retain possession.

Half an hour left to play Rovers 1 Man Utd 0

15:19: Utd make a change Keane comes on for Forlan - get ready for some fireworks.

15:18: Utd get a corner after coming close, G Neville crossed the ball into Forlan but Taylor got there first.

The first corner results in a second and another Utd chance, it goes inches wide.

15:15: The game gets scrappy as both teams are caught at the back, Bartez comes rushing out his goal and nearly gives Rovers an early Christmas present.

Rovers make their first change with Gillespie coming on for Dunn.

15:13: Utd attack and the ball is played through to Forlan, this time the offside flag favours Rovers.

15:12: The Utd fans get louder as they see both Keane and Beckham warming up, is Fergie going to make a change soon.

15:11: Rovers attack and put some good passes together. It is eventually taken wide by Duff and crossed in, the ball beats Bartez at the near post, but both Cole and Yorke fail to get on the end of it.

15:09: Rovers have a free kick 35 yards out after Scholes brings down Cole, he gets a talking to from Elleray but no card.

15:08: Cole and Yorke link up as they did when they played for Utd, this time they are stopped by the linesman.

Yorke goes down and hobbles off the pitch - it's nothing serious and rejoins the play.

15:06: A quiet start sees both sides have runs into each others half but with nothing from them.

15:05: No changes by either side as Utd the second half underway.

Can Rovers hold to their lead for the next 45 mins

14:48: Half time, Rovers 1 Man utd 0

Souness should be happy lets hope Rovers can keep it up in the second.

14:47: Utd push forward again and get a throw in its taken quickly by Forlan to Giggs. Ole picks it up and gets a shot away, Friedel saves and Utd get the corner - it's long and wasted.

One minute of extra time will be played before the break.

14:45: Three minutes to go before half time, hopefully Rovers can keep the lead. It was an excellent goal and was clearly coming.

Man Utd push forward but the Rovers defence holds.

14:43: Rovers have another corner and continue to pile on the pressure.

It pays off as the ball falls to Flitcroft who shoots into the ground past Bartez and into the back of the net Rovers 1 Man Utd 0

14:41: It's a corner to Rovers after Dunn's shoot is saved by Bartez, the corner comes to nothing but Dunn nearly put Rovers in front. He ran from midfield, nutmegged Neville and was allowed to get his shot away.

14:38: Utd try to prove me wrong with another golden opportunity, Forlan is down the right and gets around his mark he lays it to Ole who shoots straight at Johansson.

14:36: 10 mins to go before half time and its looking like Rovers first of three games with Utd may end goaless.

14:34: The play is concentrated in midfield with both teams trying to break through and find the opening goal.

Utd find the break and miss an absolute sitter, Giggs broke free passed to Forlan who played onto van N who put it over the bar from 5 yards.

14:31: Utd have a corner, Giggs takes, theres a bit of a scramble and Friedel eventually collects to start another Rovers attack.

14:29: Rover first goal attempt is by Cole from a Neill cross it's a good header but wide, Bartez didn't move.

14:28: Half an hour gone and it remains goaless, the Utd fans are less vocal and seemingly more nervous as they are all stood up.

Rover 0 Man utd 0

14:26: Neill is again out of defence and cross from the right, but it's easily gathered Bartez. Utd quickly attack but the defence holds.

14:24: Another Utd attack is well dealt with, the early jitters from the Rovers defence have gone, replaced by precise passing

14:22: A good run by Rovers sees Cole in the box with only one man to beat he turns but just gets the ball knocked away from him - surely Cole or Yorke will score today!

Rovers 0 Man Utd 0 (20 mins gone)

14:21: After a good spell from Rovers, Utd find their touch again and start to pressure the Rovers defence with a number of good surging runs - the storm is weather and Rovers come away with it.

14:19: The pace of the game has quicken with Rovers maintaining the pressure. But they're caught on the break - Taylor is back to tidy and start another attack

14:19: The pace of the game has quicken with Rovers maintaining the pressure. But they're caught on the break - Taylor is back to tidy and start another attack

14:15: Neill finds luck on his side as his run from defence goes unchallenged, he's through on goal but finally runs into Brown.

14:14: Rovers push forward with Dunn through the middle, the Utd defence are upto it and Rovers have a throw in.

Cole through on goal but it's too strong and bartez collects.

14:12: 10 mins gone Rovers 0 Man Utd 0.

Utd are having more of the play and more of the chances

14:11: Scholes plays the long ball to Giggs, he cuts inside and crosses. The ball is loose and falls to van N, who shoots but it's deflected for a corner - which comes to nothing.

14:09: Rovers make their first meaningful attack with Yorke and Cole's every move being jeered.

14:08: The game begins to settle down and Utd start to dominate the midfield passing the ball nicely.

The ball is passed back to Friedel who makes a poor clearance straight back to utd - they are surprised and don't take advantage.

14:06: Friedel kicks it up field but it's wasted and Utd attack again.

14:04: Utd soon their first into the Rovers with Giggs, he takes all the way but just too far and its out of play.

14:03: It's a bright start from Rovers with an early ball played over the top to Duff but he's just offside.

14:01: The early morning fog has lifted and todays referee, David Elleray, gets the game underway with Rovers kicking off.

13:58: Rovers Man Utd, 22nd December 2002, 2.00pm KO

Today's Teams

Rovers: Friedel, Neill, Tugay, Short, Flitcroft, Dunn, Cole, Duff, Johansson, Yorke, Taylor. Subs - Todd, Jansen, Gillespie, Ostenstad, Kelly.

Man Utd: Bartez, G Neville, P Neville, Van Nistelrooy, Giggs, Scholes, Solskjaer, Forlan, O'Shea, Brown, Silvestre. Subs - Blanc, beckham, Keane, Richardson, Ricardo.