Game on for the title race?

Just a few days after Chelsea seemingly threw away their shot at the title, they were given a second chance by a Blackburn team notorious for their performances at home against title chasers.

Chelsea had done their business in a less than impressive way by beating Everton on Thursday night. Now they were watching, hoping and praying that Blackburn could do them a favour. A goal mid-way through the first half from Santa Cruz put the home side ahead, but United had a decent penalty shout turned down by referee Rob Styles, when Wayne Rooney was challenged in the box by Steven Reid. Rob Styles’ name may well feature in this blog again before I’ve finished…

Moments after he had a penalty appeal turned down, Rooney launched into a challenge which on another day could easily of seen him sent from the field in disgrace. Then just a minute later he was kicking out at another Blackburn player - it seemed like he had lost his head and it wasn’t to be his day.

The second half though saw a completely different game and the last twenty minutes reminded me so much of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea. When his teams were behind late in the game, they seemed to just go through the gears and produce wave after wave of attack.

United had two good penalty shouts turned down by the aforementioned Styles, one for a foul on Ronaldo and another for a quite clear handball by Brett Emerton. Rooney and Ronaldo both spurned chances; the latter had seen Brad Friedel stop him on no fewer than three occasions when it seemed for all the tea in china that the net was going to bulge.

The big yank then made a quite breathtaking save to deny John O’Shea from two yards out. United were rampant knowing that a defeat would suddenly not just bring Chelsea right back in it, but possibly even make them favourites for the league. From the resulting corner though Carlos Tevez headed home from a Paul Scholes flick-on and United had their valuable point.

With three games left, United lead Chelsea by three points and get to travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime. With United having a substantial lead in goal difference, even a defeat at Chelsea doesn’t hurt them if they beat a woeful West Ham side and a Wigan team who’ll hope to be safe by the final day.

Manchester United should still win the title but that Carlos Tevez goal might just be the most important one of the season. Had they lost today then suddenly a very mediocre Chelsea side had their title fate in their own hands.

Manchester United deserve to win the Premiership, of that I have little doubt, however it would’ve been nice to see them lose today, thus making next Saturday’s showdown all the more important.