• Manchester United 2-3 Blackburn, Premier League

Rovers stun United to spoil Fergie's celebrations

Grant Hanley won it for Blackburn with a late header © Getty Images

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Manchester United blew the chance to end 2011 on top of the Premier League table as Blackburn profited from David de Gea's late howler to earn a stunning 3-2 victory at Old Trafford.

United fell 2-0 behind thanks to a brace from Yakubu - the first coming from the penalty spot - but two goals from Dimitar Berbatov pulled them level with 25 minutes to play, before Grant Hanley claimed a late winner after De Gea made a hash of a corner.

Manchester City, who play at Sunderland on Sunday, will now begin 2012 at the summit of the Premier League - and, on his 70th birthday, that will be an unpalatable truth for Sir Alex Ferguson.

Blackburn boss Steve Kean looked to be hanging onto his job by a thread when Rovers lost 2-1 to Bolton before Christmas, but since then they have taken four points from trips to Anfield and Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney was not even named on the bench by Ferguson, as Javier Hernandez partnered Dimitar Berbatov in United's attack. And on 15 minutes it was Berbatov who dragged Chris Samba to the ground in the penalty area, allowing Yakubu to fire Rovers into a shock lead from the penalty spot. It was the visitors' first significant foray into the United half, having been forced deep by a stream of early home attacks - and it was a needless foul from Berbatov, who is set to have his contract extended at Old Trafford by a year.

In front of a subdued crowd, United looked listless after suffering that early setback, and it took until the 27th minute for them to fashion a chance to equalise. Phil Jones, formerly of Blackburn, stormed onto a poorly-cleared corner six yards out - only to see his fierce drive smothered by a sea of black-and-yellow shirts.

Yakubu scored twice for Blackburn, the first from the penalty spot © PA Photos

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Although Mark Bunn was forced to save well from Nani and Hernandez shortly before the break, it was hard to remember a more lethargic first-half performance from United, who had absolutely no tempo in their game both offensively and defensively.

Anderson replaced Hernandez at half-time as Ferguson sought to alter the pattern of the match, but it was Blackburn who landed the next blow. Again it was Yakubu; steaming through first Michael Carrick and then Jones, he powered into the area before drilling through De Gea with a left-footed strike on 49th.

Yet almost instantly the deficit was halved as Berbatov took advantage of some lazy defending from Steven N'Zonzi to head in Park Ji-sung's mishit shot from inside the six-yard box. The rapid response was just the tonic for United and, after a rampant ten minutes, they equalised in the 62nd when Berbatov swept in Antonio Valencia's low cross.

The stage had been set for United to storm to a dramatic comeback victory, a fitting tribute to master-motivator Ferguson - but Blackburn did not crumble and began to grow into the game, having never abandoned their commitment to keeping the ball, even in awkward situations.

When the 80th minute rolled around, United had returned to their earlier habits, playing with no energy or fluency, and they were punished by a goal from Rovers defender Hanley. De Gea failed to deal with a corner and, with a determination conspicuously lacking in the United defence, Hanley nodded the loose ball into the back of the net.

United failed to muster a rousing finish, although Jones did have a late shot inadvertantly cleared off the line by Will Keane, his team-mate, as United handed the title advantage to City.

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