• Premier League Plays of the Day

A birthday to forget for Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson: Not a fan of birthdays © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Villas-Boas avoids talk over future
  
• News: AVB admits Chelsea title dream over
  
• News: City joy as United & Chelsea beaten, Spurs held
  

PL round-up: City joy as Utd & Chelsea lose

Bah humbug
Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated his 70th birthday on Saturday, but judging by his comments before the match with Blackburn he was in no mood to enjoy the occasion. "I'm not getting into that," he growled. "I'm sorry for killing your question. I'm fed up with birthdays. Wait until you get to 70 and you will understand." But on the day he did smile through a pretty cringeworthy rendition of 'Happy Birthday' from a young choir, so all credit to him.

Birthday blues
The smile soon turned to a scowl as United ended the first half one nil behind. We're not saying Fergie's hairdryer was turned on full blast - but United's players did pretty much sprint out of the tunnel, some three minutes before the second half was due to resume. Ouch. It must have been even worse after the match as United were beaten 3-2.

Bruiser Berbs
We think United striker Dimitar Berbatov might have watched a few too many Giant Haystacks DVDs over the Xmas period, judging by his clumsy - and needless - foul on Chris Samba in the penalty area, which allowed Yakubu to put Rovers ahead from the spot. He had a firm grip on Samba's shirt, then proceeded to wrestle him to the ground - and, before he could apply an ankle lock, the referee Mike Dean blew for a penalty.

Stat attack
Over to good old OptaJoe on Twitter: "3 - Blackburn Rovers managed only three shots on target in this match against Manchester United, but scored with all of them. Stunned." You'd have to expect Anders Lindegaard to get a run of games in the United goal now after David de Gea failed to shower himself in glory. Or just because his beard is silly and wispy.

Didier Drogba was scrapping with everyone against Villa © Getty Images

Enlarge

Drog fight
Poor Juan Mata just can't get his chance from 12 yards. First Frank Lampard took penalty duties from him against Manchester City, then Chelsea team-mate Didier Drogba told Mata in no uncertain terms that he was going to take one, which he went on to score, against Aston Villa.

Robin not reliant
Arsenal's Robin van Persie needed a hat-trick against QPR to break Alan Shearer's record of Premier League goals in a calendar year - and he could quite easily have achieved the feat in five first-half minutes, as he found himself in positions you would expect him to score from. But maybe the pressure was getting to the Dutchman, who didn't score any of them. He did eventually notch in the second half, but it wasn't enough, and Shearer still has the honour. Probably doing the old one-arm celebration around his living room as you read this.

The Verminator
It was a bad first half for Arsenal all-round, really - Thomas Vermaelen found himself booked, even though it was Laurent Koscielny who committed the foul. We'd love to make an excuse for the referee, but they don't really look at all alike, do they? Vermaelen limped off in the second half, avoiding the possibility of him being cautioned again.

To the bar
Fernando Torres, short on confidence? Not a bit of it. With virtually his first touch against Aston Villa, he got the ball out of his feet before letting rip a howitzer from 20 yards that nearly split the crossbar in half. Didn't go in, but what a strike.

Marker pen
In what must be one of the quickest sub goals of all time, Ben Watson earned Wigan a 2-2 draw at stoke. The Latics won a penalty so, without hesitation, boss Roberto Martinez brought Watson into the game in order to take the kick. Happily for all involved in the change, he made no mistake.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.