By David Hobbs
April 2 2005

United were held to their 4th goalless draw of the Premiership season at Old Trafford as the Red Devils' firing line continued to fail to turn chances into goals. The game summed up their frustrating season as Arsenal leap-frogged United into 2nd position.

Stubborn Rovers Hold United

Manchester United 0 

Blackburn Rovers 0

Manchester United were held to their 4th goalless draw of the Premiership season at Old Trafford as the Red Devils' firing line continued to fail to turn chances into goals.

The game summed up their frustrating season as Arsenal leap-frogged United into 2nd position following their 4-1 demolition of relegation threatened Norwich City.

Rio Ferdinand started in defence along with John O'Shea after shaking off a hamstring problem but Gabriel Heinze was exempt after traveling hundreds of miles with Argentina in midweek.

International fatigued seemed to have played a big part of the stalemate, despite Sir Alex Ferguson resting captain Roy Keane. However, the Irishman was immediately called into action as Ryan Giggs had to be replaced minutes into the game.

United had a flurry of decent chances in the opening moments of the game as goalkeeper Brad Friedel blocked Wayne Rooney's promising header and later saved Mikael Silvestre's header from Paul Scholes' looping set piece.

Rooney continued to be a thorn in the opposition's side, unleashing a thunderous 25-yard drive that smacked Friedel's woodwork after 25 minutes.

Roy Keane, a 6th minute substitute for Giggs, also crashed the woodwork from the edge of the area on the stroke of half time. Mikael Silvestre had a second header headed off the line by Morten Gamst Pedersen as Paul Scholes scuffed a golden chance.

After the break, Steven Reid kept Tim Howard warm with a deflected shot. Slack defending from Gary Neville gave Jon Stead an opportunity to break the deadlock but his weak shot trickled wide.

A timid Ruud van Nistelrooy was replaced on the hour mark with Alan Smith as United surged for a goal.

John O'Shea even tried his luck from quite some distance, however the left footed shot proved no real task for a defiant Friedel.

Substitute Alan Smith was booked for a reckless foul on Steven Reid as fans started to filter out of Old Trafford.

The draw now leaves United fighting for second spot.

Final Score: Manchester United 0 - 0 Blackburn Rovers
Att: 67, 939

Manchester United: T Howard, G Neville, R Ferdinand, M Silvestre, J O'Shea, C Ronaldo, P Scholes, Q Fortune, R Giggs (6 R Keane) , W Rooney, R van Nistelrooy (63 A Smith) Subs: P Neville, W Brown, R Carroll, A Smith, R Keane

Blackburn Rovers: Friedel, L Neill, A Todd, R Nelsen, D Matteo, S Reid, D Thompson, A Mokoena (68 B Emerton) , G Flitcroft, M Pedersen (78 P Gallagher) , J Stead. Subs: L Amoruso, B Emerton, K Tugay, P Enckelman, P Gallagher

Refereed By: Mike Riley