Blackburn Rovers 2 Manchester United 3 - Peter White's big match verdict

THE enigma that was Andy Cole, too often the forgotten man of Manchester United, buried Blackburn Rovers in a hole of mineshaft proportions in front of Ewood's biggest gate of the season.

On a day of stark contrasts the rising and falling fortunes of these two clubs - as we reported on Friday - could not have been more vividly illustrated.

United, surely, will, once again, be handed the championship trophy on a silver platter next month.

The big concern for the majority of the crowd, however, was whether they were also seeing one of the teams who are about to lose out on the Premiership's pot of gold by being relegated.

Cole went prospecting and deservedly struck lucky - scoring one goal and putting two others on a plate for his hungry team-mates as they outclassed Rovers.

In fact, Nick Faldo was probably nearer making the cut in the Masters than they were of saving this game, let alone winning it.

And a major talking point among supporters afterwards was that every member of the team must be passionately committed to the cause, with sleeves rolled up, if safety is to be achieved. Many pointed the finger particularly at Graeme Le Saux and, sadly, their misgivings could be understood.

For - another contrast - if Cole has truly emerged from the shadows of the past, then Le Saux is, arguably, Ewood's greatest enigma of the present.

Playing for England, the man whose career was going nowhere when Rovers plucked him from Chelsea's reserves, and who has courageously battled back from a terrible injury, looks the best left back in the country.

In a Rovers shirt in recent weeks, and especially on Saturday, you have to ask - where was the drive and passion he showed when performing for his country?

The eloquent Le Saux left serious question marks over his Ewood future when interviewed recently.

Maybe actions speak louder than words and it summed up how Rovers, in general, are under-achieving.

United, minus four players who would be deemed first team regulars in Peter Schmeichel, David May, Ryan Giggs and Denis Irwin - and resting David Beckham - simply wheeled on another handful of stars and the bandwagon continued to roll relentlessly forward.

Rovers, on the other hand, were denied the services of Chris Sutton, who failed a late fitness test, and suddenly seemed totally bereft of any attacking strength.

That can't be right at this level.

And you cannot afford to have the stuffing knocked out of you, even when you are so clearly second best as Rovers were to a United side who showed all the qualities they lacked. That they knew they were well beaten was seen when Paul Warhurst - an attacking gamble which didn't come off - scored Rovers' second with two minutes, plus stoppage time remaining.

There was such a lack of enthusiasm for the goal on the field, my first thought was it had been disallowed.

While the midfield trio couldn't match their United opponents for class on the day, at least the three of them battled but were chasing shadows.

Colin Hendry continues to play through the pain barrier and, with others, tried hard to keep the eager red shirts at bay when there was a danger they could be over-run.

But gaps continually appeared and, despite scoring twice at the other end, Rovers never looked dangerous.

The only bright spot was that Kevin Gallacher's injury was not serious. How Rovers need him on song.

As usual, there was some bad temper and a slice or two of controversy. But the generous penalty award early in the game didn't affect the outcome.

United were dominant from the start and hit the woodwork twice in the opening minutes through Gary Pallister and Roy Keane.

When Kenna was harshly judged to have fouled Nicky Butt, whose dive almost took him into orbit on 22 minutes, Tim Flowers raised spirits by going down to his left to save a weak Eric Cantona penalty. Fittingly, Kenna completed the clearance. But, 10 minutes later, Cantona played one of those delightfully subtle through balls, Cole shook off Henning Berg's attentions and struck low and left footed from about 10 yards.

Surprisingly, Rovers levelled within three minutes when the ball was cleared to Billy McKinlay some 35 yards out and he stunned United with a spectacular volley low into the bottom corner.

But United regained the lead three minutes before half time when patient football eventually saw Cole play in Paul Scholes on the right and his crisp drive flew into the far corner.

It must have been tempting to change things round to add attacking impetus but Rovers delayed their substitutions until the 79th minute and, three minutes later, the game was over.

Cole wriggled down the right, pulled back the perfect ball and Cantona finished with an arrogant right-foot shot on the edge of the six-yard box.

Per Pedersen did well on the left to escape his marker and cross for an unmarked Warhurst to tap in and make it 3-2 but the game was up for Rovers and they knew it.

Alex Ferguson didn't even need to cast his usual anxious glances at the watch, despite a late Pedersen header.

As Rovers-United games go, this ranks among the most one-sided.

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