Sir Alex Ferguson thanked goalkeeper David de Gea for making the saves that allowed Manchester United to move five points clear in the Premier League title race.
Although United dominated possession against Blackburn at Ewood Park, the visitors struggled to create any clear openings other than an early Javier Hernandez effort that came back off the post.
Instead, it was Blackburn peppering their opponents’ goal, only to be denied by the man who gifted them their shock win at Old Trafford earlier in the season. De Gea denied Junior Hoilett, Marcus Olsson and Grant Hanley before the break, then repelled Morten Gamst Pedersen, who also had a goal disallowed in the second half.
“David de Gea made three fantastic saves to keep us in the game,” said Ferguson. “Although we had all the possession, we couldn’t create the openings to get in front.
“Javier Hernandez hit the post and we had a penalty kick claim – I didn’t think it was – so David has done his bit for the team.
“He has really grown in stature the boy. He was outstanding.”
Yet De Gea was shaded for the man-of-the-match prize by Valencia, who is quickly turning into United’s player of the season despite missing vast chunks of it.
Valencia was clearly the visitors’ most dangerous attacking outlet and it was his goal that finally broke Blackburn, even if there was some doubt as to whether it was a cross or a shot as the ball flashed into the far corner.
“They are saying was it a cross or a shot. It doesn’t matter,” said Ferguson. ”He hit it with such power it was always going to be a problem for the defenders.
“It was a fantastic finish. I thought he was the best player on the pitch.”
The timing of Easter Sunday’s fixtures mean the Red Devils will be eight points ahead of City by the time the Blues face Arsenal at the Emirates should they beat QPR at Old Trafford.
Not that Ferguson is looking at the situation like that, preferring instead to focus on his own side, who after Rangers then tackle Wigan and Aston Villa.
“They are all big games now,” he said. ”It doesn’t matter if it is next Sunday, next Wednesday, the Sunday after that, they are all big ones.
“The players are prepared for that. We will fight right to the end in all the games for the right to win the matches.”
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