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Blackburn v Man Utd: Ronaldo should head an all-star cast to victory again

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"Knowlegeable" Nik Wardle campaigns for Cristiano Ronaldo to win every award going but why is he rooting for Man Utd against Blackburn?

Chelsea's win at Everton keeps the title race alive for a while longer. The Blues sit two points behind Man United with The Reds' game in hand coming on Saturday tea-time at Blackburn. In such a situation you'd expect a neutral to want the league leaders to slip up but this neutral would rather see the team in pole position be victorious to edge them ever-nearer the big prize. I think Man United deserve to win the league and the main reason for that is, of course, Ronaldo.

Watching Man United is like watching The Great Escape: an all-star cast but with one character catching the eye above all others. Ronaldo is the Steve McQueen figure - complete with fancy tricks. In his early matches for Man United, commentators used to question his end product. Back then, they were talking about his ability to supply crosses for goals. Now he not only supplies goals, he scores them too. Lots of them.

Back in October, I looked at the runners for the top Premier League scorer. Ronaldo was back at 15 then; he's now at 1.03 - six goals clear of his nearest rival Torres, who trades at 25. And Ronaldo is nominally a winger. He deserves to win the Premier League, Player of the Year and the Golden Boot. I can't think of an original superlative to describe him, so shall simply state that I never saw George Best play live but if he was better than Ronaldo then there can be no earthly superlative to describe him.

Blackburn's Intertoto dream is fading. They'll probably need ten points from their remaining four games to stand a chance of obtaining qualification. Recent home draws against Fulham and Tottenham have hampered their European ambitions and they're at [6.4] to beat Man United, this despite their decent home record against their opponents. Although they haven't beaten any of the 'big four' this season. Man United are at [1.65] with the draw at [4.3].

At present Man United are at just [1.13] to retain the title, with Chelsea out at [8.8]. Avram Grant is right to believe that Chelsea are still in the hunt. But only just. Surprise results do occasionally happen in the Premier League - who would've thought Wigan would get a draw at Chelsea and Man United themselves were held to a draw at Middlesbrough in their last away fixture. What Chelsea need is for Blackburn to win on Saturday and then for The Blues to beat The Reds next weekend. Man United, meanwhile, can clinch the title if they win their next two fixtures.