Manchester United stretched their winning run in the Premier League to 10 games as a 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers allowed Sir Alex Ferguson's side to open an eight-point lead at the top of the table.
Having won the Fifa World Club Cup in December, United have been touted as potential quintuple winners as they prepare for the Carling Cup final and remain in the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League but, despite Wayne Rooney's opener, they did not have it all their own way at Old Trafford on Saturday evening.
The England international scored for the fourth league game in a row to seemingly set United on course to live up to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger's recent 'untouchables' tag when collecting Nani's pass and slotting past Paul Robinson in the 23rd minute.
However, Rovers were back on level terms nine minutes later as Andre Ooijer found Roque Santa Cruz and the Paraguayan rounded Tomasz Kuszczak, surprisingly selected as Edwin van der Sar was rested, to equalise.
Santa Cruz's goal ended United's 1,333-minute clean-sheet record in the league and provided perfect evidence of why Rovers - who remain in the relegation zone - rejected Manchester City's advances in the winter transfer window.
Ferguson's side almost found themselves behind minutes after the half-time interval when Ryan Nelsen hit a post, but United reclaimed the lead on the hour-mark through a trademark Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick.
World Player of the Year and Ballon d'Or recipient Ronaldo had been correctly booked for diving shortly after the break when attempting to win a penalty, but the Portuguese reinforced the positive side of his reputation when superbly dipping over the head of Robinson from the left corner of the 18-yard area.
The three points allowed United to pile the pressure on second-placed Liverpool as Rafa Benitez's title hopefuls prepare to host City on Sunday.
Highlight:
Man utd V Blackburn
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