Sir Alex Ferguson admits Manchester United have handed Chelsea the title


Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that Manchester United's hopes of winning a record 19th league title are slipping away after a scoreless draw at Blackburn.
United's dreadful run of recent results continued with a stalemate at Ewood Park that leaves rivals Chelsea with a lead of one point with a game in hand.
Manager Ferguson said: 'The title is slipping away when you don't get a result in a game like today. We had to win them all going into today's game. We didn't do it. That is the disappointment.
Down and out: Dimitar Berbatov endured a dreadful day up front for United
'I think it has slipped away from us today. It is going to be very difficult to win this league. We have only a lifeline if Chelsea blow it.
'We are now a point behind Chelsea and they have a game in hand which would take it to four points. It's a big gap.
'It was a disappointing result - there is no doubt about that. This is a fantastic result for Chelsea. They have a home game against Bolton on Tuesday which they will be fancied to win, of course. It will be difficult for us now.'
United's woes on Sunday also included a hamstring injury to Ryan Giggs, a groin injury to Rio Ferdinand and a leg injury to John O'Shea. All three will join Wayne Rooney on the injury list ahead of next weekend's derby game at Manchester City.
Helpless: Sir Alex (right) watched on as United's title dream slipped away
United had the best of Sunday's game but only created two or three chances. Their failure to win served only to increase the misery at Old Trafford after last week's Champions League exit to Bayern Munich and a home league defeat to Chelsea.
Ferguson added: 'We created plenty of chances and had enough opportunities to take them and we should have done better in this game. Our play in the last third was not good enough.
'We dominated but that's not  enough. We needed to create chances and take them and we didn't do that.
'We have a derby game against Manchester City next week. It's a derby game that takes away the business of chasing the League. It is a different kind of game.
'It will be entertaining in terms of the pride of the supporters. We have to try to win it.'
By far United's worst player on Sunday was striker Dimitar Berbatov who cut a frustrated figure, constantly arguing with his team-mates and appealing for fouls.
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce said: 'I don't think we rattled him. We made a contact on him as we needed to early on. 
'You can't let a player as good as Berbatov get on the ball. We had to get tight on his first touch and close him down and we did that.'
Rovers drew at home with Chelsea three weeks ago but since then the London club have recovered to move in to pole position in the Premier League.
Allardyce said: 'Sir Alex said in his press conference that they had to win every game starting today and we've managed to get a draw against them which has damaged their chances a little bit.
'It's not over just yet but they have to win their four and hope Chelsea slip up. It's going to be difficult. You've got to understand that you don't come here and get it easy. Chelsea have come here twice and not won.'
Asked if United were not as good with Rooney, Allardyce added: 'No they're not. You would expect them to score, the chances they have had. But our performance was outstanding.'
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