… Blackpool squander 2-0 halftime lead
BLACKPOOL, England (Reuters) – Dimitar Berbatov struck twice as Premier League leaders Manchester United recovered from two goals down to beat promoted Blackpool 3-2 in a thrilling game yesterday. United were staring at their first defeat of the season after Blackpool dominated the first half and Charlie Adam corners created headed goals for defender Craig Cathcart and striker DJ Campbell.
United manager Alex Ferguson sent on Ryan Giggs as a substitute and the veteran’s influence crushed Blackpool’s dreams of a major upset in their biggest game for 40 years when Berbatov volleyed in on 72 minutes and substitute Javier Hernandez equalised with a cool finish.
With Blackpool’s players visibly tiring, Berbatov snatched all three points for United with a clinical strike in the 88th minute to send his team five points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table.
It was a match that felt like a cup tie, such was the obvious disparity between the sides.
The team sheets came out on a simple black and white printout rather than the colourful document produced at Old Trafford.
The stand shook when the fans leaped around in celebration, while Blackpool manager Ian Holloway had said in his programme notes he had to “commandeer the chairman’s office because my office is a little too small to be entertaining Sir Alex”.

INFERIORITY COMPLEX
Any inferiority complex was quickly put aside after the opener which had fairytale written all over it as Cathcart headed in at the far post against the club where he spent his youth days before being sold to Blackpool in the close season.
Campbell’s goal came after another Adam corner was headed on inadvertently by Darron Gibson into the Blackpool striker’s path for his sixth goal in his last seven games.
It looked like a major upset was on the cards with United unable to create any clear chances and apparently on the verge of losing their unbeaten record.
But the replacement of Wayne Rooney with Hernandez midway the second half livened up the attack.
Berbatov’s first strike proved the turning point and Hernandez’s equaliser saved United’s blushes before the Bulgarian’s 19th league goal of the season completed the sort of revival that champions are made of.
In the day’s other Premier League match, Aston Villa won 2-1 at Wigan Athletic through goals by Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young to climb to 13th in the table.