Tevez equaliser keeps United on course

Carlos Tevez put Manchester United in sight of a second successive title as his dramatic late equaliser snatched a 1-1 draw at Blackburn.

The Argentina striker headed the ball home with two minutes remaining after Paul Scholes had flicked on a corner from substitute Nani to put United three points clear of Chelsea, whom they meet next Saturday at Stamford Bridge.

However, they were given a fright by Blackburn, who took the lead through Roque Santa Cruz, before giving a spirited second-half performance.

Early on Jason Roberts scampered into the box, only to be upended by Tomasz Kuszczak. The home supporters screamed for a penalty, but referee Rob Styles would have none of it.

Blackburn went ahead in the 21st minute following a long throw from Morten Gamst Pedersen. Nemanja Vidic won the header for United, but it came off Rio Ferdinand's back and broke kindly to Santa Cruz, who fired home.

Two minutes later David Bentley whipped in a shot from 25 yards that Kuszczak did well to turn over.

Ryan Giggs' corner then picked out Cristiano Ronaldo, but his close-range header was palmed away by Brad Friedel.

Ronaldo almost grabbed the equaliser in the 64th minute when his effort beat Friedel but came back off the post.

United had increased the tempo and in the 78th minute should have equalised. Tevez picked up a loose ball, but was unable to make a clean contact and Friedel parried and then responded quickly to grab the ball as it spun towards the goalline.

Friedel again came to Rovers' rescue when he pushed away shots from Wayne Rooney and substitute John O'Shea in quick succession. However, United were not to be denied and Tevez reacted quickly to Scholes' near-post glancing header to head home a valuable equaliser.