Sir Alex Ferguson was left needing a stiff drink over the New Year period after watching his Manchester United team crash to successive defeats.

The Premier League champions had the chance to go into 2012 top of the table with what appeared to be the easiest match of the season - at home to basement club Blackburn.

It was not to be. Yakubu sent the relegation candidates into a two-goal lead, before the hosts got back on level terms. Fate intervened and a late Jack Hanley effort gave Rovers an unlikely 3-2 victory at Old Trafford.

Four days later it was a similar story. A lacklustre display at the Sports Direct Arena saw Newcastle run out 3-0 winners, with Phil Jones scoring a comical own goal to compound matters.

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