Man United and Chelsea both suffer slumps

Blackburn Rovers' Ayegbeni Yakubu (R) beats Manchester United's David De Gea from the penalty spot to score during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England, December 31, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON - Manchester United and Chelsea were both stunned by low-profile Premier League opponents in unexpected defeats on the last day of 2011.

Manager Alex Ferguson's 70th birthday was made one to forget after his side was upset 2-3 by the basement club Blackburn.

The host United, supported by a fanatic 75,146 crowds at Old Trafford, failed to impress due to their slack defending in the area, suffering a 0-2 blow after 51 minutes from a brace-scoring Ayegbeni Yakubu.

Dimitar Berbatov became the Red Devil's savior ten minutes later when he brought United back into their familiar winning track with a header and shot to level the score.

However, the host's planned comeback victory was shattered by Blackburn in the 80th minute. Grant Hanley used a corner opportunity to beat Man United's goalkeeper De Gea, nodding in the decisive goal to seal the 3-2 victory.

The amazing three points lift Blackburn off the bottom, only three points lack to the 17th place. Man United lost good chance to leapfrog their city rival and table leader Man City, failing to move onto the top of the league going into 2012 after 19 games, the number of half a season clashes.

Man City, also on 45 points but led the standings in goal difference, will play this round one day later.

Arsenal, the only strength wining a game on Saturday after beating Queens Park Rangers 1-0, moved to the fourth place on 36 points after Tottenham Hotspur, who suffered a late 1-1 draw by Swansea, remaining in third on 39 but with one game in hand.

Chelsea was shocked in a 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge by Aston Villa, stretching their recent winless run to four games. The fifth place and 11-point gap to the top after 19 games left Blues' title hope in tatters.

Elsewhere, the other four matches of the day were all ended in draws.