Blackburn Rovers skipper Ryan Nelsen admitted Manchester United's last-gasp equaliser on Saturday had a gut-wrenching' effect on the dressing room.

For 67 minutes, Rovers led 1-0, thanks to Roque Santa Cruz's 20th goal of the season, but Carlos Tevez then broke the home fans' hearts when he snatched a point for United two minutes from time.

That goal, coupled with Aston Villa's 5-1 victory over Midlands rivals Birmingham City yesterday, means Rovers are now struggling to qualify for the Intertoto Cup.

Nelsen said: "We're absolutely gutted.

"When you get into positions like that against the likes of Man U, and you battle that hard to get a 1-0 in the 88th minute, to then concede in the way we did, with the two smallest guys on the pitch heading the ball in, is gut-wrenching.

"Sometimes that does happen on set-pieces; you look after their big boys, and the most dangerous ones, and then that happens.

"We didn't organise it properly and that's one that will stay with us for a while and keep us up at night, because it's bitterly disappointing."

Aside from the timing of Tevez's equaliser, there was plenty more talking points to chew over during a game packed with incident.

Rovers might have had a penalty when Jason Roberts appeared to be caught by Tomasz Kuszczak.

Then United had a similar claim turned down when the ball struck Brett Emerton on the arm as he was defending in the penalty area.

Rovers also argued the corner that led to Tevez's equaliser should never have been awarded because the ball went out off a United player.

When the dust eventually settled, however, Nelsen was magnanimous enough to concede United will probably go on to win the title now, having pulled that point out of the fire.

"This was a very difficult game for them on the eve of their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona at the Nou Camp," said the Rovers skipper.

"I talked to Tony Strudwick, their fitness guy, and he said they all knew this was going to be very difficult, and I would say that point has probably won them the league.

"That point was unbelievably big for them.

"I really hope they go on and win against Barcelona now, and then win the Champions League, because I think they've played the most entertaining football this season.

"It would be great for the Premier League if they did because they've got some exciting players."