Source: Manchester_EveningNews
United 2 Blackburn 0: Player ratings
Van der Sar - Ferguson says there?s no one better ? but the United manager himself could have kept goal against Blackburn, such was Rovers? lack of threat. 7 Evra - Was allowed to get forward as often as he liked and how he punished Blackburn with one probing run after another. It was his cross-come-shot that set up Berbatov?s goal. 8 Brown - Lucky to get away with a miscue when under the challenge of Di Santo, but otherwise untroubled at the back. 7 Evans - Clattered when challenging Samba early on, but that was about as tough as it got for the Northern Ireland international, who will hope he now gets an extended run in the first team. 7 O?Shea - Brilliant tackle denied Diouf when through on goal early on, but much of his good work was done supporting Valencia in attack. 7 Nani - Endured some rough stuff from Rovers? defenders, but kept getting up gamely. Still frustrates when in promising positions and should have done better with a first half header. 6 Carrick - Neat and tidy without every finding the defence-splitting passes he is capable of. Alongside Anderson, controlled the midfield. 7 Anderson - Harassed and harried in midfield to boss the centre of the park and it was his cross that led to Rooney?s goal. 7 Valencia - Increasingly looking at home in the red of United. Missed one good opportunity early on, but his inch perfect first half cross to Berbatov deserved a better finish from the Bulgarian. 7 Rooney - Responsible for the pass of the match when finding Valencia out wide with a perfectly-weighted volley, and a delightful finish killed off what little chance Blackburn had of mounting a comeback. 7 Berbatov - Superb touch and finish fired United ahead and helped erase thoughts of a first half in which he might have scored a hat-trick, if not for some wasteful finishing. 8 Substitutes Obertan (for Nani, 63) - Making his home debut, could have made himself an instant hero when presented with a golden opportunity in the last 10 minutes, but shot wide from eight yards out. Still some good touches added up to a promising start. 6 Owen (for Berbatov 79) - Should have scored his second goal in a week but fired late chance wide. 6 Subs not used: Scholes, Fabio, Fletcher, Kuszczak, De Laet Blackburn: Robinson, Samba, Givet, Nelson, Emerton, Dunn (McCarthy 83), Nzonzi, Andrews (Pedersen 57), Diouf, Di Santo (Kalinic 76), Chimbonda Subs not used: Grella, Hoilett, Salgado, Brown Referee: Phil Dowd ? always in control. 4/5[LNB] Attendance: 74,658 Agree with the ratings? Have your say. [LNB]
