Rooney is within inches of finally ending the argument as he dribbles from the half-way line to the edge of the box to shoot but its sliced and arches wide of the post.

There will be four minutes of added time.

The hosts seem happy to pass out the game as they enjoy a lenghty spell of possession, all of which is around the area of the half-way line.

Rooney misses a decent chance after Giggs' pass is short of pace, however he then lifts a cross back into the box for Berbatov who somehow heads over from five yards.

Gaps are starting to appear all over the Rovers defence as they push men forward and Ronaldo takes a few more out of the game with a mazy run that allows Rooney to take aim, but he curls his shot narrowly over.

United look set to finish the job as Berbatov, Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez all conbine but Ronaldo's final ball is far too firm and it hits Rooney on the chest and Rovers escape.

Blackburn leave Ronaldo with far too much space and time outside the penalty area but, thankfully for them, Givet spots the danger just in time to block the shot.

The tempo of the game has slowed dramatically in the last few minutes as United look to solidify their position, while Blackburn struggle to make any great headway.

Scholes tries the most impudent of impudent flicks to evade Andrews but fortunately for Rovers Nelsen is across in time to cut him off before he can shoot.

Big Sam Allardyce is still raging on the touchline - his post-match interview could be interesting if it stays 2-1. United have settled back down again now.

Replays seem to suggest that Manchester United are very fortunate and although Pedersen fell very easily - it could well have been a penalty.

Rafael is fortunate and referee Webb has made another strange decision as Pedersen excapes in behind but falls in the area. What is even more strange is that he doesn't book Pedersen for diving either.

Play did resume after the Berbatov booking but Warnock is still feeling the effects and now requires further treatment.

United are forced immediately into a double change as Evans - limping off so a big concern ahead of the trip to Milan - and Nani are replaced by Vidic and Tevez.

Big escape! United fail to clear and corner and Nelsen connects beautifully with a half-vollley that smashes away off the base of the post and drops for Diouf who is only denied by a superb save from Kuszczak.

Nani has had a very sloppy opening to this second period and he seems to be taking the brunt of the criticism when things break down at the moment.

Already there are groans of frustration from the Old Trafford crowd when the hosts go wrong - are nerves starting to get to everyone?

What a block! Pedersen's cross into the six-yard box looks gift-wrapped for Santa Cruz but Evra gets his foot to it somehow to nudge the ball away from goal.

Carrick delivers an inch-perfect ball for Ronaldo on the right hand side and he cuts inside Warnock and Givet to fire a left footed drive just wide of the near post.

There will be two minutes of added time.

United think they are back in front but referee Webb disallows it! However, replays appear to suggest that Evans did very little wrong as he rose to power beyond Robinson.

Nani, although partly to blame for the equaliser, is having a good game today and he delivers another teasing ball in that Nelsen does well to block Berbatov from getting to.

The equaliser has taken the wind out of United's sails and they are yet to really provide a meaningful response of any kind.

Givet has taken a sore one from Berbatov after both players challenge with high feet - but after a bit of treatment he is back in the fray.

How will United react to that then? They haven't conceded a league goal since early November.

United have been at their imperious best in the opening half hour but, perhaps worryingly for Rovers, they are only intermittently finding top gear.

More superb football from United as Berbatov spreads an outside of the foot pass into Ronaldo, who then picks out Nani at the far post and Givet has to head his attempted chip off the line.

Already United threaten a second as Ronaldo and Carrick work the ball wonderfully for the Portuguese to test Robinson from a tight angle.

Nervous from Kuszczak as he is fortunate to punch Pederen's corner over his own cross bar - although Diouf was holding an arm and referee Webb awards a free-kick.

Grella is fortunate to escape a booking as he cynically trips a maruading Rafael after clever combination play between the Brazilian, Ronaldo and Rooney on the right flank.

How is it still 0-0? A defensive mix-up almost lets Carrick in before Ronaldo's ball is touched away from Carrick and Rooney with an open goal by Nelsen, then Evra scrapes the outside of the post with a rasping drive.

Half a chance for Nelsen at the near post as he meet Pederesen's corner but he gets far too much on his glancing header and it ends up high into the Stretford End.

Immediately though United get back on the front foot and Scholes has another pot shot from range that Rooney is only inches away from turning into the net.

Blackburn have half a chance to get forward on the break but Diouf's cross is far too close to Tomasz Kuszczak who claims calmly.

Ronaldo has his first try from a dead-ball but, as has been the story for much of this season, it strikes the wall and the danger is gone.

The best way to describe the opening exchanges at Old Trafford is 'ominous'. The Red Devils look in the mood and Rovers are already camped on their own 18-yard line.

Did he mean it? Nani's run is stopped by Nelsen but the ball drops at the feet of Ronaldo whose cross drifts only a foot wide of the far post.

This could be a long night for Rovers! Carrick and Scholes play keep-ball between themselves before Berbatov springs Scholes forward and the former England man fires just wide.

Almost the dream start for the hosts as Nani tries an intricate one-two with Rooney on the edge of the box and only Givet's sliding intervention stops the Portuguese striking at goal.