Fergie delight as Reds click

Blackburn Rovers 0, Man United 2


THE critics, who were predicting that Manchester United’s disappointing start to the campaign was a sign that the Old Trafford empire was beginning to crumble, have been left well and truly with egg on their faces.

The Reds’ impressive victory at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday night lifted them to sixth spot in the Premier League and, significantly, they are better placed after six games than they were in last season’s title-winning campaign.

Sir Alex Ferguson described it as his team’s best performance of the season at Ewood Park, which in recent years has proved a graveyard as they had won only once in their six previous visits.

This time there was never a doubt - and if ever there was a scoreline which was not a true reflection of a game, then this was the one.

It was a totally one-sided contest and United had enough chances to have triumphed by a double-digit margin.

Cristiano Ronaldo is still clearly lacking match sharpness after his injury lay-off as he would have gobbled up a couple of chances which came his way. But there are signs that he will soon be back firing on all cylinders.

The goals from Wes Brown and Wayne Rooney were scant reward for their efforts and did not do justice to a commanding performance in monsoon conditions.

Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted, declaring: “That was the best performance of the season in terms of possession and the confidence of the team.

“Once we got the ball down and started to pass it, we controlled the game and everybody was on song.”

Ferguson conceded that it was a difficult opening, one in which Matt Derbyshire could have given the hosts an early lead but for a smart save from Edwin van der Sar.

And it took a lucky break for United to eventually end the stalemate just after the half-hour mark.

Blackburn were furious that goalkeeper Jason Brown was impeded by Nemanja Vidic which enabled Brown to head home Rooney’s cross following a short corner from a couple of yards.

Blackburn boss Paul Ince said: “The referee and linesman got it completely wrong.

“If he cannot see Vidic put an elbow in my keeper’s throat then he should not be a referee. It was a diabolical decision at a time when it was 0-0 and we were still in the game.”

The goal was rough justice on Brown, who had made a stupendous save to acrobatically turn over Ryan Giggs’ spectacular strike for the corner which led to the goal.

And before half-time Brown, deputising again for the injured Paul Robinson, pulled off another crucial save at the feet of Rooney.

Roque Santa Cruz forced van der Sar into a smart save soon after the restart, but the second half was a procession of United openings as they carved open the home defence at will.

While United’s opening goal was scruffy, no such description could be levelled at Rooney’s goal, his third in as many games, and this one in front of England coach Fabio Capello.

Brown and Ronaldo linked down the right with the Portuguese winger cutting the ball back for Rooney to fire into the top corner from 14 yards.

How United did not add to their tally in the second half defies belief as Ronaldo, twice through on goal, each time fired narrowly wide, Rooney lobbed keeper Brown but saw his effort land on the roof of the net, Brown saved well at the feet of Dimitar Berbatov after a weak back pass and also denied Anderson with a super stop while late on substitute Carlos Tevez was unlucky to see a shot hit a post after an intelligent cut-back from Ronaldo.

“They are the champions of Europe and a fantastic side. Sometimes you just have to hold up your hands. They could have had four or five goals by the end,” said Ince.