Blackburn Rovers vs Manchester United by Christopher Warren

Manchester United continued their rise up the Premier League table with a 2-0 victory at Blackburn Rovers.

Paul Ince was given a lesson in management by his old mentor Sir Alex Ferguson.

Wes Brown headed United in front from a Wayne Rooney cross at the back post, with Blackburn keeper Jason Brown claiming he was pushed by Nemanja Vidic.

Rooney was on the scoresheet himself in the second half after good work form Cristiano Ronaldo

Blackburn suffered a further blow when striker Roque Santa Cruz was taken off injured a few minutes into the second half.

On a wind-swept and wet pitch the first chance fell to Nemanja Vidic after seven minutes.

He failed to make clean contact from a corner when in space in the area.

Blackburn had their first opening when Matt Derbyshire got between the United defence.

His shot was saved by Edwin Van der Sar.

The heavy rain was making an impact on the game with the ball zipping off the surface.

United missed a great opportunity to open the scoring after 20 minutes.

Darren Fletcher shot just wide after a good through ball from Dimitar Berbatov.

Five minutes later Brett Emerton tried his luck on the quick surface but his 25 yard shot skidded past Van der Sar’s right hand post.

United were beginning to create the better chances and were gaining a foothold on the game with some good passing moves.

Blackburn keeper Brown was having a topsy-turvy game.

On the half hour mark he made a wonderful finger-tip save from a powerful Ryan Giggs strick.

A minute later Brown was at fault as United made the breakthrough.

Wes Brown headed in a Rooney cross at the back post when the keeper should really have claimed the ball.

The Blackburn keeper then made another good save after Wayne Rooney burst into the Blackburn penalty area.

United deservedly led at half time despite the terrible weather conditions.

Blackburn started the second half with a good chance to level the match.

Roque Santa-Cruz was denied by a good Van der Sar save.

Two minutes later he was substituted for Jason Roberts because of an injury.

As the rain continued, so too did United’s dominance of possession.

Blackburn were looking low on ideas.

Ince made his second change when Keith Treacy came on for Morten Gamst Pederson just before the hour mark.

It seemed to have little effect as Rooney scored a wonderful goal after 64 minutes after a burst of pace from Ronaldo.

His cut-back found Rooney free in the box as he struck the ball into the top left-hand corner.

Blackburn brought on Keith Andrews for Tugay.

United made some changes of their own when Carlos Tevez was brought on for Giggs a minute later and Patrice Evra made way for John O’ Shea soon after.

Rooney almost scored United’s third, but he lobbed just over the bar with 20 minutes left.

Brown made a good save at the feet of Berbatov a minute later.

United made their final change with Park Ji Sung replacing the impressive Rooney for the last twelve minutes.

Some Blackburn fans had seen enough as they donned their rain coats and headed for the exit with ten minutes left.

It was a game they will quickly try to forget.

Tevez hit the post four minutes from time as United ran out comfortable winners and looking more like the European and domestic champions of last season.