Premier League Player Ratings: Manchester United 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
MANCHESTER UNITED:
Kuszczak: 7 - Replaced Van der Sar between the sticks, did not have much to do early on but looked confident when coming out to mop up. Mis-communication with Evra in the first half could have been problematic. Showed good blocking from Diouf in second half.
Rafael: 6.5 - Bombed forward a bunch of times, accurate in his tackling. Had a little lean on Gamst that looked suspiciously like a penalty, but the indiscretion was waved on by referee Howard Webb.
Ferdinand: 7 - Was fairly quiet as those around him drew the headlines.
Evans: 7 - Nothing special early on. Got the ball in the net but was ruled out for what could only have been pushing.
Evra: 7 - Got forward without neglecting his defensive duties. Made some crucial challenges, one especially on Tugay. He was strong, consistent, and able. Took the ball away from Diouf's stride on the 80th minute with a clever deflected touch.
Ronaldo: 8 - Was roaming around early on, popping up here, there, and everywhere. Was told off for simulation. Moments later struck a sweet free-kick that had Robinson stretching, but to no avail. Ronaldo had scored well.
Carrick: 7.5 - Played some great balls into the mixer. Fed Ronaldo especially well, but the Portuguese international was not as hungry from open play as he usually is.
Scholes: 7.5 - Commanded the midfield in the first half. Started the game as he meant to go on, troubling the Blue and White halved defence from the 3rd minute. Understands the pass like former Red Devil Ruud van Nistelrooy understood the rebound. Some genius flicks late on.
Nani: 7 - Rare starter of late, can often spend lengthy periods of games without much to note, but will then put himself about during the times he shines. It was his running and cross that led to Rooney's opener.
Rooney: 7.5 - Has been out for four weeks, yet was always looming and involved in the play. Scored the first goal. Wonderful movement. Good turn of pace. Looked like he had been playing last week.
Berbatov: 6 - Had an opportune moment to get the side's third goal that would have wrapped up the tie. Was particularly languid all game.
BLACKBURN ROVERS:
Robinson: 6 - Was perhaps a little flat-footed for Ronaldo's free-kick goal, and was consequently never going to reach with his stretching, extended arm.
Ooijer: 7 - Acute interceptions and passing. Tried to stretch the opposition with his running, good positional awareness, and sending a nice assist Santa Cruz's way.
Nelsen: 6 - Stretched but did not clear for United's goal.
Givet: 7 - Another debutant. Got the better of Berbatov during the game's genesis. Had to receive treatment later on when the Bulgarian nipped him.
Warnock: 6.5 - Was mugged on a few occassions by Ronaldo, but played in clever balls late on in the game when Rovers were looking for the second equaliser.
Grella: 6.5 - Nasty tackle on Rafael, lucky not to be carded.
Diouf: 7 - Provided some good forward thinking play, showed good hustle and wanted to irritate Kuszczak when in possession. Should have scored just before the half-hour mark.
Andrews: 6 - Got his body across to put in some crucial interceptions while Ronaldo was running rampant and searching for the killer goal.
Dunn: 7.5 - Was intent to grab an equaliser and make play after Rovers fell behind. Played the well-weighted pass that threaded in Gamst only for the wideman to fall foul to a slight tug by burgeoning Brazilian full-back Rafael. A stand-up performer for the Lancashire visitors.
Pedersen: 7 - Pleased portions of the crowd when he accidentally ran into Sir Alex Ferguson. Teased a shot just wide of the mark late in the second half. Sound deliverer of the ball from wide areas and set pieces.
Santa Cruz: 7.5 - Finished well from a fine angle to ensure United's net bulged for the first time in 14 league games. Had other oppotunities that were either wide, blocked or saved.
