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Player Ratings: Manchester United 2-0 Blackburn
Stunner from Berbatov puts hosts on course for victory.
Oct 31, 2009 1:24:23 PM
MANCHESTER UNITED
Van der Sar - 6 - Nothing to do for the giant Dutchman as he was afforded a relaxing night off by the visitors' lack of desire to get forward.
O'Shea - 6 - Rarely asked to defend and pushed on to assist Valencia as United went for the winner.
Brown - 6 - Dealt with Di Santo well. Always willing to go shoulder to shoulder with the young Argentine. Kept an eye on his inexperienced partner to make sure the United seal held tight.
Jonathan Evans - 6 - There will be bigger tests ahead for the young Northern Irishman. Little was asked of him by Blackburn, and he was allowed to make several forays in to their half of the pitch.
Evra - 7 - Darted up the pitch like a greyhound out the traps and his cross-cum-shot teed up Berbatov for his goal.
Valencia - 5 - Failed to match the standard he has set in the last month. Fluffed the final ball on far too many occasions and didn't look to stretch Blackburn enough.
Carrick - 7 - Effortlessly controlled the game from the middle of the park. Played a number of neat passes and kept watch on danger man Dunn.
Anderson - 7 - His energy kept United ticking over and complimented the languid style of Carrick.
Nani - 6 - Exactly what we have come to expect; world class dribbling followed by Sunday league crossing. Hooked for Obertan when his failings became too much to handle.
Berbatov - 8 - Produced the moment of the match with his ingenious flick and volley. Missed a number of chances before his opener and was denied getting on the scoresheet earlier due to a tight offside call.
Rooney - 8 - Shook off his ring rust with a delightful finish to kill off the Rovers challenge. Buzzed around the park beforehand and got his due reward in the 88th minute.
Substitutes
Owen - 5 - Should have scored when played in by Valencia deep into injury time.
Obertan - 8 - A shocking miss didn't take the gloss off his promising debut. Showed speed, skill and a final ball in his cameo and saved the United fans from the migraine caused by Nani's inconsistency.
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Robinson - 6 -Will have been happy to just be beaten twice after the embarrassment he suffered at Stamford Bridge.
Chimbonda - 5 - Put in a couple of heavy challenges on Nani to give away unnecessary free kicks and was given the runaround by Obertan when he came on.
Samba - 6 - Showed none of the effects of a week in his sick bed as he stood up tall to the challenge posed by the home side.
Nelsen - 6 - Captain's performance from the New Zealander as he put in a characteristically obstinate display.
Givet - 8 - Got over his own-goal from last weekend by clamping down on Valencia. Made a number of goal-saving blocks on Berbatov and was a constant thorn in United's side.
Nzonzi - 6 - A big presence in central midfield, winning a number of headers and always looking to halt the Red tide.
Emerton - 5 - A sumptuous chip over Van der Sar saw him enter the referee's notepad for kicking the ball away in his only moment of
note.
Dunn - 6 - His technique and verve put United on the back foot when he had the ball, but he was starved of possession as Blackburn struggled to gain a foot-hold in the game.
Andrews - 5 - Helped Blackburn hold the fort but his inclusion summed up Blackburn's negative approach. Substituted as soon as his team went behind.
Diouf - 5 - Didn't do enough. Was neither threatening in possession nor a barrier to United when asked to defend.
Di Santo - 5 - The Argentine was an isolated figure up top as Blackburn's midfield failed to get forward and support him.
Substitutes
McCarthy - 6 - Rasping shot should have resulted in Blackburn getting back in the game.
Pedersen - 5 - Mediocre as usual from the Norwegian whose career has stalled.
Kalinic - 6 - Denied first league goal by an incorrect offside call.
Matt Monaghan, Goal.com
How is England's lack of youth development hurting the national team? Find out in the November issue of Goal.com Magazine.
Van der Sar - 6 - Nothing to do for the giant Dutchman as he was afforded a relaxing night off by the visitors' lack of desire to get forward.
O'Shea - 6 - Rarely asked to defend and pushed on to assist Valencia as United went for the winner.
Brown - 6 - Dealt with Di Santo well. Always willing to go shoulder to shoulder with the young Argentine. Kept an eye on his inexperienced partner to make sure the United seal held tight.
Jonathan Evans - 6 - There will be bigger tests ahead for the young Northern Irishman. Little was asked of him by Blackburn, and he was allowed to make several forays in to their half of the pitch.
Evra - 7 - Darted up the pitch like a greyhound out the traps and his cross-cum-shot teed up Berbatov for his goal.
Valencia - 5 - Failed to match the standard he has set in the last month. Fluffed the final ball on far too many occasions and didn't look to stretch Blackburn enough.
Carrick - 7 - Effortlessly controlled the game from the middle of the park. Played a number of neat passes and kept watch on danger man Dunn.
Anderson - 7 - His energy kept United ticking over and complimented the languid style of Carrick.
Nani - 6 - Exactly what we have come to expect; world class dribbling followed by Sunday league crossing. Hooked for Obertan when his failings became too much to handle.
Berbatov - 8 - Produced the moment of the match with his ingenious flick and volley. Missed a number of chances before his opener and was denied getting on the scoresheet earlier due to a tight offside call.
Rooney - 8 - Shook off his ring rust with a delightful finish to kill off the Rovers challenge. Buzzed around the park beforehand and got his due reward in the 88th minute.
Substitutes
Owen - 5 - Should have scored when played in by Valencia deep into injury time.
Obertan - 8 - A shocking miss didn't take the gloss off his promising debut. Showed speed, skill and a final ball in his cameo and saved the United fans from the migraine caused by Nani's inconsistency.
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Robinson - 6 -Will have been happy to just be beaten twice after the embarrassment he suffered at Stamford Bridge.
Chimbonda - 5 - Put in a couple of heavy challenges on Nani to give away unnecessary free kicks and was given the runaround by Obertan when he came on.
Samba - 6 - Showed none of the effects of a week in his sick bed as he stood up tall to the challenge posed by the home side.
Nelsen - 6 - Captain's performance from the New Zealander as he put in a characteristically obstinate display.
Givet - 8 - Got over his own-goal from last weekend by clamping down on Valencia. Made a number of goal-saving blocks on Berbatov and was a constant thorn in United's side.
Nzonzi - 6 - A big presence in central midfield, winning a number of headers and always looking to halt the Red tide.
Emerton - 5 - A sumptuous chip over Van der Sar saw him enter the referee's notepad for kicking the ball away in his only moment of
note.
Dunn - 6 - His technique and verve put United on the back foot when he had the ball, but he was starved of possession as Blackburn struggled to gain a foot-hold in the game.
Andrews - 5 - Helped Blackburn hold the fort but his inclusion summed up Blackburn's negative approach. Substituted as soon as his team went behind.
Diouf - 5 - Didn't do enough. Was neither threatening in possession nor a barrier to United when asked to defend.
Di Santo - 5 - The Argentine was an isolated figure up top as Blackburn's midfield failed to get forward and support him.
Substitutes
McCarthy - 6 - Rasping shot should have resulted in Blackburn getting back in the game.
Pedersen - 5 - Mediocre as usual from the Norwegian whose career has stalled.
Kalinic - 6 - Denied first league goal by an incorrect offside call.
Matt Monaghan, Goal.com
How is England's lack of youth development hurting the national team? Find out in the November issue of Goal.com Magazine.
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