Premier League: Manchester United 7 Blackburn 1

Wayne Rooney’s first start for over a month was overshadowed by Dimitar Berbatov as Manchester United thumped Blackburn 7-1 at Old Trafford.

The Bulgarian striker claimed the matchball after hitting five goals past Paul Robinson in the Blackburn goal, as United broke down a usually resolute Blackburn with devastating ease.

Two Berbatov goals, either side of a fine effort from Ji-Sung Park, handed the home side a 3-0 half-time advantage.

And they shifted through the gears after the interval, with Berbatov completing his hat-trick within two minutes of the break and Nani making it five just seconds later.

Berbatov, who before the match had just six English Premier League goals to his name, capped an unforgettable afternoon by adding his fourth and fifth of the day just after the hour mark.

Chris Samba nodded home a Blackburn consolation, but there was barely a cheer among the visiting team.

Rooney, despite not scoring, looked sharp throughout and he rose brilliantly to flick on to Berbatov, who turned home past Robinson after three minutes.

Rooney was at it again just before the half-hour mark, sliding a perfectly-weighted through-ball to Park, who dinked a delightful finish over the keeper.

Things went from bad to worse for shell-shocked Blackburn as Pascal Chimbonda rolled a sloppy back-pass into the path of Berbatov for the Bulgarian to slam home his second and United’s third.

That blistering start to the first half was repeated in the second, with Berbatov grabbing his hat-trick after a slick counter-attack.

Nani glided past his marker and laid the ball off to Berbatov, who swept his finish past Robinson expertly.

Nani then grabbed a goal of his own within a minute after another breathtaking piece of skill bought him enough space to curl a fine strike into the net.

But after that brief intervention by the Portuguese, Berbatov once again assumed centre stage by lashing home his fourth of the afternoon after Park’s effort was blocked.

The Bulgarian striker rounded off his five-star performance by taking advantage of a loose ball in the box and angling a fine effort past Robinson, before Samba grabbed a consolation for Blackburn with a looping header seven minutes from time.