United cruise after Brown´s controversial opener

Wes Brown scored the third league goal of his career in controversial fashion as Manchester United’s recent renaissance continued with a 2-0 victory over Blackburn at Ewood Park on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney also scored with a brilliant trademark finish, ably demonstrating that he is fit and ready to play for England in their forthcoming World Cup qualifying games.

But, for the second consecutive weekend, United’s win was marred by controversy, as, also for a second week running, was referee Steve Bennett.

Blackburn goalkeeper Jason Brown appeared to be elbowed out of the way of Rooney’s 30th minute far-post cross by defender Nemanja Vidic, the ball striking the head of Brown for the opening goal, only his third in over 200 United league games.

Bennett, a late replacement for the injured Alan Wiley at Ewood Park, was widely criticised for awarding a controversial penalty to Wigan after a foul by Manchester City’s Javier Garrido on Wilson Palacios last Sunday.

Meanwhile, United enjoyed refereeing good fortune of their own last weekend as Rob Styles awarded an inexplicable penalty to Cristiano Ronaldo against Bolton, a decision for which he later apologised.

But, despite the poor officiating, United were still deserving of all three points against a Blackburn team managed by former Old Trafford favourite Paul Ince.

The appalling, wintry conditions saw both teams initially struggle to find their rhythm although the home side almost drew first blood after 14 minutes when Brett Emerton slid through a pass for Matt Derbyshire.

The young striker forced Edwin van der Sar into the first save of the game with Vidic tidying up the loose ball.

But that – and a 25-yard Emerton shot which just missed the mark – was a rare respite for Blackburn as the visitors began to take control.

Dimitar Berbatov’s 20th minute pass found Darren Fletcher and the Scottish midfielder should have done better than roll his shot just wide of the goal.

That was the start of a period of prolonged United dominance which saw a Martin Olsson mistake lead to a fierce Ryan Giggs strike just before the half hour which Brown kept out with a superb reflex block.

Moments later, United were in front and, four minutes after the controversial opener, Berbatov’s pass caught out the Rovers back line and put through Wayne Rooney who attempted to round Brown only to be denied by another smart piece of goalkeeping.

The second half began with Roque Santa Cruz’s near post shot being parried behind by Van der Sar, but Blackburn’s danger man was forced out of the action in the 49th minute with an injury.

Ronaldo might have put the contest beyond doubt just before the hour when Berbatov’s break ended with a pass to the Portuguese winger for an inaccurate shot from the edge of the area.

When United did finally score a deserved second goal, there was none of the good fortune associated with their first, simply superb football.

Brown played a ball for Ronaldo inside left-back Olsson and the speedy winger accelerated before picking out Rooney whose magnificent finish gave Brown no chance in the Blackburn goal.

Twice, inside a minute, United might have further extended the lead with Rooney showing superb chest control before lobbing a shot onto the roof of the goal and Brown saving well, again, this time at the feet of Berbatov.

Anderson, with a deflected shot well saved by the impressive Brown, Ronaldo, with yet another off-target shot, and substitute Carlos Tevez, who struck a post, all threatened as their team coasted towards their fourth league and cup victory in 12 days.