Manchester United 2 Blackburn Rovers 0

Last updated : 31 October 2009 By Footymad Previewer
Old Trafford could have done with an injection of Halloween excitement to liven up this near lifeless Premier League encounter.

Manchester United took the points with an error-strewn display, while Blackburn Rovers were even worse.

Believe it or not, United's two-goal winning margin represented their biggest home win this season.

If there was one man who transcended the dullness of the display, it was Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian striker scored United's first goal, but he could have had two before his 55th minute opener.

Wayne Rooney clinched the points three minutes from the end of normal time with United's second and the two goals were isolated gems in the barren landscape of this game.

Berbatov's fourth league goal of the campaign came when Patrice Evra's mishit shot from the left edge of the Blackburn box fell perfectly for him to turn Ryan Nelsen 12 yards out and plant his right-foot shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Rooney's seventh Premier League strike was a sublime effort when his delicate left-foot shot six yards out from the near post converted Anderson's cross from the left.

Berbatov was denied a goal on the half hour when he met Luis Antonio Valencia's cross from the right corner of the Blackburn box, only to see his downward header from six yards brilliantly turned over by Paul Robinson.

The former England goalkeeper came to his side's rescue again four minutes later.

Anderson found Rooney and he teed up Berbatov to hit a fierce 25-yard shot which was turned behind one-handed by Robinson.

In a match of many misses the worst was perpetrated by United substitute Gabriel Obertan.

United's £3million summer signing from Bordeaux shot wide from eight yards out with the goal at his mercy.

Blackburn should have had a consolation goal deep into injury time.

Benni McCarthy's blistering 20-yard shot was well saved by United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, but Nikola Kalinic followed up to tap home the rebound.

He was clearly onside, but the effort was ruled out as being offside.