Rooney scores in Man U's 2-0 victory at Blackburn

Rob Harris ,  The Associated Press ,  Blackburn   |  Sun, 10/05/2008 4:30 AM  |  Sports

Wayne Rooney shook off an ankle injury to score the second goal Saturday in Manchester United's 2-0 victory at Blackburn in the Premier League.

Rooney scored in the 64th minute, long after Wes Brown's header had put defending champion United ahead in the 31st. Brown's goal, however, prompted Blackburn manager Paul Ince to tell referee Steve Bennett that he shouldn't be allowed to officiate because Blackburn goalkeeper Jason Brown appeared to be impeded by Nemanja Vidic as the defender headed in Rooney's cross.

"The referee got it completely wrong or the linesman," Ince said. "We were still in the game at 0-0 and at meeting with (referees' chief) Keith Hackett I'm told that these referees are a lot fitter and they can get in the positions quicker to make the right decisions. But if he couldn't see Vidic putting an elbow in my 'keeper's throat then he shouldn't be a referee."

Bennett was also at the center of controversy last Sunday, with Manchester City manager Mark Hughes furious at the awarding of Wigan's winning penalty. But United manager Alex Ferguson, who has a long history of grievances with officials, didn't see a problem with Brown's goal.

"The goalkeeper had every chance," Ferguson said. "The ball was in the air long enough for the goalkeeper to come and collect it and it's not our problem that."

After a slow start, the defending champion Red Devils are in sixth place, three points behind Chelsea and Liverpool, who both play Sunday.

Rooney was injured in Tuesday's Champions League victory at Aalborg, but he played without any sign of discomfort on the right flank for 78 minutes at Ewood Park. He scored after Cristiano Ronaldo beat Rovers defender Martin Olsson and passed to Rooney.

"It was his best performance of the season. He was full of running today," Ferguson said of Rooney. "He's a very mobile player and sees space well. He's very active and got a lot of energy that he uses in the right way I think now."

It was Rooney's third goal in three games.

"Once you get the first goal of the season then you're confident, and fortunately enough I've taken my chances," Rooney said. "We had a difficult start to the season, four hard away games out of the way, and we're still in a decent position, so we've got to take confidence from those games.

"It's a great result, for the last few years it's been a difficult place to come and the conditions were not the best."

In torrential rain, United was rarely troubled, unlike in its previous nine visits to Ewood Park, which yielded only one victory.

Ince, who had a successful stint as a player at United, was facing his former coach for the first time. He was called him a "big-time Charlie" by Ferguson after he left United, and the visiting fans taunted Ince Saturday with chans of "Charlie, Charlie, what's the score?"

Blackburn provided little resistance after Matt Derbyshire's 14th-minute shot across goal was pushed away by United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. Vidic then scrambled back to prevent Roque Santa Cruz from connecting with the loose ball.

Santa Cruz came out t the start of the second half and immediately tested Van der Sar again, but Blackburn never looked threatening.

"Having played for Man United for six years I know if you give them time and let them play at their own pace they are going to punish you," Ince said. "Being honest, it could have been four o five (goals).

"I was going to give Sir Alex some expensive red wine, but he's getting a cheap bottle now."

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