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GOAL SCORER: A jubilant Cristiano Ronaldo (right) celebrating with teammates Anderson (left) and Louis Saha, after putiing Manchester United out of Blackburn's reach. -- PHOTO: AFP
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NO WAYNE, but plenty of gain for Manchester United.
Deprived of the injured Rooney, their other talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo, produced another stellar display, capped by the rapid brace to dispose of Blackburn Rovers 2-0.
That, in itself, is no mean feat. Blackburn are obdurate opponents, as Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, who have all failed to defeat them this season, can testify.
Ronaldo ensured United managed what their major rivals did not and inflicted just a second Premier League setback of the season on Mark Hughes' side.
In the process, he returned United to their preferred position at the top of the table, at least until Arsenal visit Reading tonight.
Ronaldo's other achievements included taking his goal tally into double figures for the campaign. To do so in November, and having already served a three-match ban, suggests last season's 23-goal return was not a one-off.
This was a game to showcase the variety of Ronaldo's game. His goals were quite different, and they could have been supplemented by assists, had his team-mates proved as deadly.
With Ronaldo at his coruscating best, there was also an array of stepovers and shimmies, flicks and tricks to enjoy.
The majority at Old Trafford certainly did, even if one of their favourite sons, Rovers manager Hughes, probably did not.
And Stephen Warnock, his left-back, had a thankless task. It is not merely his goal tally that makes Ronaldo unusual for a winger. His excellence in the air is rare, and it brought the opening goal.
Rising highest to meet Ryan Giggs' out-swinging corner, itself the result of a Ronaldo shot, his header had sufficient force to enter the net, despite the efforts of David Bentley, defending his near post.
Two minutes later, the Portuguese scored a more typical goal for United, characterised by swift counter-attacking and ruthless finishing.
From the centre circle, Louis Saha freed Carlos Tevez, who advanced, picked out Ronaldo with a diagonal pass and watched the winger find the far corner, despite a touch from Brad Friedel.
Indeed, Ronaldo could have had a first-half hat-trick. Bentley had been beaten for his opener but the winger, on sentry duty on the post, had managed to keep out an earlier shot, also in the aftermath of a Giggs corner.
Darting infield from the right flank, he was also the instigator of two chances for Tevez. Both were long-range shots and the latter brought a fine parry from Friedel.
With Saha, his role in the second goal notwithstanding, struggling to make an impact in his first Premier League start of the season, it was imperative someone else provided the cutting edge.
Ronaldo obliged and United's victory was assured when David Dunn, already cautioned for tugging back Tevez, fouled Saha and departed with 37 minutes remaining.
Reduced to 10 men, Blackburn were reduced to further illegal challenges in a bid to limit the scoring.
Yet their initial game-plan was far more adventurous. A willingness to field two forwards at Old Trafford made them something of a rarity.
Selecting two wingers and, in Dunn, an attack-minded central midfielder, only reinforced the impression of a team who were willing to challenge United. It was admirable, though risky.
Indeed, they could count themselves unfortunate not to have had an early lead.
Christopher Samba, the giant central defender who scored an injury-time winner at Tottenham last month, almost added to his unlikely collection of long-range specials.
After Ronaldo was tackled - and while United appealed for a foul - Samba thumped his shot past a motionless Edwin van der Sar and against the post.
It boded well for Blackburn yet, after Ronaldo's intervention, the game was effectively over before half-time.
stsports@sph.com.sg
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