United see off resilient Rovers

Goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney saw Manchester United beat Blackburn 2-0 at Old Trafford.

Berbatov made the breakthrough in the 55th minute and Rooney sewed the match up two minutes from time.

United should have extended the scoreline but substitute Gabriel Obertan missed two sitters on his league debut.

Nani and Antonio Valencia saw chances go begging early on, while Berbatov was denied by a fine reaction save from Paul Robinson.

Blackburn responded and Christopher Samba peeled away from his marker as David Dunn delivered a corner, only to head wide of the target.

It was brief respite for the visitors as Berbatov was again denied by Robinson in the 34th minute after being set up by Rooney, who then saw a strike ruled out for offside.

United made the breakthrough when Berbatov showed good skill when he got on the end of a cross from Patrice Evra. He got the better of Ryan Nelsen, twisting and turning before sending a shot beyond Robinson for his fourth goal of the season.

Obertan replaced Nani soon after and almost made a dream start in the 67th minute following a defence splitting pass by Anderson. The former Bordeaux winger raced away only to send a weak shot into the arms of a grateful Robinson.

Obertan then had a hand in United's second goal in the 88th minute when he found Anderson on the left flank. The Brazilian sent a good ball into the area and Rooney was the first to react with a sweet finish.

Substitute Nikola Kalinic found the net for Blackburn in stoppage time but his effort was ruled offside before Michael Owen sent a shot wide.