Rafael: Steady job from the young Brazilian and chose sensible times to attack 6
Brown: Some difficult moments against the slippery Benitez and powerful Jerome 6
Evans: Ball bounced off him for Birmingham's goal but other than that was a commanding figure 7
Evra: A captain's driving display from the full back 7
Valencia: Had the beating of Ridgewell on the right but didn't make enough of it 6
Scholes: Stood out more than anyone in a packed midfield battle 7
Fletcher: Chipped away at ref and walked a disciplinary tightrope that he eventually fell off 6
Carrick: Struggled to see enough of the ball and when he did it was all simple stuff 6
Park: The Korean was his usual steady self but never hurt Birmingham 6
Rooney: Really needed some help to get the best from him 6
Subs:
Giggs (sub Park 66) No great impact
Diouf (sub Scholes 81) Quiet cameo
Anderson, Owen, Fabio, Neville, Amos not used
Birmingham City: Hart, Carr, Bowyer, Ridgewell, Larsson (Fahey 83), Jerome, Benitez , Ferguson, Johnson, Dann, McFadden
Goals:
Birmingham: Jerome (39)United: Dann (own goal 63)
Bookings:
Birmingham: Carr (76) Larsson (79)United: Fletcher (44, 84) Brown (90)
Sent off: Fletcher (84)
Battle of the Bosses:McLeish certainly got side to throw bodies on line and Fergie managed to fire up Reds
Referee: Mark Clattenberg - Reasonable effort 6
Attendance: 28,907
Source: Manchester Evening News
Source: M.E.N.