THE INDIE
The scoreline might look less than convincing but do not be fooled into any suspicion that United's momentum is diminished in the wake of their exit from the Carling Cup in midweek, however much of a shock it appeared to be. It was a wretched night in Blackburn, torrential rain and a gale force wind combining to create just the conditions in which slick football is almost impossible, yet United still conjured some breathtaking moments and were worthy of the three points won by Louis Saha's second-half goal.
Indeed, but for some profligate finishing from Wayne Rooney in the first half, the victory might have looked as handsome as Chelsea's earlier in the day. In any event, United remain three points clear of the pack.
Sir Alex Ferguson had demanded an assertive response from his side to the shock of losing at Southend in the Carling Cup but given that with the exception of Rooney and Ronaldo, this was an entirely different team, it was difficult to see any clear relationship between the two performances.
This was the United side that had won nine matches out of 11 to equal Ferguson's best start to a Premiership season, not one that seemed likely to have been undone even by a Freddy Eastwood wonder goal. Needless to say, it did not take long for the confidence that has clearly grown from taking Chelsea's place as early-season pace setters to leave an impression on the night, despite the most atrocious weather.
At times as driving rain swept across the stadium the surface was scarcely playable yet United still passed and moved with wonderful precision. Ostensibly, they played with only Saha as a genuine striker, yet with Rooney and Ronaldo making use of the wide areas and Giggs moving in and out of midfield, a formation that might have been written down as 4-5-1 just as often resembled 4-2-4. Always there was one attacker or another running into space; always Paul Scholes or Michael Carrick seemed to pick him out.
With Scholes, knowing which ball to select was almost a sixth sense. The extent to which United missed him last season becomes more obvious with every game. It is with his return to form that United have acquired the look of a side who will ensure Chelsea's quest to retain the title gets a proper examination.
SUNDAY TIMES
Black skies in Blackburn, clouds machine-gunning Ewood Park with rain. Icy temperatures, aggressive opponents, a late kick-off, home fans baying "get into them!" This was the kind of game that also-rans run from, but where champions stand, fight and find a result. Three points for Manchester United was a cacophonous cry of intent.
The "United, top of the league" chant that rose from the away end will be heard for some time to come, on this evidence. In the bear pit, amid the elements, Sir Alex Ferguson's team mustered not only a win but a performance. The fluent momentum that has given their attacking a vintage look this season proved impossible to check and their defending was irreproachable. In the goals for and against columns United are best in the Premiership. "They're more dynamic this year," said Mark Hughes, the Blackburn manager. And far more dangerous.
How long it can be maintained may depend on injuries, Ferguson admitted. For depth, Chelsea's squad is unbeatable, whereas the quality of United's back-up players was defined to an extent by Tuesday's loss at Southend. Gary Neville, substituted at half-time, sustained a calf strain that saw him withdrawn from the England squad to play Holland in midweek. Ferguson will pray his captain returns in time for the November 26 visit of the champions to Old Trafford. "Chelsea have done fantastically the last two years, winning the league early on and making it tough for us to catch them," said Ferguson. "This time our good start gives us a chance."
His players' sheer desire to make this season different was demonstrated by Louis Saha's goal. John O'Shea's cross appeared to be too far in front of Ryan Giggs but while defenders stopped the Welshman stuck out his leg and straining every fibre of his ageing hamstrings reached the ball and sent it back across goal. Saha, a handful from minute one, swivelled to volley past Brad Friedel with his left foot.
The move had begun with Wayne Rooney remaining calm on the edge of the area to find space and send a pass out to the flank. It was a further triumph for Ferguson that Rooney managed to play himself through a crisis of confidence and composure that came as suddenly as one of the squalls. The youngster and Ronaldo were the only first-choice players who featured at Southend and Ferguson predicted handling the ignominy of that night would be good for their education.
It was United's first league win at Ewood Park since 1998 and Ferguson was imaginative in breaking the sequence. Giggs was the middle of three deep-lying forwards behind Saha with Rooney and Ronaldo wide. The logic was that Blackburn's two Australian full-backs were playing out of position and, while Rooney prefers the middle, his deployment put him one-on-one against Brett Emerton, an attacker rather than a defender by nature. It brought Rooney opportunities. Had he taken the first of those, the conditions would have had to be marked down for an assist. Emerton slipped in a buttery bed of mud as both players chased the ball and Rooney forced Friedel to touch the ball against his post.
THE OBSERVER
At a time when Sir Alex Ferguson is willing to allow Alan Smith to leave Manchester United on loan, the vital role to be played by Louis Saha in this season's title race was underlined here when the French international forward scored a superb winning goal while his partner Wayne Rooney squandered three fabulous opportunities.
Saha struck his eighth goal of the season, with an accomplished 63rd-minute hooked shot from six yards - a superb, predatory finish after Rooney, who had been denied for a third time by Brad Friedel from close range just a minute earlier, played a wide ball to John O'Shea whose centre was brilliantly turned across goal by Ryan Giggs.
Ferguson thought the performance praiseworthy: 'Louis is in good form. He's a threat with good pace and power and he's a good balance to the team.
'It was a feisty match with a lot of challenges and tackles, and a good result and a good performance by us because in the past we have come here and played better and lost - last season we scored three times and lost 4-3.'
Finally free of injury, Saha looks a devastatingly effective finisher, in stark contrast to the efforts of Rooney yesterday, although Ferguson's decision to allow Smith to leave the club, at a time when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is out injured and Saha and Rooney both have a long history of their own injury problems behind them, looks a calculated gamble.
But, as long as Saha is in such form, Ferguson's hopes of continuing his team's impressive start to the season and maintaining the pressure on defending champions Chelsea look good.
'The important thing is Chelsea have done fantastic the last two years, winning the league early on and making it difficult for us all,' said Ferguson. 'But at least this good start must give us a chance.
'A lot of things come into consideration. You've got to get through December, which is always difficult, and by January you have a good idea of who's going to contest and who's going to be involved in relegation. That's a pivotal time. Hopefully, if we can keep our form good and keep the injury situation low, we will be there.'
Indeed, injuries may yet be as big an opponent to United as Jose Mourinho's team, especially if a lengthy lay-off were to befall Saha or Rooney. Yesterday, Gary Neville's calf was the major concern in that department, his half-time departure meaning he will miss England's friendly visit to Holland in midweek.
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
They managed to make it difficult for themselves but Manchester United got there in the end to reclaim their place at the top of the Premiership.
United's sixth consecutive league win ought to have been secure and embossed by half-time, such was their superiority and the clear-cut nature of the chances they created. Just when it seemed that growing anxiety might undermine their prospects of stretching three points clear of Chelsea, they conjured a move of familiar fluency and incisiveness.
Louis Saha registered that winning goal, midway through the second half, although it was fitting that Wayne Rooney's unflinching desire and awareness paved the way.
Rooney had squandered two routine tap-in opportunities in the first period, yet thereafter was a man on a mission of redemption and his perseverance was ultimately rewarded. So, too, was Saha's splendid leading of the line. His mobility, control and unselfishness provided the axis of United's attacks and the constant source of discomfort for Blackburn's defence.
Blackburn mustered a semblance of resistance in the second half but they offered too little by way of genuine invention to avoid a fourth successive defeat.
United's opening burst matched the whirlwind conditions, although the wet surface defied Cristiano Ronaldo as he prepared to unleash his shot. He slipped and Blackburn were reprieved. Ryan Giggs, operating alongside Saha while Rooney occupied the left wing, kept his feet and delivered a centre which his French partner headed over.
Benni McCarthy, who scored twice for Porto when Jose Mourinho's side knocked United out of the Champions League three seasons ago, almost notched another for Blackburn. His 30-yard effort took a deflection off Nemanja Vidic and reared just over the crossbar.
Brad Friedel, the Blackburn goalkeeper, turned Rooney's shot around a post after the England striker's strength had accounted for Brett Emerton's challenge.
Rooney perhaps wished he had not been on the end of Ronaldo's low cross from the right after 33 minutes. With the goal at his mercy and barely five yards out, Rooney miscued and looked around for some sort of explanation. He couldn't find one.
If Rooney felt embarrassed at that stage, it was to become positively humiliating for him nine minutes later. Paul Scholes's determination presented Saha with a sight of goal and he reacted with a smart low shot that Friedel could only parry. Rooney was on hand for what should have been a formality, yet somehow steered the ball wide.
The referee, Mike Riley, was unimpressed by United's claims for a penalty when Saha tumbled a mite too easily. Vidic was booked for holding as Blackburn tried to counter and Rooney was also shown the yellow card for his protests.