English Premiership Blackburn 4 Manchester Utd 3: David Bentley's hat-trick last night not only emphasised Mark Hughes's knack of reviving apparently waning careers but highlighted Manchester United's increasing defensive instability.
Rio Ferdinand played well in central midfield but saw his night end in ignominy when he was sent off two minutes from time after his second booking. Alex Ferguson's side could conceivably have conceded six goals yet, perversely, might have snatched a point at the death.
That would have been harsh on a Rovers team who, inspired by the former Arsenal reserve forward, compensated for last month's League Cup exit by completing their first league double over United since the second World War.
Hostilities aroused during that semi-final clash were soon seen festering not far beneath the surface of this, their third meeting in three weeks. United had prevailed in the second leg against a backdrop of a bit of half-time argy-bargy in the tunnel featuring Robbie Savage and Ferdinand, and Ferdinand's relocation to central midfield saw him placed in direct combat with Savage.
There was, however, no first-half hair-pulling. Indeed Savage appeared unusually coy when it came to challenging his adversary. Once, Savage opted to pass back to Brad Friedel rather than run at Ferdinand.
Although he was later largely culpable for Blackburn's second goal, Ferdinand enjoyed the liberation of a midfield role and generally looked elegantly assured, his presence not only smothering some of Tugay's hallmark passes but launching several incisive long ones of his own.
The Rovers right wing proved the scene of a spicy sub-plot featuring Steven Reid and Patrice Evra who engaged in a running duel which saw Reid aim a couple of wild lunges at United's French left-back whose positional sense was always sound.
In the absence of the hamstrung Craig Bellamy, Rovers lacked the pace which saw Cristiano Ronaldo frequently accelerate beyond Michael Gray and Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha sporadically outstrip Andy Todd, but they were up against a surprisingly vulnerable United defence.
Hughes's side duly took the lead from a set-piece, Wes Brown's foul on Shefki Kuqi earning Rovers a free-kick. When Edwin Van Sar could only touch Morten Gamst Pedersen's strike on to the bar Bentley was on hand to poke the rebound over the line.
Suitably stung, United equalised quickly in similar fashion. This time Friedel could only parry Rooney's fierce shot, leaving Saha to steer the ricochet home.
Restored pride was to come before a fall, though, when Brown and Nemanja Vidic were pulled out of position, leaving Ferdinand to drop back and fill the defensive hole.
Unfortunately his attempt to deal with Kuqi's powerful header into the area saw Ferdinand nod the ball goalwards and he watched in horror as Bentley beat Van der Sar to it before stabbing in his second goal.
There was more for United fans to rue when Reid's cross struck Brown on an outstretched hand and Phil Dowd pointed to the spot. Lucas Neill made no mistake low into the corner.
Ferguson was sufficiently alarmed to introduce Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Park Ji-sung early in the second period but United quickly fell further behind. Savage cued up Bentley for his hat-trick with the striker having little trouble in evading Vidic inside the area before his curling shot eluded Van der Sar.
Mortified, United replied, Ronaldo and Evra playing a one-two to conjure a chance Van Nistelrooy lashed beyond Friedel from close range. When Kuqi's poor defensive header fell to Evram the Frenchman again proved creator, Van Nistelrooy sliding the ball into the net to prompt a thrilling finale.
Guardian Service
BLACKBURN: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Gray, Reid, Savage (Mokoena 90), Tugay (Emerton 45), Pedersen, Bentley (Johnson 90), Kuqi. Subs not used: Enckelman, Peter. Booked: Kuqi, Tugay, Todd. Goals: Bentley 35, 41, Neill 45 pen, Bentley 56.
MAN UTD: Van der Sar, Neville, Brown (Silvestre 76), Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Ferdinand, Richardson (van Nistelrooy 54), Rooney, Saha. Subs not used: Howard, Park, Pique. Sent Off: Ferdinand (88). Booked: Brown, Vidic, Ferdinand. Goals: Saha 37, van Nistelrooy 63, 68.
Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).
