• Blackburn v Manchester United

United power on with win over Blackburn

Ashley Young capped Manchester United's win with the second goal © Getty Images

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Manchester United moved five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table as they claimed a 2-0 win at Blackburn Rovers.

With Rovers scrapping for their lives at the foot of the table, they were anything but sacrificial lambs and it took a moment of true brilliance from Antonio Valencia with 11 minutes remaining to break the deadlock. And five minutes later Ashley Young snuffed out any thoughts of a Rovers comeback by beating Paul Robinson with a fizzing drive from the edge of the box.

The gap at the top is five points and with United playing before City at the weekend, the Red Devils could open it out to eight points.

United made a bright start, with Wayne Rooney demonstrating his range of passing with a raking 50-yard ball that put Grant Hanley in a spin. His failure to clear his lines presented Javier Hernandez with a chance, but he snatched his shot and pulled it wide of target.

The Mexican came close to atoning shortly afterwards when showing great striking instincts to anticipate a ball into the box and fire on target, but a combination of Rovers keeper Paul Robinson and the post denied him.

It took Rovers some time to get a foothold, but they have pace to burn in the shape of Junior Hoilett and he collected a layoff from Yakubu and drove deep into United territory before unleashing a shot that forced a fine diving save out of David De Gea.

De Gea had one of his lowest moments against Rovers on New Year's Eve and he has improved in leaps and bounds in the past three months. And the Spanish keeper produced a fine save moments before half-time to beat out a brilliant 20-yard half-volley from Marcus Olsson.

With the carrot of moving five points clear at the top of the table dangling in front of them, United came out sharp for the second half and Robinson had to be alert to keep out strikes from Rooney and Rafael.

Yakubu, who scored twice in Rovers' win over United earlier in the season, was a peripheral figure for an hour. He had two good chances inside a minute shortly before the hour but on both occasions he failed to hit the target.

Rovers had the ball in the net when Morten Gamst Pedersen lashed home from 20 yards, but the effort was rightly chalked off as the ball had gone out of play in the build-up play, while Rio Ferdinand was alert to clear his lines after a free-kick had been parried into the middle of the box by De Gea.

United forced Rovers back in the final 20 minutes, but the home side were in resilient mood and it appeared as if something special would be required. That moment was provided by Valencia who drove in from the right and struck a spectacular shot with the outside of his right boot that flashed across Robinson and into the far corner.

Valencia's goal was special and it was matched by Young who having climbed off the subs' bench, collected the ball on the edge of the box before turning and arrowing a low shot into the corner.

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