EVEN on their most ordinary nights, Manchester United are capable of producing a rabbit from a hat. Most importantly, they can make opponents’ hopes disappear in a puff of smoke. The trick is in their DNA, a quality that has made them among the world’s most watchable teams.

United fans have been worried that the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo has reduced their capacity for such sleight of hand but after labouring against a Blackburn side set up only to avoid humiliation, Dimitar Berbatov produced a moment of magic for a sublime 55th-minute goal.

Berbatov said recently he considered himself a failure in Manchester United colours, though this man who often gives the impression of playing well within himself has a winning mentality. And any player who is capable of scoring the goal that gave United the lead, killing a Patrice Evra shot before turning to crack a half-volley into the corner over his shoulder, can never be considered a failure.

Until then, Blackburn’s manager, Sam Allardyce, looked as though he might enjoy a successful night at Old Trafford. Instead, Rovers suffered their 10th successive away defeat, dating back to March, which made one wonder whether Berbatov has developed an ironic British sense of humour when he said afterward: “Blackburn are always hard to play against.”

So poorly have Blackburn’s defenders performed this season, with only Hull matching their record of 24 goals conceded, that they might have started with four beach balls as their back four. The club are still trying to shake off an outbreak of swine flu but their biggest worry has been catching a cold against the big four, losing 6-2 at the Emirates and 5-0 at Stamford Bridge last week.

Ferguson turned the hairdryer on the press on Friday for “humiliating” Rio Ferdinand by highlighting recent errors and suggesting he was about to be dropped. But there was no sign of Ferdinand on the team sheet, the official reason being a calf strain rather than some dodgy defending and he will also miss the Champions League tie against CSKA Moscow here on Tuesday. But Nemanja Vidic, also absent with a calf problem, should return. Ferguson said: “I was a bit concerned after our first-half performance. But there was no need for us to panic. We improved in the second half, it was a sound, solid performance and Berbatov scored a fantastic goal.”

United, who normally start at a feverish pace at Old Trafford, took half an hour to produce a save from Paul Robinson, who tipped Berbatov’s header over the bar from Antonio Valencia’s cross. Robinson, whose hopes of an England recall are being undermined by his defenders, was soon diving to push away another effort from Berbatov.

“Attack, attack, attack,” was the message from the Stretford End as United failed to up the tempo at the beginning of the second half, looking as lackadaisical as a team of Rios, all except for the energetic Wayne Rooney and the probing Anderson. But the nerves were finally eased by Berbatov’s outstanding effort.

Gabriel Oberton, signed from Bordeaux in the summer, came on for his debut, replacing the disappointing Nani, but he missed the chance of the match from seven yards out. Michael Owen, who came on for Berbatov, also spurned a late opportunity.

Allardyce admitted that his side, while defending brilliantly at times, had little to offer in attack. But he was infuriated by having a goal from substitute Nikola Kalinic ruled out for offside as the game entered the first of four minutes of stoppage time. Allardyce said: “It was so far onside that it is unbelievable that the assistant referee did not give it. Even if it had been given, we probably would not have got anything out of the game. But with four minutes to go, who knows? Once again, a big decision has gone against us and we can’t keep having those things taken away from us. But their two goals were sheer class. I have no complaints against those.”

The second had arrived shortly before Kalinic’s effort when Wayne Rooney, who once again did the work of two men, himself and Berbatov, met an Anderson cross with the sweetest of left-foot volleys. And just like his strike partner, Rooney made it look the easiest skill in the world.

Star man: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd)

Yellow cards: Blackburn: Chimbonda, Emerton

Referee: P Dowd

Attendance: 74,658

MAN UTD: Van der Sar 6, O’Shea 6, Brown 6, J Evans 6, Evra 6, Anderson 7, Carrick 6, Nani 6 (Obertan 63min), Valencia 7, Berbatov 6 (Owen 79min), Rooney 7

BLACKBURN: Robinson 6, Samba 7, Givet 6, Nelsen 7, Chimbonda 6, Emerton 6, Dunn 6, Nzonzi 6, Andrews 6 (Pedersen 57min, 5), Diouf 5, Di Santo (Kalinic 76min)