SEASON'S BEST

Manchester United's ninth championship in 15 seasons is now so close that Chelsea's habit of scoring late winners has become no more irritating than a bothersome fly. Sir Alex Ferguson's players are so exuberant, their football so thrilling, it seems inconceivable that the Premiership trophy will not be prised, finger by finger, from Jose Mourinho's grasp.

If there was going to be a moment when United might crack, it arrived after that jolting two-minute spell when Nemanja Vidic departed with a dislocated shoulder, which could keep him out for the remainder of the season, and Matt Derbyshire stabbed Blackburn into the lead. This, before an increasingly alarmist crowd, was the point when United could either fold like a house of cards or reach their point of maximum expression. They took the route of champions, always assured, totally at ease with their vision of themselves at the top of the hierarchy. Not once did United send forward hopeful balls or try to score from improbable angles. Never did they rush or force the play when they could rely on their ability to pass and move.

Ferguson later described it as the most accomplished performance of the season, although it would have been more accurate if he had focused simply on the second 45 minutes because it has been a long time since Old Trafford was bewitched by such an exhilarating period of slick, attacking football or, indeed, that the stadium's acoustics have sounded so good. This was the Premiership at its most thrilling and, after the drudgery of England's internationals, an antidote for those who have come to see the beautiful game through tired and jaded eyes.

Scholes it was who instigated United's comeback, his splendid goal breaking Blackburn's resolve after 61 minutes, and it is easy to imagine Steve McClaren watching Match of the Day from behind his sofa. How McClaren must regret Scholes's decision that he wants no part in the pantomime of the England national team.

Rooney's performance could be summed up by the moment, in first-half stoppage time, when he was offside, having run clear, but decided he wanted to reacquaint himself with the art of finishing anyway, if only to see the ball caress the back of the net. His first effort hit Friedel's legs. His second struck the goalkeeper's shins and bounced away again. Friedel barely bothered to move for either shot.

In mitigation Rooney's head never went down and he made a significant contribution in the second half. Yet compare and contrast with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, scoring United's fourth goal barely five minutes after entering the field as a substitute. Solskjaer accepted his solitary chance with the look of a man for whom nothing could be more natural. Rooney still conjured a couple of moments of brilliance but there is evidence, too, that he is not as immune to insecurity and self-doubt as was once perceived and it is a legitimate cause for concern.

Giggs's name will also be circled in red in the Roma scouting report while Ronaldo was the usual blur of pyrotechnics, crossing for Carrick to make it 2-1 and setting up Park Ji-sung for the third with a free-kick that rebounded off Friedel. Ferguson described it as a "performance of champions" and the Stretford End sang: "We want our trophy back."

The Telegraph

It is when Paul Scholes is playing at his imperious best for Manchester United that one suddenly begins to feel sympathy towards Steve McClaren.

It is probably just as well that McClaren stayed away because there is nothing worse than seeing what you cannot have. Attempts by McClaren last summer to persuade Scholes to make himself available for England for the first time since the end of Euro 2004 proved futile, but England's loss has undoubtedly been United's gain.

Not only does Sir Alex Ferguson get Scholes all to himself, the 32-year-old is also unburdened by the draining side-effects that can come with playing international football.

Whereas Scholes was fresh, sharp and alert having rested-up during the international break, in contrast Wayne Rooney was heavy-legged, seemingly bereft of confidence in front of goal.

Scholes may see his United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo deny him the honour of being named Footballer of the Year this season, but if United do claim the title between now and May 13, his input will not have gone unnoticed and his goal in this game, a brilliant combination of fighting spirit and composure, dragged United back on level terms and set them up for an ultimately comfortable victory.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes said: "We've seen him do that many times. In those situations he has a very cool head and great technical ability and awareness. Once he got past the last man I expected him to hit the net and he did.

"If you get players like Scholes in decent areas you know he's likely to deliver an end product. Since he returned from his eye problem, he has been sensational. He has had an influence on every game I've seen him play in."

For an hour of this game, United's pursuit of the title had been given its most demanding examination for months. Matt Derbyshire's first-half goal was a reward for Blackburn's early endeavour and the injury-enforced substitution of centre-half Nemanja Vidic, who faces at least five weeks out with a shoulder injury, left the home side without their most commanding defender.

Inspired by Scholes, however, United subjected Blackburn to a barrage of pressure in the second-half. However, goalkeeper Brad Friedel was equal to everything that United threw at him until Scholes dispossessed Christopher Samba and waltzed past Ryan Nelsen and Stephen Warnock before scoring on 61 minutes. With that, the Blackburn dam burst and wave after wave of United attacks brought three more goals in the closing stages with Michael Carrick, Ji-Sung Park and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all joining Scholes on the scoresheet.

The Times

For an hour at Old Trafford on Saturday, Manchester United supporters could have been forgiven for wondering if their season had collapsed in the space of two first-half minutes. No sooner had Nemanja Vidic, the pillar of United's defensive solidarity, been taken off on a stretcher, probably not to be seen again this season, did Matt Derbyshire strike a chord with Chelsea fans everywhere by putting Blackburn Rovers a goal in front.

The United of last season would possibly not have recovered from two such devastating blows, but this team is a different proposition and so it was entirely appropriate that it was a player who best embodies the transformation in his side's fortunes who should provide the kick-start for an ultimately comfortable victory.

Paul Scholes may have been overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo for much of this term, but his contribution has been no less startling and in any other year he would be a shoo-in for the player of the season awards. Like the Portugal winger, who was at his rip-roaring best yet again, Scholes has overcome adversity to flourish. As he danced past two defenders before shooting with sublime accuracy across Brad Friedel, it was hard to compare the Scholes of now and the one of 12 months ago, who had cause to wonder if he would ever play football again because of an eye condition.

When Scholes equalised, there only ever looked like being one winner in a contender for game of the season, but for long periods it seemed as though Blackburn, and their outstanding goalkeeper, Brad Friedel, in particular, would breathe new life into the title race.

A hapless Wayne Rooney, picking up where he left off for England, had squandered two glaring opportunities — both superbly saved by Friedel — by the time Derbyshire scored and a raft of other chances went begging before United finally unearthed their shooting boots.

Michael Carrick claimed the second goal before Park Ji Sung and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer added gloss to a scoreline that reflected United's complete second-half dominance, if not Blackburn's gallant opening efforts.

A tough test away to AS Roma in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday evening has suddenly become tougher with Vidic out with a suspected broken collar bone and/or dislocated shoulder, but Hughes believes the treble is still a strong possibility for United. "It's a huge ask for them," the former United forward said. "I think the title will be theirs, without a doubt. They viewed this game as really crucial for them, but they've been able to overcome us and you sense they will have a real go on all fronts."