No fireworks from Sparky's men

Mark Hughes feels referee Chris Foy robbed Blackburn of the chance to take the game to United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Foy sent off Rovers midfielder David Dunn in the 53rd minute for what he deemed a second bookable offence, although many observers felt the decision was harsh. The visitors, who had showed plenty of attacking ambition in the first half and even hit the post through Christopher Samba, then resorted to stifling tactics and getting men behind the ball.

"It was a mistimed challenge on Louis Saha," Rovers boss Mark Hughes conceded. "But it wasn't a really poor tackle or a violent challenge. I felt Dunn was also unlucky to get booked in the first half. We feel a little bit harshly done by because we weren't able to show just what a good team we are. Unfortunately the game was taken away from us."

Even United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had some sympathy for Dunn, telling MUTV he felt "the lad was a bit unlucky".

"That killed the game off as a competition," Ferguson admitted.