'It was decided by two superb bits of football'

Sir Alex Ferguson speaks with increasing regularity about Ryan Giggs' age. "We can't play him all the time," he reiterated last night after a game in which the 33-year-old midfielder appeared beside the headline "Silver Streak" on the match programme.

But age is clearly not wearying Giggs who Ferguson described as his finest contributor in the 2-0 defeat of Blackburn. "I think he was probably our best player today," the manager said. "There were marvellous bits of ability and it's good we'll have him fresh [after the international break] for the Bolton game in two weeks."

Ferguson also hailed the "two marvellous bits of football" by Cristiano Ronaldo which clinched victory for United. "Ronaldo's header was stunning and the quick counter-attack before the second goal killed them really," he said. "The football deserved more, I think, but at the end of the day knowing Blackburn are such a good side now it was a very satisfying result. It was decided by two marvellous bits of football."

The United manager agreed with Mark Hughes that the dismissal of David Dunn, on 52 minutes, was unlucky on the Blackburn midfielder. "We have a good young team coming together," he added. "They've got good courage in play and they want to play regularly. They want to win something and I think they've got a good chance of that."

Ferguson confirmed it will be four weeks before Wayne Rooney is back from the "freak" training ground accident in which he collided with apparatus at Carrington on Friday. He also confirmed that Paul Scholes has responded well to the operation he has undergone and will be back in January. "It will be like signing a new player in the transfer window," said Ferguson. "The operation was 100 per cent successful. The only trouble is the wee beggar is getting older. But Giggs and Scholes will play until they are 36."