TEN man Rovers saw their eight-match unbeaten run come to an end as they went down to a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.

It took two first half goals in the space of ninety seconds to hand all three points to the home side, Cristiano Ronaldo heading his first on 34 minutes, and adding a second moments later after fine work from Carlos Tevez.

But had Chris Samba's 19th minute strike gone in instead of striking the woodwork it could have been a different story, but any chance Rovers had of forcing a second-half comeback were dashed when David Dunn saw red for two yellow cards minutes after the restart.

No further goals were scored, although both sides had chances. Friedel saved well from Ferdinand, whilst Pedersen should have done better for Rovers, then van der Sar saved on the line to deny Samba at the death.

It meant Rovers had to taste defeat on the road in the league for the first time since the corresponding match at Old Trafford between the two sides back in March.

Before the game Mark Hughes made just the one change from the side that had drawn against Liverpool eight days earlier. Aaron Mokoena, having recovered from the knock that saw him stretchered off against Portsmouth, returned to central midfield, Brett Emerton moved back to his more familiar role at right back, Andre Ooijer perhaps unfortunate to drop to the bench to make way.

The game started at a tremendous pace, two sides in great form locking horns and showing no fear with their attacking play. Chances came and went at either end in the opening exchanges, Tevez first firing wide, then seeing a header pushed behind by Friedel, whilst Bentley and Pedersen both put efforts over the bar.

That set the tone for the half, the enterprising and exciting play from both sides delighting the crowd. A Saha header wide, a McCarthy shot deflected.

Rovers started to get more joy on the ball than the home side and on 19 minutes came a moment that could have changed the game in the blue and white side's favour. A Rovers free-kick was cleared only as far as Chris Samba and the Parisian-born defender unleashed another of his thunderbolts, it seemed destined for the top left corner of van der Sar's goal, but as the Dutch stopper watched on helplessly, the ball crashed off the corner of post and bar and away to safety.

But that Samba strike only served to re-awaken the home side, and they took control to devastating effect with two goals in little over a minute.

Cristiano Ronaldo had seen his speculative effort deflected wide for a corner kick, and from Giggs' left wing delivery, the Portuguese international evaded his marker Aaron Mokoena to powered home a header into the roof of the net despite the desperate attempts of Bentley on the line.

Rovers had barely time to get themselves back to the halfway line when a second was conceded. Rio Ferdinand's clearance out of defence was headed into the air by Brett Emerton, that served to wrong-foot Chris Samba allowing Tevez with space to run at goal. As the Rovers defenders furiously back-pedaled to rescue the situation, the Argentinean did the sensible and unselfish act of squaring the ball to the right where Ronaldo grabbed his and United's second with a strike across goal that crept into the far corner of the goal despite Friedel getting his fingertips to the ball.

Despite the deficit, Rovers ended the half as strongly as they had started, David Bentley's first-time effort was straight at van der Sar, whilst his back post header caused panic in defence until van der Sar calmed home nerves by claiming the ball.

But whatever chance Rovers had of staging a second half comeback quickly diminished as David Dunn was sent off by referee Chris Foy. The midfield had been booked in the first half for a challenge on Tevez, alas his second foul of the day - this time on Saha - resulted in a second card and left Rovers playing the remaining 35 minutes with just the ten men.

Alas the red card knocked the wind out of Rovers' sails, the head of steam built up after the restart evaporated, allowing the home side to take control of the game, albeit at a much slower pace than the frantic first half.

But had Morten Gamst Pedersen showed a little more composure in front of goal it could have set up an all the more interesting ending to the game, but when Vidic could only head Warnock's cross straight at the Norwegian, he unwisely chose a first-time effort when he had time and space to control and pick his spot from the edge of the box, the ball ending amongst the fans behind van der Sar's goal.

Brad Friedel denied Rio Ferdinand with a fine save on 83 minutes, but Rovers kept attacking to the end and were unlucky when Chris Samba's downward header was stopped on the line by van der Sar, the impressive Carlos Tevez on hand to scramble the ball away.

Until this afternoon the only other defeat Rovers had suffered in the Barclays Premier League was to Portsmouth at Ewood Park at the end of September, the referee that day was also Chris Foy, Rovers will be hoping that their paths don't cross again for quite some time.

So for the first time this season Rovers go into the international break off the back of a defeat, they've got to wait a fortnight until they get the chance to get the loss out of their system when they face Fulham at Craven Cottage.

MAN UTD: van der Sar, Evra, Hargreaves (sub Carrick 77 mins), Ferdinand, Brown, Ronaldo, Anderson, Saha (sub Nani 68 mins), Giggs (c), Vidic, Tevez.
Subs not used: Kuszczak (GK), O'Shea, Fletcher.

ROVERS: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Nelsen (c), Warnock, Bentley, Mokoena, Dunn, Pedersen, McCarthy, Santa Cruz (sub Derbyshire 78 mins).
Subs not used: Brown (GK), Ooijer, Tugay, Berner.

Booked: Ronaldo (Man Utd), Dunn, Mokoena, Nelsen, Samba (Rovers)

Off: Dunn (Rovers)

Attendance: 75,710