FORMER United ace Paul Ince was taught a footballing lesson by his old mentor Sir Alex Ferguson as the Reds eased to victory at a rain-lashed Ewood Park.

The Blackburn boss was on the losing side as United picked up where they left off after the midweek Champions' League victory away at Aalborg.

England stars Wes Brown and Wayne Rooney got the goals in front of admiring international coach Fabio Capello.

Rooney had been struggling with an ankle injury but played alongside £30.75million record signing Dimitar Berbatov in attack as United recorded back-to-back Barclays Premier League victories for the first time this season.

Darren Fletcher was back in a depleted central midfield while England keeper Paul Robinson was again sidelined for the hosts, with Jason Brown continuing in goal.

Brown was at the centre of controversy when United took the lead just after the half hour.

He produced a magnificent save to deny Ryan Giggs, who had advanced onto Berbatov's square ball with relish.

But from the resulting corner, Rooney curled over a cross to the far post which virtually dropped on Wes Brown's head and bounced in.

Blackburn's keeper claimed he was blocked off by Nemanja Vidic as he went to collect the cross but TV replays suggested the contact was accidental, although Morten Gamst Pedersen was booked for protesting.

After winning on just one of their last six visits to Blackburn, United were used to struggling at Ewood Park and failed to create many clear cut chances early on. But after breaking the deficit, the result was never in doubt.

United took charge and players were queuing up to get on the end of the overlapping Wes Brown's next cross, which Rooney headed wide, with Cristiano Ronaldo coming close with the final kick of the half after Patrice Evra had crossed.

Blackburn were quickly into their stride at the start of the second period, with Roque Santa Cruz muscling his way past Ferdinand before unleashing a powerful shot at the United goal which Edwin van der Sar pushed round a post.

It proved to be Santa Cruz's last meaningful involvement before he got a knock and was replaced by Jason Roberts, although Van der Sar was forced to rush a clearance not long afterwards as Pedersen came too close to comfort as he closed in on Vidic's back pass.

A Ronaldo shot came bouncing back off Christopher Samba and worryingly, the Portugal star got up tenderly touching his right ankle and was not moving freely as play continued. Berbatov then slipped a pass to Ronaldo that the prospective world player of the year failed to convert, having apparently overcome his earlier problem.

There was certainly nothing wrong with the surge that took Ronaldo past Martin Olsson after he had collected Wes Brown's short pass by the touchline. And, having charged into open space, Ronaldo was able to take his time and pick out Rooney, who produced an unstoppable first-time finish that flashed into the Blackburn goal.

Carlos Tevez, who many feel is unlucky to be squeezed out of the United side at present, replaced Giggs, then Wes Brown nodded Fletcher's corner over.

Rooney chipped over the advancing Jason Brown but also onto the roof of the Blackburn net, then Berbatov could not get around the Rovers goalkeeper after also finding himself racing clear of the home defence.

Park Ji-sung replaced Rooney 13 minutes from time, just after Anderson had tested Brown's reflexes with an angled drive.

Ronaldo should have done better not long afterwards, then Tevez hit a post after splashing through the puddles four minutes from time to reach the winger's cross.