Manchester United were left rueing a poor defensive performance after Blackburn gained their first league double over their rivals in 75 years.
And to add to the Reds' woes, Rio Ferdinand was sent off for a foul which led to Robbie Savage being stretchered off in an extraordinary seven-goal thriller at Ewood Park.
Ferdinand had already endured a dismal night with his terrible first half mix-up with Edwin Van der Sar helping Rovers take a lead they never surrendered.
His night was almost improved by the dramatic introduction of Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who lashed home a double to drag United back from 4-1 down and set up a breathless finish.
Following last week's Carling Cup dust-up, the midfield reacquaintance of Ferdinand and Savage had always promised to be one of the highlights of tonight's encounter.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson kept Ferdinand in the emergency midfield role in which he excelled at Wolves, a move which would bring him face to face with his Rovers rival.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Patrice Evra both came back for the visitors, who started brightly when Kieran Richardson hooked a shot from outside the box just wide in the first minute after being set up by Wayne Rooney.
Dangerous
Two minutes later Richardson lofted a dangerous free-kick over the bar after Morten Gamst Pedersen had harshly been adjudged to have fouled Ronaldo 20 yards from goal.
Rovers were struggling to get out of their own half in the opening minutes although Shefki Kuqi was ruled narrowly offside chasing Steven Reid's fine forward pass.
Louis Saha had United's first chance on target with a ninth-minute header from Evra's left-wing cross which was easily caught in the Rovers goal by Brad Friedel.
Ronaldo was continuing to cause no end of problems for the Rovers rearguard on United's right and his sharp 14th-minute cross was well cut out by Ryan Nelsen.
Reid's suicidal 19th-minute backpass almost provided Rooney a clear run on goal but the England striker's hesitancy allowed relieved Rovers to clear.
Bentley's left-wing cross caused some problems for van der Sar in the 21st minute, but the goalkeeper eventually gathered under pressure from Savage.
Heat
The game heated up dramatically in the 36th minute when Wes Brown fouled Kuqi 30 yards out to set up a dangerous free-kick for Pedersen.
His blazing right-foot effort was tipped onto the post by the United goalkeeper only for the lurking Bentley to mark his full-time debut by prodding the opener over the line.
United were level two minutes later when Friedel reacted well to parry a fierce drive from Rooney, only for Saha to swing the loose ball into the Rovers' net.
Rovers went back in front in the 41st minute when Kuqi's ball into the United box caused a farcical mix-up between Ferdinand and van der Sar.
Ferdinand's bizarre back header left Van der Sar stranded and Bentley was credited with the final touch as he battled Wes Brown for the loose ball.
Then deep in first-half injury time Brown needlessly handled Reid's cross in the box, and Lucas Neill coolly stepped up to convert Rovers' third from the spot.
The home defence were almost caught asleep by Saha in the 51st minute as he presented an unmarked Rooney with a shooting chance.
Lashed
But the United youngster lashed his powerful left-footed effort straight at Friedel, who saved well to preserve his side's two-goal advantage.
Ferguson made a double change in the 55th minute with van Nistelrooy replacing Richardson and Ji-Sung Park coming on for Fletcher.
Rovers responded by streaming up the other end and heaping more misery on the visitors by grabbing their fourth in the 57th minute.
Savage hooked the ball back to Bentley in the left side of the United box and the former Arsenal man sent a fierce low drive across Van der Sar and into the far left corner of the net.
But United responded in the 64th minute when Ronaldo cut in sharply from the left and dragged the ball across goal where Van Nistelrooy was lurking to poke home for 4-2.
Moments later at the other end United's kamikaze streak surfaced again when Nemanja Vidic's bad back-pass let in first Kuqi, then Bentley for shots which were well blocked by Van der Sar.
In the 66th minute Evra's ball into the box was backheeled onto Van Nistelrooy who swept home his second to set up a grandstand finish.
Rooney came closest to grabbing United an unlikely draw with a snap-shot straight at Friedel 10 minutes from time.
Tempers began to flare and Ferdinand was booked by referee Phil Dowd four minutes from time for a bad challenge on Pedersen.
Two minutes later Ferdinand clashed with Savage, earning him a second booking and a sending-off - and leaving his nemesis to be stretchered off.
Have your say on United's defeat
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Well Of course Fergie changed the team, so its his fault,then he took off Richardson he should have taken off Fletcher also Van Der sar just what goes on in training is Gary Neville supposed to be captain he needs to give it over to somebody else.Bloody hell what clown would head the ball back into his own goal he should have either left it ot headed it out.Vand der Sar needs to shout and when he goes for the ball makes surer he gets it.
Thee ref was a joke no penalty Rio should not have been sent off why when you play well with one side does Ferguson change it with a decent manager we could go a long way Park should have started the game,does Fergie need to have is eyes tested.
And there was I thinking that the pantomime season was over .... but oh no it isn't, it's yet another performance of "Tinkerbell Strikes Again"!
Times running out Fergie. Poor team selection again, nothing to do with injuries more to do with quality of player. This is like going back 20 years inconsistent rubbish, players that should be lower league not at united.
The negatives are many ok sorry but Rio in CM is a confusion really we play 2 new defenders who don't really improve things to be truthful our ideas & verve are driven by 2 young players Roon & Ron who haven't got the experience yet & well our midfield is a shadow of what it needs to be & it was before injuries. The good news is Arsenal & Liverpool dropped pints but I'm more concerned with how our team & yes I truly hope we win the CC & FAC but deep down every fan at whatever level must see how much we've declined so if you don't think a change in outlook & management would be a positive thing ok let's stick to the same but be aware time moves on please!
Defence wins you things eh!!
I am going to watch my DVD 1001 Manchester United goals.
Rio Ferdinand...What a joke!!! If he wants to go to the world cup in june he had better buck up his ideas!!!
Where Rooney warning? Score no goal? My brother every game must start. See how team better when he come in?
When is AF going to see Fletcher just is'nt good enough.Let's forget the Ferdinand experiment he's no mid-fielder.Also when is AF going to start Park it's time the guy was given the chance to establish himself.The sending off of RF in my mind was six of one and half a dozen of the other,all three players who went for that ball had their foots high.I've said before and I say it again we have NO DECENT MIDFIELDERS.
Well, a shambolic afternoon of defending right across the back. In several games I think VDS has not been commanding enough in several games and this was another. Saha continues to show his quality. RVN's predatory skills are intact. JSP should be given more opportunity to share his industrious efforts. Ronaldo needs to more direct in his play and reduce his penchant for showboating. Hopefully the boys can regroup for the match with Fulham on the weekend.
Best to forget about this one.
Whatever the result was, the bright side is the emerging of a fantastic manager, Mark Hughes.
What's going on with the back four? Whose marking who? Why Bentley got away thrice? However, it does proof that once again Fletcher is useless! Perhaps Rio should learn not to expose his keeper with such header. And who can cross properly when Giggsy is not in?
Very annoyed is what I am.
Why, when we have chances to move higher in the table do we go all kamikaze like?
We score 3 goals, aand still lose??
Can't figure it.
Thak GOD that the Pool only managed a draw, but still brings them 1 point closer to us, with 2 games in hand. However, if you look at their fixtures they won't have it soo easy. This weekend they';re playing Chelski, then on Wed they play the 1 game in hand against Charlton, then the following week I think they have to play Arsenal for their 2nd game in hand. So by mid Feb we should see where Liverpool stand and where we are. We've simply GOT to play better defensively going forward. Its HUGELY annoying because strike wise we're looking very good indeed. And for a second there I thought our defense was rock solid!! What happened??
Is Vidic unsettling the Brown/Rio combination? I hope not...
Still, Arsenal lost, LIverpool drew and the rest I don't care about.
ha ha ha ha!! 4-3 to Blackburn?? ha ha ha!! that was pretty poor, but what else should we expect for united. so undisciplined. nice finish from rio. CTID
The goals were brilliant but the defending shocking. The Maginot line of defence. Is Rio a midfielder or defender--he didn't seem to know. Vidic also seemed lost at times. He looked unfit for 90 minutes.
The shifting of positions (again) for this match seemed to leave some players all at sea. I don't think Rooney up front gives him enough room to roam.
Blackburn are the Tonton Macoute of football.
Though unlucky at times, the Reds should have banked three points from this match. Our lads can be brilliant and world class or beaten by a 11 blokes found in any village square.
don't blame the defenders, blame the manager SAF. our team(man u) just same like Newcastle...there are unorganised and no shape in the team tactical. Glazer, pls appoint Guus or Hitzfield for the next season...
This has been coming. Once again SAF shows how out of depth he really is. If the Glazers are reading this, time for change before he does irreversible damage.
Manchester is the best! I was shocked by their silly defeat! In Russia the match was translated deap in the night!! After the match ended i was so shocked and angry that I couldn't sleep till noon! Now I'm sleeping in the office!! What's wrong with Ronaldo? Was he sleeping or what?
Gosh, I prayed it will be 4"4!!!
What can you say? Should have won this but we gave away 3 easy goals. Really thought we would win this when Ruud scored his second, but it wasnt meant to be.
Oh and by the way Fergie: What does Park have to do to get a regular start? Every time he plays well he gets benched the next match! Must really destroy the lads confidence......Thank you Rio for finally showing some passion for the red shirt! Savage is a softie...
Why did Ronaldo start and not Park? Shocking! Ronaldo was rubbish as usual. He was going nowhere for Ruuds first and he was lucky to gett he ball. Park is more of a team player and more effective. After his good performances I just cant believe why he is relegated to the bench.
See? The phrase paper and cracks springs to mind. No Central Midfield protecting your Defence and you put your Defence under too much pressure. Don't blame the Defenders, blame the Manager for not buying Central Midfielders to help defend the Defenders. Dead simple, and FACT.
All you rags seem very quiet on the comments today. I thought it was just Ferguson who went silent everytime you got thrashed. Maybe it has finally dawned on you all that United are USELESS. Rio not included in that - thought he was worth every penny of ??30 million.
OH DEAR !! PATHETIC
STUFF..And again why
we never have the
same team for the
NEXT match ?? When I
saw the line up my
heart sank again.And
I waited till 3-O in
the morn here for
the ko !!! Never will again..The jury
is still out over
his latest new 2 !!
lets pray !!!!!!
Oh for Ballack before its 2 late..
World class going to
waste for at least
4 years..Come on you
you bloody YANKS ??
Get your fingers out
THAIART yawn yawn..
Having watched the match last night and seeing Fergies subsequent interviews on MUTV and Sky,I have to admit, that despite being one of the earliest members of FOB, I agreed with everything he said.
We were really unlucky to get nothing out of the match, we were by far the better footballing team. VDS decides to have his worst match in a utd shirt at the same time we indulge in a comedy of defensive errors.People might question team selection, but apart from perhaps playing Park instead of Richardson and maybe Ruud for Fletcher then I had no real argument with the team.Fletcher, who was taken off after 5 mins did not perform badly, but I think the match showed Rios limitations as a CM.He's too cumbersome, somewhat slow in speed of mind and surprisingly not all that physical.I thought he was unlucky to be sent off,all 3 players went into the tackle with feet high.How he's supposed to have injured Savage's shin when the pictures clearly show that his leg went under Savage's is beyond me.I'll put any money on a miraculous recovery from our previous youth team player.The only real argument(apart from not strengthening our MF 3 yrs ago) with SAF is that he took off Wes Brown instead of Vidic,who was clearly labouring and almost out on his feet for the last 20 mins.
yet again rubbish
30 million on Ferdinand, 30 million on Rooney etc. You are a joke man u. Your most expensive players either get sent off or miss from point blank range. We on the other hand cruise to an easy win over newcastle. You have no quality and are a very mediocre team. In 5 years time u will probably be relegated! The guard in Manchester is changing!....muppets