English Premier League/ Manchester Utd 2 Blackburn Rovers 0: Manchester United, if potentially only for a day, have eked out breathing space at the top.

The reigning champions succeeded where Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool had been frustrated this season and defeated Blackburn Rovers, stubborn and awkward opponents, yesterday to move three points clear at the summit. They were not at their fluent best here but the result will serve as a statement of intent.

This is clearly a side than can still flourish without Wayne Rooney, who is out for a month with ankle damage. Cristiano Ronaldo provided the bite more normally demanded of the England forward, taking his season's goal tally into double figures, to shrug the hosts out of their initial lethargy.

There had been times in the opening half hour when Rovers, all strength and aggression, appeared to be undermining the hosts' soaring confidence. Christopher Samba had thumped against the bar from distance and United, briefly, appeared fallible.

Then came the riposte, delivered by Ronaldo within a frantic minute to settle the contest and deflate Blackburn's optimism.

A free header from the excellent Ryan Giggs' corner, the ball skimming in off David Bentley's scalp as he leapt on the goal-line, eased United ahead and calmed the jitters.

Rovers were still panicked when a rat-a-tat of home passes sent Carlos Tevez scurrying down the inside-left channel with his centre steered low across and beyond Brad Friedel by the galloping Portuguese. There is no stopping Ronaldo in this form. Rooney may be missed more by his country than he is by his club.

The winger has scored 10 times in 15 United appearances this term, a record which suggests that Ferguson's pre-season demand that he improve on last season's tally of 23 may not be fanciful.

The header was powerful and true, Ronaldo benefiting from Aaron Mokoena's failure to leap and compete for the cross. The pace and accuracy with which Nemanja Vidic, Louis Saha and Tevez combined to set up the second could not be stifled. Ferguson described them as "marvellous" and "stunning" goals.

Blackburn, one of the Premier League teams of the moment, could not contain such effervesence.

Yet what must have been as heartening for Ferguson was the knowledge that this was a contest that had demanded steel as well as creation.

Rovers' seven-match winning streak in all competitions had ended with a goalless draw with Liverpool at Ewood Park but, where they have out-played opponents through much of that sequence, they had demonstrated from the outset here a willingness to use the strong-arm to bludgeon a result.

At times there were glimpses of the snap and snarl that had marked Mark Hughes' first few months in charge when this team had been labouring at the other end of the table. These days, there is real quality to go with the industry.

They might have led, Morten Gamst Pedersen and Benni McCarthy combining well with the South African's shot blocked and United scrambling clear.

The hosts were still complaining at what they perceived as a foul by David Dunn on Ronaldo when Samba crunched against the bar from just outside the area. Dunn would be penalised for tugging back Tevez on the half-hour.

There had been other fouls which had gone unsanctioned before then but, when the midfielder tangled with Saha eight minutes into the second period there was an inevitability to the second flash of yellow. A depleted Blackburn were never likely to uncover a route back into the contest.

The visitors still pressed at times, Edwin van der Sar blocking Samba's late header on the goalline, but the threat was largely United's from then on in. Ronaldo, twice, might have completed his first hat-trick for the club.

Giggs, outstanding throughout, and Rio Ferdinand also forced Friedel to block. Yet the profligacy mattered little.

United have returned to the pinnacle and it is Arsenal's turn to play catch-up.

• Guardian Service