Former United winger Keith Gillespie had stunned the visitors by scoring his first goal for the Blades on his 44th appearance. But United, and Rooney especially, were not to be denied as the striker's goals killed off the home side's challenge.

Sheffield United's Ireland goalkeeper Paddy Kenny was given the all-clear to start having recovered from an incident earlier this week in which his left eyebrow was bitten off.

A full house had to wait until the 10th minute for the first chance. Cristiano Ronaldo's ball out wide to the right looked as if it would be easily intercepted by Colin KazimRichards. But poor control from the youngster allowed skipper Gary Neville to steal in, charge into the area and drive in a right-footed shot that was saved by Kenny. It proved a let-off and three minutes later the Blades made United pay by taking the lead.

Nicky Law delivered a raking cross from the left wing to the far post to a surprisingly unmarked Keith Gillespie who headed the opening goal back across Edwin van der Sar from eight yards.

Controversy followed in the 26th minute when Alex Ferguson's side had a strong penalty appeal waved away with Ryan Giggs getting booked for protesting. At that stage, though, the Red Devils were firmly in control and their reward arrived on the half-hour with Rooney scoring his sixth United goal of the season. Neville's low ball into the area from the right was picked up by Rooney. After an initial controlling touch with his left foot, he then fired the equaliser past Kenny with his right foot from six yards.

In the 54th minute, striker Rob Hulse turned sharply just outside the area and rifled a firm right-foot drive over the crossbar as Neil Warnock's men gained some momentum.

The Blades were more than holding their own in the second period, defending stoutly and pushing forward whenever they could. Chances, though, were few and far between for both sides, although Scholes drove in a 20-yard shot which Kenny did well to stop.

But the Blades came under pressure as the half wore on and eventually cracked in the 75th minute with Rooney firing an angled eight-yard volley beyond Kenny courtesy of Patrice Evra's cross.

It was almost 3-1 in the 82nd minute. First Ronaldo headed against the bar and, from the rebound, Scholes saw his hooked effort cleared off the line by Jagielka. Six minutes later and it was Saha's turn to be denied, shooting on the turn from 20 yards, only for Kenny to palm the ball away to his left.

Seconds later came one of those glaring misses that will be replayed time and again, this time Ronaldo spooning the ball over an empty net after being teed up by Giggs.