Blackburn Rovers 4 - 3 Manchester United

Bentley, who only sealed his full-time move from Arsenal yesterday, took advantage of some kamikaze United defending to set up Rovers' first league double over their rivals in 75 years.

But Ferdinand challenged him for the headlines after his simmering feud with Savage burst into life again two minutes from time with a clattering challenge resulting in the England defender's dismissal.

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.

• 'Possibly a poor challenge'

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.

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.

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.