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Sir Alex Ferguson watched Manchester United leapfrog Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, then challenged his team to prove their class by winning something.

Cristiano Ronaldo's quickfire double at the end of the first half eased United to a 2-0 win over a Blackburn side whose comeback hopes were effectively ended by David Dunn's sending-off for a second bookable offence eight minutes after the break.

Ronaldo now has 10 goals for the season and United nine wins from their last 10 outings.

With strugglers Bolton, Fulham and Derby their next three opponents, it would be a major surprise if the Red Devils drop any more points before they visit Liverpool on December 16 even with Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes among the men missing.

But Ferguson knows it will be the middle of May when the real assessment of his blossoming side can be made.

"We have a good, young team that is growing together and we are playing well," said Ferguson.

"There is a lot of courage in our play and the signs are good. But what this team has to do, is win something. I think they have a great chance of doing that."

While Ronaldo took the goalscoring plaudits, powering home Ryan Giggs' corner to put United ahead before ending a flowing move in clinical fashion a minute later, Ferguson felt his other winger was deserving of the most praise.

After getting a much-needed rest in midweek, Ferguson felt Giggs was the major influence behind United's latest triumph.

"We have to measure Ryan's appearances because we cannot play him all the time," said the Red Devils chief.

"He is 34 at the end of the month but I feel he can go on for a good few years yet. He has been a wonderful servant for this club and was our best player today."

Giggs has been around so long, Blackburn boss Mark Hughes counts him among his former team-mates for both club and country.

And, having shared a dressing room with the Cardiff-born star during the early days of his professional career, Hughes can feel of no more deserving accolade than for Giggs to pass Sir Bobby Charlton's United appearance record, which he is now 27 games away from doing.

"I played with Ryan and know just what an outstanding talent he is," said Hughes.

"He has made his mark in football already but he would fully deserve to reach that appearance record. I am sure there will be a few more highs for him yet."

As a potential successor to Ferguson, Hughes has done his chances of inheriting the Old Trafford hotseat no harm with the progressive side he has built at Blackburn.

However, he was left frustrated at a succession of borderline decisions from referee Chris Foy, including the dismissal of Dunn, which even Ferguson felt was harsh after the midfielder followed up a tackle on Carlos Tevez with a clumsy challenge on Louis Saha.

"There were 75,000 people in the stadium looking forward to a really competitive second half," said Hughes.

"I didn't think there was anything in the first tackle at all and the second one just a mistimed challenge. Overall, I felt it was pretty unfortunate.

"I accept it must be quite intimidating for referees at Old Trafford but I don't remember getting decisions like that when I played here.

"I am just pleased we didn't go under because a lot of sides, in similar circumstances, would have done."