Paul Scholes will score many better goals in the future, but if Manchester United retain their title next month, he will score few more important goals than the one which effectively put them six points clear of Arsenal.

Alex Ferguson had seen his side run ragged by a one-man demonstration of the art of forward play by Chris Sutton, even though he had recalled Peter Schmeichel, Gary Pallister and Ryan Giggs.

Sutton's first-half penalty, after Gary Neville had brought Damien Duff crashing to the ground, was no more than Roy Hodgson's side deserved.

With Sutton dominant, Rovers controlling midfield and Colin Hendry a tower of defensive strength, they looked on course to record only their second win in 12 Premiership attempts over the Reds.

But Ferguson's introduction of Nicky Butt as a half-time substitute saw United drag themselves back into the game by their bootstraps.

Andy Cole, released by David Beckham, twisted past Stephane Henchoz to claim his 23rd goal of the season, but only his second in the League in 1998.

Then Scholes struck the vital blow. Beckham sped down the right before firing in a low cross which Hendry could not quite reach and the ball struck Scholes on the outside of his right knee and dribbled past a helpless Alan Fettis.

With virtually the final kick, Beckham, freed by a sliderule pass from Giggs, sealed the victory with an assured finish that puts the pressure back on the Gunners, even if they have three games in hand.

It all came right in the end, but at half-time it was certainly not what Ferguson had envisaged when he put the names of Schmeichel, Pallister and Giggs on his team-sheet.

Giggs' return after an eight-match lay-off - United had won just two in his absence - saw Ronny Johnsen return to the defence, with Ole Solskjaer surprisingly continuing as Cole's striker partner and Teddy Sheringham left on the bench.

From the outset, though, Sutton seemed determined to turn the match into a one-man show.

Perhaps it was the memory of his Old Trafford red card, perhaps just being reunited with Kevin Gallacher - the most prolific partnership in the Premiership this term with 30 goals between them at the start.

Whatever the reason, Sutton was sensational, giving Pallister and Johnsen an evening they will want to forget, and one which makes his row with Glenn Hoddle all the more regrettable.

Inside four minutes Sutton soared above Pallister to nod down for Gallacher, but the most impressive of back-post interventions by Gary Neville prevented him from converting Garry Flitcroft's low cross.

Flitcroft was one of the three tigers in the Rovers midfield tank, Billy McKinlay and Tim Sherwood joining him in crowding out United, and supporting Sutton.

Giggs had drifted out of the game, even though Hodgson's men had no natural width on the right, while Sutton's dominance saw Pallister booked for one crude grapple.

Despite that, the first shot on target did not come until the 23rd minute, Sutton - inevitably - releasing Jeff Kenna to cut inside and shoot weakly.

Schmeichel, however, failed to hold it first time and then spilled a high ball from deep and a Duff corner.

His uncharacteristic fumblings did not help United settle and when they pushed forward, Hendry was outstanding. On the half-hour Rovers earned their reward.

The Ewood fans had not forgiven Gerald Ashby for the controversial penalty he had awarded against Henning Berg - then at Rovers - in their championship season, but this one was clearcut.

Sutton fed Jason Wilcox, who laid the ball into Duff. The young Irishman was confronted by Scholes and Neville, who initially hitched a piggy-back ride on Duff just outside the box.

But he took the ride all the way inside, so that Duff had nowhere to go but down, and when Mr Ashby awarded the penalty, Sutton drilled the ball home under the diving Schmeichel.

United had to improve and when Butt - whose calf problem meant he had not been risked from the start - replaced the disappointing Solskjaer, United were a different proposition.

McKinlay and Flitcroft, who had been so formidable, were both booked within four minutes of the restart for fouls on Beckham and Phil Neville respectively, and the chances started to come.

Gary Neville wasted the first by shooting weakly from eight yards at Fettis - deputising for the injured Tim Flowers - when Wilcox went to sleep as Giggs centred from the United left.

Two minutes later, though, Cole equalised, receiving Beckham's driven pass down the right, turning inside Henchoz as if he was not there and planting a low, left-footed shot past Fettis into the bottom corner.

Now everything changed, United suddenly showing the conviction lacking earlier as Butt's presence gave them the drive they had been so clearly missing in the opening period.

Even so, Rovers had Sutton and he was so close to converting Wilcox's pass after Duff's flick had sent the makeshift left-back away.

But Giggs was also finding room and he was released by Cole for a cross that Scholes met firmly, but a fraction off target before the passions boiled over.

Beckham, incensed by what he claimed was an unpunished elbow by Wilcox, went in high in retaliation and Ferguson himself remonstrated with Mr Ashby and his linesman, before Scholes flew in on McKinlay.

United, though, had the bit between their teeth, aware of how vital victory was, and pushed forward in search of the goal that could prove so crucial come May 10.

Even when it came - Scholes rightly claimed the goal, even if he did not know too much about it - Blackburn could have claimed a point.

Sutton dragged one shot wide, before Hendry, up to meet Flitcroft's corner and left unmarked, thundered his header straight at Schmeichel.

It was still not over. Mr Ashby played on when Gallacher was dumped, but Schmeichel stood up to foil Kenna and Gallacher fired wide after outpacing Johnsen.

But United stood firm and finished Rovers off in the final minute, Giggs brilliantly releasing Beckham, whose finish was impeccable.

United play Liverpool on Friday, with the chance to really put the pressure on, but this, for 45 minutes at least, was a champions' display.

Teams

Blackburn: Fettis, Kenna, Sherwood, Hendry, Gallacher, Sutton, Wilcox, Flitcroft, McKinlay, Henchoz, Duff. Subs Not Used: Davidson, Ripley, Dahlin, Broomes, Williams.

Booked: McKinlay, Flitcroft.

Goals: Sutton 32 pen.

Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Johnsen, Pallister, Beckham, Cole, Giggs, P. Neville, Scholes, Solskjaer (Butt 46). Subs Not Used: May, Sheringham, Thornley, Van Der Gouw.

Booked: Pallister, P. Neville, Johnsen.

Goals: Cole 56, Scholes 73, Beckham 89.

Att: 30,547

Ref: G R Ashby (Worcester).