Manchester United's hopes of catching Premiership leaders Chelsea virtually disappeared in a frustrating stalemate. Wayne Rooney and Roy Keane hit the post in the first half as United dominated.
Rooney and Mikael Silvestre, who had a header cleared off the line by Morten Gamst Pedersen, also brought fine saves from Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel.
Paul Scholes also missed a glorious chance for United, while Blackburn rarely threatened, with Pedersen heading their best chance wide.
United initially decided to rest Keane, but the captain was quickly in action when he replaced Ryan Giggs, who limped off after six minutes with a hamstring injury.
Goalkeeper Friedel, outstanding when United drew at Ewood Park earlier in the season, was defiant again as Blackburn were pushed back.
He pushed out Rooney's header in the first minute, then saved a similar effort from Silvestre when he connected with a Scholes free-kick.
Rooney was as influential as ever, and he was only denied a spectacular opener by the woodwork after 24 minutes, crashing a 25-yard drive against the post. Keane also struck the woodwork from the edge of the area as Blackburn led a charmed life in the opening 45 minutes.
Silvestre had a header brilliantly cleared off the line by Morten Gamst Pedersen and Scholes somehow failed to hit the target from only six yards in the dying seconds of the opening half.
Blackburn's only response was an early deflected shot from Steven Reid that was well blocked by Tim Howard, and a header off target by Pedersen when he should have done better.
United were fortunate not to pay for slack defending on the hour, when Gary Neville's clearance fell to Jon Stead, who shot tamely wide from 12 yards.
Sir Alex Ferguson responded by sending on Alan Smith for Ruud van Nistelrooy, who again looked well short of full match fitness.
Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson:
"I am glad to get these recent international matches out of the way. "The players are never the same when they come back to us and I just want to get them back in a United jersey again.
"I am going to pick a different team next week."
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes:
"We have just played Everton, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United in consecutive games and we have picked up five points. "That is very satisfying for us. United had a number of opportunities in the first half but that is always going to happen at Old Trafford.
"But we defended our borders and might have even nicked it at the end."
Man Utd: Howard, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Scholes, Fortune, Giggs (Keane 6), Rooney, van Nistelrooy (Smith 63).
Subs Not Used: Phil Neville, Brown, Carroll. Booked: Gary Neville, Keane, Smith.
Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Matteo, Reid, Thompson, Mokoena (Emerton 68), Flitcroft, Pedersen (Gallagher 78), Stead.
Subs Not Used: Amoruso, Tugay, Enckelman.
Booked: Stead, Nelsen.
Att: 67,939
Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Nice to see Blackburn playing organised football - we fully deserved a point
