An outstanding performance and result, especially after last week’s disappointment at Anfield.

In the first half I felt we got the ball down and played some good football, and also managed to contain United’s numerous attacking threats well.

Roque’s goal may have had a air of fortuity about it in the way the ball broke but it was still a superb finish to notch up his 20th of the season - another Hughes bargain.

It would be fair to say that the United onslaught we endured in the second half was always on the cards, but I thought we defended superbly for the most part, there were some great last-ditch tackles flying in. Brad Friedel was simply world-class, something even Carlos Queiroz conceded.

Highlights from Match of the Day 2

The goal when it came was not only disappointing because of the timing but because it really was poor marking. Scholes was left open to win the initial header, and then Tevez applied the finish.

But this is a result that should be praised, especially the manner of the performance. The Intertoto is unlikely now, but not impossible.

Rovers’ chairman John Williams has come out and rejected talk that Jason Roberts will not be at the club next season.

Williams told The Lancashire Evening Telegraph: ”Jason’s been on a good run of late and, as far as I’m concerned, he will be with us at the start of next season.

“Certainly at the moment, he’s not for sale and we won’t be entertaining any approaches for him.  We are not in the process of wanting to lose our best players and Jason comes into that category.”

I am in firm agreement with Williams.  Roberts gives the side another dimension and can hold the ball up well and also causes problems with his strength.

He also works hard for the team and defends form the front.  If you look at Rovers’ other attacking options to partner Santa Cruz at the moment in McCarthy and Derbyshire, you’d have to say Roberts is certainly worth keeping hold of.

Although he hasn’t scored a great deal of goals, I believe is always looks threatening especially when he plays on the shoulder of the last defender.  To get rid of him without a replacement would be nonsense.

A result that all but ends our UEFA Cup hopes, and leaves the Intertoto as our best bet.

The performance was quite poor throughout, particularly our inability to retain possession, and going forward we looked void of ideas.

After the early Gerrard penalty appeal, and the calls for Samba to be sent off after a collision with Torres, to be on level terms at half-time was pretty unbelievable.

But what was worse was the fact we didn’t improve after the break, and once Gerrard had opened the scoring the rest was a formality. At the moment we’re carrying too many passengers in the likes of Pedersen and the usually inventive Reid, and we’re paying because of it.

Next up United, where a big improvement will be needed if we are planning to get anything from the game.

Highlights from BBC’s Match of the Day 2

Benni McCarthy has agreed to a new three-year deal according to Sky Sports.

The 30 year-old South African will pen the deal shortly, once a new work permit application is a

pproved. The deal will take McCarthy through till July 2011.

As I mentioned in an earlier post I’m not sure whether offering McCarthy a new-deal makes sense. Although he has hit double figures this season, he

has failed to give enough to the team as a whole, and often looks disinterested.

Regardless of the reasons for this, the simple fact is he, at times, has lacked commitment. But I can understand Hughes reasoning. We are hardly a squad brimming with depth and therefore securing McCarthy’s future makes sure we won’t have to purchase a striker in the summer.

Let’s hope this new-deal can re-energise McCarthy and get him back to the form that made £2.5 million look a bargain.

Rovers’ midfielder and now England international, David Bentley, has given a strong indication he will leave the club in the summer.

The 23 year-old told BBC Sport: “Time will tell over the next few months what will happen. It’s a big decision in my life. “You never know in football. Sometimes you have to make strong decisions”

It would be fair to say it was inevitable. Bentley has been outstanding for Rovers this season and is more than worthy of his England call-up. Even the biggest optimist would struggle to see Bentley being at Rovers come next season.

But crucially for Bentley, he must make the right choice, and that could even be staying at Rovers. You only have to look at the likes of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Peter Crouch to realise that a big move isn’t always the best move.

Bentley has to evaluate his options, and make sure he doesn’t damage his England chances that are clearly so important to him.

Out of the top four you can only realistically see Liverpool making a move. United have enough class on the wings, as do Chelsea, and it would be a push to see Wenger buy-back Bentley. Tottenham are rumoured to be interested but would that be a move up? Perhaps they have more potential but they are some way off top four material.

So we are left with Liverpool as a top-four option, and as much as it pains me to say it, it could be a great move. Liverpool are lacking on the wings, and for me Bentley would be a first-choice ahead of Pennant, Babel and Benayoun.

He would play Champions League football, the only risk would be Bentley’s ability to cope with Rafa’s love for rotation. But if could cope with this, there appears to no other complicating issues.

Oh, I guess there is the price?

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Although I don’t think this is a bad result, at the same time I don’t think its enough.

Spurs are without doubt a much better side than their league position suggests. And for the early exchanges they were the dominant team, resulting in the Berbatov goal, in which they cut our defence apart.

But to be fair we responded well, and our goal was a good build-up with a wonderful touch and cross from Bentley and yet another goal for Pedersen.

And then the penalty, which it has to be said, should have been a penalty. Although it was difficult for Giberto to get out of the way, he raised his leg to make sure Bentley wasn’t getting past, in a way it was clever defending.

With Villa and Portsmouth with a game in hand on us, sixth spot and an intertoto place is slowly getting away from us. With Liverpool, Manchester United and Portsmouth our next three games, you feel that anything less than six points won’t be enough. And that is a tall order.

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It’s never easy to go to a side who are battling for survival but these are games you’ve to be winning if you want to push for the higher places.

In truth it was a dire game of football, although there was a moment of amusement which quickly turned to despair when the assistant referee failed to notice the four Rovers players in an offside position, but Zurab should of scored.

I was encouraged to see Nelsen return and put in a solid performance, and Jason Roberts caused problems as well. A point gained or two points lost, either way it isn’t enough.

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A great result and an even more impressive performance which brings us back into touch with the top six.

Another nightmare for Samba though, regardless of whether it was a pen or not, he really shouldn’t have allowed Heskey to get goal side in the first place.  But it seemed that the sending off only improved our perfomance and the way we kept the ball and carved Wigan open deserves credit.

Bentley, was as he has been all season, outstanding and it seems more and more inevitable he will be hot property in the summer.  He continually showed his quality on the ball and creativity all over pitch.

And when he provides such good service, Santa Cruz can thrive, getting into the right positions and as he did, score two goals.  Zurab also did his chances no harm with an assured display at the back, and I thought our midfield as a whole bossed the game.

Now we need to use this performance as a platform and make a final push towards Europe, if we can perform like this, there is no reason we cannot be in contention.

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Rovers have signed Johann Vogel on a two-and-a-half year deal, with the option of a further year.  As I said in an earlier post, I think the signing of Vogel is smart business, and I firmly believe Hughes can get the best out of him.

Hughes said: ”In the short time he’s been with us, he’s shown qualities that I like. He’s a determined guy, he’s got good presence and he’ll be an asset to the club.

“He’s a link man in midfield, he works his position in front of the back four, and breaks things up and sets attacks off.

“He has a good level of passing. He is a high-energy player and I think, with the experience and ability he has, he’s going to be a real asset.”

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Our abysmal record at Upton Park continued, no thanks to some shocking defending.

It seems that the solid back-four we had at the start of the season, has not only lost its ability to perform as a unit, but has seen individuals become complacent.

Samba’s defending for Dean Ashton’s strike summed up his defending in the past couple of months, lacking in concentration and discipline.  At the moment picking our best centre-half pairing is a difficult job, considering there are no candidates covering themselves in glory.

We can only be grateful that Santa Cruz has continued his fine goalscoring record, particuarly away from home.  Intertoto hopes are fading fast, a win against Wigan is now a must.