Manchester United fullback Rafael da Silva hailed the performance of Antonio Valencia in victory at Blackburn Rovers.

Valencia struck a superb effort across Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson late in the second-half.

"It was very important to keep a clean sheet because if we don't let them score, it is a lot easier for our strikers to play," Rafael told MUTV. "But if they would have gone a goal up, it is a lot harder for our strikers to play.

"Antonio is just superb. He plays very naturally and keeps going and going. He is getting better and better with each game. They had 11 players behind the ball so it was hard for us, but thankfully their goalkeeper didn't see Antonio's shot for the first goal and it went in to give us the lead."