Bentley drives Blackburn on with hat-trick as Rio sees red
Bentley, who only sealed his full-time move from Arsenal yesterday, took advantage of kamikaze United defending to set up Rovers' first league double over their rivals in 75 years.
But Ferdinand challenged him for the headlines after his simmering feud with Savage burst into life again two minutes from time with a clattering challenge resulting in the England defender's dismissal.
Ferdinand had already endured a dismal night with his terrible first half mix-up with Edwin Van der Sar helping Rovers take the lead.
His night was almost improved by the dramatic introduction of Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who lashed home a double to drag United back from 4-1 down and set up a breathless finish.
Ferdinand was kept in the emergency midfield role, a move which brought him up against Savage.
The visitors started brightly, and Rovers struggled to get out of their own half in the opening minutes.
Louis Saha had United's first chance on target with a ninth-minute header which was easily caught in the Rovers goal by Brad Friedel.
Cristiano Ronaldo was continuing to cause no end of problems for the Rovers rearguard on United's right and his sharp 14th-minute cross was well cut out by Ryan Nelsen.
Reid's suicidal 19th-minute backpass almost provided Rooney a clear run on goal but the England striker's hesitancy allowed relieved Rovers to clear.
The game heated up in the 36th minute when Wes Brown fouled Kuqi 30 yards out to set up a dangerous free-kick for Morten Gamst Pedersen.
His effort was tipped onto the post by the United goalkeeper only for Bentley to mark his full-time debut by prodding the opener over the line.
United were level two minutes later when Friedel parried a fierce drive from Rooney, only for Saha to swing the loose ball into the Rovers' net.
Rovers went back in front in the 41st minute when Kuqi's ball into the United box caused a farcical mix-up between Ferdinand and van der Sar.
Ferdinand's bizarre back header left Van der Sar stranded and Bentley was credited with the final touch as he battled Wes Brown for the loose ball.
Then deep in first-half injury time Brown handled Steven Reid's cross in the box, and Lucas Neill coverted Rovers' third from the spot.
The home defence were almost caught asleep by Saha in the 51st minute as he presented an unmarked Rooney with a shooting chance. But the United youngster lashed his powerful effort straight at Friedel.
Ferguson made a double change in the 55th minute with van Nistelrooy replacing Richardson and Ji-Sung Park coming on for Fletcher.
Rovers responded by grabbing their fourth in the 57th minute.
Savage hooked the ball back to Bentley in the left side of the United box and the former Arsenal man sent a fierce low drive across Van der Sar and into the far left corner of the net.
But United responded in the 64th minute when Ronaldo cut in sharply from the left and dragged the ball across goal where Van Nistelrooy was lurking to poke home for 4-2.
Moments later United's kamikaze streak surfaced again when Nemanja Vidic's bad back-pass let in first Kuqi, then Bentley for shots which were well blocked by Van der Sar.
In the 66th minute Patrice Evra's ball into the box was backheeled onto Van Nistelrooy who swept home his second to set up a grandstand finish.
Rooney came closest to grabbing a draw for United with a snap-shot at Friedel 10 minutes from time.
Tempers began to flare and Ferdinand was booked by referee Phil Dowd four minutes from time for a bad challenge on Pedersen.
Two minutes later Ferdinand clashed with Savage, earning him a second booking and a sending-off - and leaving his nemesis to be stretchered off.
: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Gray, Reid, Savage (Mokoena 90), Tugay (Emerton 45), Pedersen, Bentley (Johnson 90), Kuqi.
: Van der Sar, Neville, Brown (Silvestre 76), Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Ferdinand, Richardson (van Nistelrooy 54), Rooney, Saha.
: P Dowd (Staffordshire).
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