Manchester United.

It’s hard to imagine a more perfect testing ground for Wayne Rooney’s growing maturity and self-control than a supercharged Carling Cup semi-final against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

Mark Hughes’ side are not shy when it comes to the physical side of the game and as early as the 23rd minute Aussie-born full back Lucas Neill launched himself at Rooney with a scything tackle that suggested he has missed his true vocation, because there is no doubt that the challenge would have drawn generous approval from a number of established rugby stars down under.

Many a player would have responded to an illegal tackle of such calculated violence with instinctive retaliation. Indeed, it is possible that as recently as last season, Rooney himself would have done so but on this occasion, to his great credit, he simply picked himself up and got on with the game.

Referee Rob Styles’ reaction, however, was less impressive. Disdaining to use any form of sanction, he too simply got on with the game – leaving all but Mark Hughes and the Blackburn faithful to contemplate what exactly might be required in this contest to justify recourse to a yellow or red card.

Some 15 minutes later all was revealed. Alan Smith hammered into Savage from behind. Robbie, inevitably, retaliated and in the forthcoming melee he grabbed Wayne Rooney in a headlock and the referee briefly lost his balance and much of his dignity. Mr Styles then quickly recovered some of the aforementioned in time to dispense yellow cards to messrs Smith, Savage and Rooney.

In truth, Smith can have no complaints, since his challenge was both reckless and dangerous – though arguably no more so than Neill’s earlier effort, which went unpunished despite the fact that it might have caused Rooney serious injury. As for Robbie, his characteristic look of childlike (or should that be ‘childish’?) innocence could do nothing to dispel the impression that he had reacted to a foul by lashing out with undue aggression at anyone within reach.

By contrast, Wayne Rooney’s only transgression was that he responded to the application of a wrestling hold by pushing Savage away, using only what would be called ‘reasonable force’. For this remarkable piece of self-control in the face of severe provocation he was awarded a yellow card. What he deserved was a commendation.