Man United 3 Villa 2 - verdict

Villa put up a valiant effort but Manchester United came back again to take all three points at Old Trafford.

Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick inside the area in the first half had nudged the home side ahead, before emphatic headers from John Carew and Gabby Agbonalhor gave Villa the upperhand.

It looked as if the Old Trafford curse could have been finally broken, until Ronaldo scored the equaliser with 10 minutes to go.

If that wasn't bad enough, United pulled it out of the bag with a sublime shot and turn from sub striker Federico Macheda deep in stoppage time.

Typlical, but much was to taken from giving the under-par champions the fright of their life.

Now - with Everton's 4-0 drubbing for Wigan in mind and the Arsenal wrecking ball six points ahead- the visit of the Tofees next Sunday takes on added importance.