Manchester United 3 Villa 1

Villa's recent unbeaten run came to abrupt end against Manchester United at Old Trafford after Wayne Rooney inspired the hosts to a comfortable victory.

Rooney struck twice in the first half before Darren Bent gave Villa a glimmer of hope 12 minutes into the second period with a close-range finish.

But United quickly reasserted their advantage with a goal from Nemanja Vidic and, although Villa refused to throw in the towel, the home side had too much for Gerard Houllier's men.

The crowd had barely taken their seats before United opened the scoring through Rooney.

A long punt up field by goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar sailed over the head of Villa defender Richard Dunne. who was completely outstripped by Rooney for pace as he chased the lofted ball.

The England international took one deft touch to bring the ball down and struck a sweet shot from the edge of the penalty area which looked in from the minute it left his right boot, flying past goalkeeper Brad Friedel and into the net.

Villa could have been two down in the ninth minute as Rooney broke down the right flank and whipped a cross into the penalty area, but Dimitar Berbatov was unable to get a telling touch from close range.

Marc Albrighton led a Villa counter attack moments later and his early cross found Darren Bent, but the striker failed to get clean contact on his shot and the ball was cleared to safety.

The £24million striker was found by Ashley Young in the 19th minute when he latched on to a clever through-ball, but he opted to shoot early from distance and van der Sar made a comfortable save.

Friedel was then called into action four minutes later with a great reaction save to Nani's shot from the edge of the penalty area.

The Villa No 1 continued to be the busier of the two goalkeepers as the half wore on and he denied Nani with a routine stop, before keeping out a low drive from Patrice Evra.

United added a second on the stroke of half-time when Ciaran Clark was outfoxed by Nani on the right flank with the winger curling a dangerous ball into the six-yard box.

Rooney was lurking with intent and he nipped in behind the flat-footed Collins to tap the ball past Friedel from close range.

Villa were presented with a free-kick in a dangerous position after the interval, when John O'Shea flattened Albrighton as they challenged for a high ball, but Young could only curl the ball over the bar.

The visitors continued to press and pulled a goal back in the 57th minute, when Downing escaped down the right wing as Villa hit on the counter attack.

Downing drew level with the 18-yard box, before he whipped in a low cross and Bent showed just how deadly he is from close range with a predator's finish to steer the ball past van der Sar.

But, six minutes later, United restored their two-goal advantage.

Villa failed to clear a corner and Rooney laid the ball back to Vidic, whose curling shot from the edge of the box flew past the unsighted Friedel.

The visitors remained positive, though, and Young hit the crossbar in the 70th minute but it was United that were the dominant side in the remainder of the game.

Had it not been for the heroics of Friedel, the margin of victory could have been even greater.