Pictures and analysis of Man United 3 Aston Villa 0

Aston Villa came to Old Trafford spoil the Manchester United title party but ended as the battered pinata.

Broken and bruised, Villa aimed to ruin Manchester United's title procession but only became the obliging guests last night.

And as some guests do they also arrived fashionably late as they bowed to United's first-half blitz.

The visitors were systematically dismantled in a devastating display of finishing and brilliance from hat-trick hero Robin van Persie.

And while United celebrated their record 20th league crown, Villa's own top-flight future is in doubt.

The response against Sunderland on Monday will show if they have the guts and courage to recover, to fight and survive.

The shoots of recovery were evident in an improved second-half where they, at least, matched United.

Villa have come up big to win before and the humbling first-half experience at Old Trafford will undoubtedly hurt. But victory over Sunderland next week and the complexion of the relegation scrap could change further.

Crucial

A Wigan win over Tottenham on Saturday though will plunge Paul Lambert's men back into the bottom three on goal difference.

On those tight margins Villa could fall and it was crucial they shackled United before the hosts could exploit any more gaps in the bold line-up.

Gabby Agbonlahor – who scored the winner last time Villa won at Old Trafford in 2009 – returned after a groin injury as Jordan Bowery dropped out.

It was a brave selection from Lambert, re-affirming his pre-match vow that Villa would go for the win but it backfired.

With little protection for the defence the midfield were bypassed, sliced through with embarrassing ease as the deep Wayne Rooney and marauding Shinji Kagawa ran riot.

Karim El Ahmadi's half-time introduction helped Villa regain some lost composure but by then the damage was done.

Ashley Westwood and Fabian Delph offered little more than piecemeal threats to United's first-half zest while the helpless Joe Bennett was the target of the hosts' attacks.

They didn't fold, though, mentally Lambert's men should still be strong as this one was perhaps to chalk down to experience.

And perspective is important. They will not face another team with such quality in such a fierce mood again this season.

With Sunderland, Norwich and Wigan to come Villa's fate remains in their hands and they will be different, season-defining, games.

Sunderland arrive next week with Paolo Di Canio's momentum but will not have the quality or the ferocity of the Red Devils.

Chelsea visit next month with December's 8-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge still etched in their mind but lessons should have been learned since that day.

A repeat, though, was feared last night during United's first-half offensive as the champions scored after just 80 seconds.

Van Persie bagged his first, tapping in after a sweeping move involving Wayne Rooney, Antonio Valencia , Rafael and Ryan Giggs.

He then volleyed over a minute later with Villa reeling and Ron Vlaar's goalsaving tackle denied Shinji Kagawa a second.

The hosts were rampant, Villa blinded by the headlights of United's juggernaut as Rafael smacked the post from 20-yards.

Christian Benteke almost stunned Old Trafford when he curled over but it was a brief relief.

And the game was over as a contest after just 13 minutes through brilliance from van Persie.

Rooney launched another searching 50-yard ball as Van Persie peeled away and when it reached him he unleashed an unstoppable first-time volley which screamed past goalkeeper Brad Guzan from 20 yards.

Simply stunning it wrapped up a game which threatened to turn into a rout when van Persie completed his treble 20 minutes later.

Kagawa split the ever-porous Villa defence and Giggs crossed for Van Persie to dance around Guzan and fire in off the post.

Agbonlahor flashed a shot wide in response but it was muted until El Ahmadi replaced Charles N'Zogbia at the break.

There was a new backbone to Villa and Van Persie cleared Andreas Weimann's header off the line before El Ahmadi robbed Rooney only for goalkeeper David De Gea to save Benteke's snapshot.

Villa regained their composure but, with United strolling to the title, there was little further threat.

Minutes later, United were celebrating history as Villa's Premier League future hung in the balance.