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| Rooney Smashes Home His Second |
United's comfortable result ultimately sees them retain their five point advantage at the top of the Premier League standings as well.
Without any surprise, Sir Alex Ferguson made 10 changes from United's narrow victory over Southampton with John O'Shea the lone survivor as he kept his position at right-back while Rafael is still recovering from his concussion.
As noted before the match, Rio Ferdinand has recovered from his groin injury that has kept him out for the last two matches as he is selected to partner Vidic in the center of the United defense.
After seeing his 4-4-3 formation fail in United's previous two games, Sir Alex smartly reverted back to the traditional, more favorable 4-4-2 with Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov leading the Reds' attack.
Recap
Following an offside decision, Edwin van der Sar launched a long-searching ball up forward, and Wayne Rooney was quickest to get on the ball and thumped the ball into the Villa net.
Five minutes after the goal, United passed their way around the Villa defense, but Nani was unable to keep his shot down as it sailed well over Brad Friedel's cross bar.
Rooney looked to be in the mood, and his next bit of action was sending a wonderful far post cross, which was was met by Berbatov but it failed to hit the target and Villa cleared their lines.
Villa had a chance of their moments later, but their big-money signing Darren Bent could not onto Ashley Young's ball and van der Sar collected.
The game was starting become more evenly match as the Lions were starting to ball, but the both Bent and Young were an offside position as the ball went over the top of the Unite defense.
In the 18th minute there was a big decision for Chris Foy to make after John O'Shea's pass spring Nani free, and his path was cut off by Richard Dunne, who made no attempt to play the ball and barged over the United winger.
The ball was cleared and led to a Villa counterattack, but Bent's effort was well held by a back-tracking van der Sar.
Friedel, like he has always done against United, came up with a huge two-handed save to deny a powerful left-footed strike from Nani.
Gerard Houiller gave his attacking players free reign to interchange with each, which was going to really test the communication and organization of United's back-four.
In the 30th minute, Giggs was allowed to cut inside of his right, but his weaker-footed shot was easily claimed by Friedel.
Villa then had a good counterattack, which saw the ball work its way out wide to Marc Albrighton, but his tantalizing cross was just over the head of his fellow attackers and van der Sar did well to come off his line and collect.
Sir Alex was forced into making his first change of the match in the 34th minute, bringing on Anderson for Fletcher, because the gash over his right eye from an earlier challenge would not close up with just the gobs of vaseline that the physio put on it.
A very good interchange on the United left saw Giggs expertly pick out Evra, but the full-back's cross-shot was too close to Friedel, and the big American goalkeeper did well to stake claim it with Berbatov lurking.
Not to be outdone, O'Shea and Nani teamed up quite well, and the latter sent a very good ball to far post, but Berbatov's header was poor and it sailed over the Villa bar.
Berbatov did well to outwit Kyle Walker to collect Michael Carrick's lofted pass, and then he outpaced him to boot, but his cut-back cross to Rooney was plucked out of the air by Friedel.
In first half stoppage-time, United got the second goal that they were craving and full-deserved as well.
Nani had his heels clipped by Ciaran Clark, but instead of staying down to get a free-kick, he got straight up, and supplied an inch-perfect cross that gave Rooney simple tap-in at the far post.
As they personally have seen so many times this season in their matches, a two goal lead is never a safe one, so the Reds must continue to look for ways to break down the Villa defense as well as keep a clean sheet.
United got the half started attacking the famous Stretford End, and they nearly got the goal with 20 seconds, but Richard Dunne got a toe on Nani's cross-shot.
Another heart-in-mouth decision from Foy went on the side of caution as Evra and Bent got tangled up in the United penalty area, and the referee got that decision spot on.
Villa started to get on the ball again, and the visitors earned free-kick in a very dangerous area after O'Shea made a clumsy challenge on Albrighton, but Young set piece curling over the United bar.
Villa pulled back a goal after Stewart Downing made a bursting run down the United left, and he picked out Bent who drilled the ball home from close range.
After the goal, Carrick had a chance to get forward and restore United's two goal lead, but being put off pressure from Stylian Petrov he sent his his strike ended up in the Stretford End.
Again Albrighton got passed O'Shea way too easily, but his curling effort was well saved by van der Sar.
Following some intense pressure from United, Rooney laid the ball back for Vidic, and the United captain scored a goal that any forward would be proud as he lashed it into the top corner.
Downing whipped a corner to the far stick, and Dunne pulled away from Ferdinand, but his header clipped the top of van der Sar's bar, and the United supporters were able to breathe a sigh of relief.
The game started to open up with both teams attacking, but the best chance was when Nani
Houiller made his first change of the match bringing on Emile Heskey for Albrighton to give Villa two center forwards switching to a 4-4-2 formation.
The change saw Young push out wide to attack O'Shea, and it almost paid immediate dividends as the winger sent a curling effort had van der Sar well beaten, but it clanged against the United cross bar and out for a goal kick.
Foy continued to show his leniency as he did not book Clark after he clearly blocked off Nani's path after the United winger raced forward.
A fantastic passing movement from United saw Giggs' right-footed cross come within inch or two from being poked into Villa's net by Berbatov.
Villa went for broke bringing on another center forward with Gabriel Agbonlahor, who has a good goal scoring record against United, coming on for a completely disappoint, Petrov.
Rooney then made a darting run forward clean through, but a last-ditch tackle by Dunne kept Villa's hopes alive.
In the 79th minute, Nani cut inside on his left, but he sent his shot curling wide of Friedel's near post.
Houiller made his third and final change by introducing Nigel Reo Coker for Downing, which was down the winger picking up a knock.
Nani burst into the Villa penalty area along the baseline, but he was unable to get his cross passed Friedel with his teammates lurking to bundle the ball home.
Manchester United cruised to their two goal win, and it could have been more, but Friedel showed how good of a goalkeeper he has always been.
Matchball
Rooney proved to all of the nay-sayers that he deserved his inclusion in the United starting XI.
Ratings
E. van der Sar - 7; J. O'Shea - 6, R. Ferdinand - 7, N. Vidic - 8, P. Evra - ; R. Giggs - 7, D. Fletcher - 5 (Anderson - 6), M. Carrick - 7, Nani - 7; W. Rooney - 8, D. Berbatov - 7
Goals
W. Rooney (1'), (45'+), N. Vidic (63')
Statistics
Possession: 44%
Corners: 5
Shots (On Target): 23 (10)
Fouls Conceded (Suffered): 8 (7)
Bookings: None
Attendance: 75,256
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