Manchester United Fans Club

Wayne Rooney continued his recent fine form with two goals against the improving Aston Villa at Villa Park as Manchester United come from a goal down to scored four.

Rooney took his tally to six goals in the last five games for club and country, after England’s EURO 2008 disappointment in Russia Rooney help the Red Devils chalk up a seventh successive win in the Premier League - and only a penalty saved denied him a hat-trick.

Sir Alex was forced to reshuffle the line-up as Vidic, Saha, Hargreaves, Carrick and Neville still not available. Ronaldo was on the bench after suffering a slight knock on international duty, Anderson was handed his second start while Pipue deputised at right-back as Wes Brown filled in for Vidic.

United looks to have moved away from the version of grinding out 1-0 wins earlier in the campaign and moved in a gear to play with fluent passing, movement, vision and the blossoming strike pairing of Rooney and Tevez.

The Red Devils conceding the first league goal for 611 minutes against a Villa side who had Nigel Reo-Coker and Scott Carson sent off in the second period. Rooney was suffering no hangover from events in Moscow and tormented the Villa defence with his pace and power, while his strike partner, Carlos Tevez, was equally effective.

Paul Scholes pulled the strings in midfield where he had so much time and space as United carved out openings almost at will. However, Villa started well and after 12 minutes United defence was breached and Gabriel Agbonlahor put Villa ahead whose glancing header flew into the corner of the net.

United gradually took control and Carson was called into meaningful action for the first time after 27 minutes after Scholes and Rooney had carved open their defence. Tevez with a clear sight at goal but the keeper was perfectly positioned to block his shot.

The equalizer came at 36 minutes as Rooney brought United back on level terms. Nani was the creator with a low ball across the Villa area and Rooney got in front of Zat Knight and Gardner to tuck away the easiest of chances at the far post.

Tevez’s superb pass found Rooney in space 12 yards out and he gave Carson no chance with a low drive to put United ahead before the interval. Just as we heading for injury time, Ferdinand increased the Red Devils lead following Gerard Pique’s initial header from a Nani corner was cleared by Young off the line but Ferdinand was first to react to the rebound and Gardner only succeeded in turning his shot into the roof of the net via the crossbar.

O’Neill make a double change in the 53 minutes with Shaun Maloney and Isaiah Osbourne replacing Moore ad Gardener respectively. They briefly improved and Agbonlahor raced on to a Barry pass and skipped past Van der Sar but he had been driven out wide and Pique was able to clear his eventual cross cum shot.

Villa was reduced to 9 men in the brief of 7 minutes, first Reo-Coker picked up his second yellow card for a late challenge on Anderson and Carson was red-carded after he brought down Tevez in the 67 minutes.

Stuart Taylor - number two keeper came on for Young and his first touch saw him save Rooney’s low spot-kick. However, United were not to be denied and with 16 minutes left Laursen could only head Giggs’ deflected shot past Taylor.

It can’t be better for Giggs whose earlier has signed another one year contract extension that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2009, extending his first-team career with the Red Devils to an incredible 18 years.

Barclays Premier League: Villa Park, Sat 20 October

ASTON VILLA 1
Agbonlahor (13)

MANCHESTER UNITED 4
Rooney (36, 44), Ferdinand (45), Giggs (75)