Aston Villa 0 Man United 3: Welbeck makes most of RVP absence with deadly double
At last, David Moyes has unearthed a sure thing to survive the great summer of upheaval at Manchester United — the unyielding certainty of points at Villa Park.So many of United’s dead certs seemed to leave the building with Sir Alex Ferguson, such as avoiding defeat at home to Everton and Newcastle.
But the hold over Aston Villa lives on. Two goals from striker Danny Welbeck in three first-half minutes and one by midfielder Tom Cleverley saw to that as United ended a winless run of four games in the Barclays Premier League.
Main man: Danny Welbeck (right) scored twice as Manchester United cruised to victory at Aston Villa
MATCH FACTS
Subs not used: Steer, Bowery, Gardner, Tonev.
Booked: Agbonlahor, Lowton, Clark, Baker.
Manager: Paul Lambert 5.
Subs not used: Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Fabio, Buttner.
Goals: Welbeck 15,17, Cleverly 52
Booked: De Gea, Welbeck.
Manager: David Moyes 7.
Man of the Match: Welbeck
Referee: Lee Mason 6
Attendance: 42,682
*Player ratings by Matt Barlow at Villa Park
What a relief to encounter Villa in such an insipid mood.
It is more than 18 years since United failed to take anything from this Birmingham venue, back in August 1995 when they were beaten 3-1 on the opening day of the season and Alan Hansen claimed on Match of the Day that you ‘can’t win anything with kids’.
Perspectives have changed. These days, Manchester United expect to win regardless of who wears the shirt. The pressure was on at Villa and anxiety was all too evident as United started nervously in defence.
Karim El Ahmadi and Marc Albrighton both tested David de Gea early on but Villa went behind in the 15th minute and never looked like altering the outcome from that moment on.
Valencia and Rafael did much of the damage on the United right, tormenting left back Antonio Luna, who found himself badly exposed by Gabriel Agbonlahor’s determination to chase beyond Christian Benteke in attack and the inability of Villa’s midfield to sense the threat.
Both Welbeck’s goals came from this area of the pitch and there could have been more from the same source before half-time had United been more clinical. Rafael produced a wonderful cross, dug out from close to the corner flag for the opener.
Adnan Januzaj climbed to meet it with a magnificent header, which thumped into the base of a post and Welbeck reacted first, forcing the ball into the net.
‘We are staying up,’ sang the United fans.
Opening salvo: Welbeck slides home United's goal to send them on their way at Villa Park
Relieved: United manager David Moyes went through a range of emotions on the touchline at Villa Park
SUPER STAT
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea kept the champions’ first clean sheet away from home this season.
He had not scored in the Premier League since the opening day of the season at Swansea and here were two inside 180 seconds.
How the 23-year-old England international must have been thrilled to start up front after spending much of the season on the left wing for club and country.
With fellow strikers Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez among the injured at United, Welbeck made his case.
He might easily have finished with a hat-trick, pulling one effort wide in the first half and chipping just over the bar after a goalmouth scramble in the second half. But he has to be satisfied with two goals and a splendid display.
Making things happen: Wayne Rooney dropped deep and was pivotal in Manchester United's victory
Doubling up: Welbeck slides home to increase United's advantage as they return to winning ways
As United relaxed, no-one was more influential than Rooney, dropping deep, spraying passes and dictating the pace.
He ought to have hit the target from a cross by Valencia after the United winger had again brushed Luna aside.
Cleverley made it safe for the visitors, coolly clipping the ball past Brad Guzan after an astute pass by Rooney.
It was a year to the day since his last Premier League goal and capped a complete performance for the often maligned midfielder.
He ought to have hit the target from a cross by Valencia after the United winger had again brushed Luna aside.
Cleverley made it safe for the visitors, coolly clipping the ball past Brad Guzan after an astute pass by Rooney.
It was a year to the day since his last Premier League goal and capped a complete performance for the often maligned midfielder.
Clever boy: Tom Cleverley added gloss to the scoreline with a third United goal in the second half
Pleased as punch: Tom Cleverley celebrates wildly after stretching United's lead on Sunday
These are the type of tidy and industrious displays which made him an England regular under Roy Hodgson in the first place.
United coasted home from here. Off came Rooney and Ryan Giggs and on went Darren Fletcher for his first taste of action since last Boxing Day.
De Gea saved at the near post from Albrighton and sprang to his right to keep out a free-kick from El Ahmadi but these were rare forays from Villa, who reacted to the frustration with a few extra physical tackles and petulant reaction, which seemed to irritate Moyes.
Paul Lambert put it down to ‘over-exuberance’ but four of his players were booked, including Agbonlahor, who was making his 300th appearance for the club and will be banned from the next one, at Stoke.
United coasted home from here. Off came Rooney and Ryan Giggs and on went Darren Fletcher for his first taste of action since last Boxing Day.
De Gea saved at the near post from Albrighton and sprang to his right to keep out a free-kick from El Ahmadi but these were rare forays from Villa, who reacted to the frustration with a few extra physical tackles and petulant reaction, which seemed to irritate Moyes.
Paul Lambert put it down to ‘over-exuberance’ but four of his players were booked, including Agbonlahor, who was making his 300th appearance for the club and will be banned from the next one, at Stoke.
Temper, temper: Welbeck (obscured) clashes with Nathan Baker before the pair were booked
Up in the air: Matthew Lowton challenges Wayne Rooney as Villa suffer another defeat at home
They
may have started with a win at Arsenal in August but, on this showing,
Villa are every bit as poor as last year without the same blaze of
Benteke goals.
He scored 23 last season and four in the first four of this Premier League campaign but the Belgian has not found the net in 10 games, a run stretching back to mid-September. ‘He’s not getting the breaks,’ said Lambert.
Villa supporters were remarkably patient, or were unable to summon the energy to be angry.
There were a few groans at half-time when they went in two behind and a few more at the end but most settled for going home early.
Villa Park was virtually empty by the time the game ended, while the travelling fans were singing the name of their manager and Moyes was on the pitch, giving them a wave of thanks. What a relief.
He scored 23 last season and four in the first four of this Premier League campaign but the Belgian has not found the net in 10 games, a run stretching back to mid-September. ‘He’s not getting the breaks,’ said Lambert.
Villa supporters were remarkably patient, or were unable to summon the energy to be angry.
There were a few groans at half-time when they went in two behind and a few more at the end but most settled for going home early.
Villa Park was virtually empty by the time the game ended, while the travelling fans were singing the name of their manager and Moyes was on the pitch, giving them a wave of thanks. What a relief.
Welcome return: Darren Fletcher made his first Premier League appearance since last Boxing Day
Sidelined: Scotland midfielder Fletcher has struggled to overcome a chronic bowel condition
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