Rooney double destroys Villa

Ryan Giggs(L) and Wayne Rooney of Manchester United celebrate Gigg's goal against Aston Villa during the Premier league football match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Rooney went some way to easing his England misery by playing an influential role in Manchester United's 4-1 victory at nine-man Aston Villa on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney went some way to easing his England misery by playing an influential role in Manchester United's 4-1 victory at nine-man Aston Villa on Saturday.

England international Rooney was exonerated by Sir Alex Ferguson for any part in the Euro 2008 defeat against Russia and he repaid the support of his manager with two of the goals that eased United to second in the Premier League, even without the services of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Rooney's first half double took his tally to six goals in his last five games and he could have improved that record further, but saw a second half penalty saved by substitute Villa goalkeeper Stuart Taylor as the home side had England under-21 internationals Nigel Reo-Coker and Scott Carson sent off by referee Rob Styles.

United have now won their last seven league contests and recorded this latest victory for the most part without Ronaldo, who was left on the bench until the 77th minute after returning late to Old Trafford, following Portugal's 2-1 Euro 2008 qualifying win over Kazakhstan.

Ashley Young(R) of Aston Villa tries to catch Carlos Tevez of Manchester United during the Premier league football match at Villa Park in Birmingham. Manchester United won 4-1.

His presence was hardly missed as further goals from Rio Ferdinand, his first for United in almost a year, and captain Ryan Giggs enabled United to leap-frog back over Sven-Goran Eriksson's Manchester City to remain within two points of Arsenal, although they have played a game more than Arsene Wenger's side.

Ferguson hailed the display as his side's best of the season. "We're delighted. The performance was absolutely superb, probably our best of the season, particularly in the first half," he said.

"It's been a surprise we haven't scored more goals given the attacking players we have, but you've got to consider Carlos Tevez and Anderson missed pre-season and Wayne Rooney missed four matches.

"I don't think the sending-offs made a difference to the scoreline, but it gave us an easier task."

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill knew that history was against him, with Villa's last victory in the league over United coming back in 1995 - yet everything began so encouragingly. He vowed to attack United and stayed true to his word and his adventurous approach was rewarded after only 13 minutes by Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Gabriel Agbonlahor(R) of Aston Villa is challenged by Rio Ferdinand of Manchester United during the Premier league football match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Manchester United won 4-1.

The England under-21 international completely out-jumped Wes Brown at the near post to head his fourth goal of the season and further enhance his growing reputation. But any thoughts of Villa ending their long wait for success against United were undone by a nine-minute spell of defensive madness at the end of the first half.

United sharpened up for their trip to face Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Tuesday night with the help of Villa's capitulation and central defender Zat Knight was one of the biggest culprits.

The four million pounds signing from Fulham lost concentration to allow Portuguese midfielder Nani's cross to travel right along the six-yard box, leaving Rooney with the simplest of tap-ins at the far post.

If there were any lingering problems following the miserable night in Moscow, Rooney further erased them when he lost his marker Knight too easily and swivelled to convert Carlos Tevez's incisive pass.

Ferdinand had not scored for United for almost a year, but Villa's generous defence allowed him to help himself to United's third.

Gabriel Agbonlahor(2ndL) of Aston Villa celebrates scoring with teammates during the Premier league football match against Manchester United at Villa Park in Birmingham. Manchester United won 4-1.

Gerard Pique, playing because Nemanja Vidic had not recovered from concussion, had a header cleared off the line by Ashley Young, but Ferdinand followed up with a weak shot which Craig Gardner could only help into his own net.

The dismissal of Reo-Coker for an ill-judged lunge on Brazilian midfielder Anderson, less than 10 minutes after his first card for another poor challenge on Tevez, further weakened Villa's cause and it seemed impossible when Carson was shown a straight red card for hauling down the Argentine striker in the area.

Taylor's first act was to save Rooney's weak attempt from the penalty spot but there was little he could do to prevent Giggs's shot finding the net for United's fourth, after deflections off Olof Mellberg and the head of Martin Laursen.