Manchester United against Aston Villa

United keeping the ball with ease in the centre...

Evans sets up a United attack with some fine composed play in defence. Comes to an end between Valencia and Berbatov though. Different wave-lengths.

You can follow me on Twitter - <a href="https://twitter.com/Chris_Elastico" target="_blank">@chris_elastico</a>

Five minutes to play. This is fizzling out.

Nani thinks he is shoved over whilst trying to shoot. Hutton emerges with the ball and the referee waves play on.

Now Evra looks to spring forward in attack, but the pass to him is overhit and the Frenchman has to scamper back.

Strong defending from Patrice Evra to deny Alan Hutton who thinks he is bursting into the area.

Given has to react quickly once more to tip over Antonio Valencia's deflected shot.

Nani must have thought he would turn in Valencia's corner. Blocked at the near post.

Shay Given saves with his face! Welbeck must have thought he had scored from Rafael's set-up play

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Cleverley on for Scholes</b>

Worrying moment for Given who handled outside the area. Got away with it as the referee allows Welbeck to play on.

Villa free-kick. Wasted by Gary Gardner.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Samir Carruthers on for Stephen Ireland</b>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Berbatov on for Rooney</b>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Manchester United 3-0 Aston Villa Rooney at the double!!!</b> Once more it is Antonio Valencia the provider, picking out Rooney in the centre who pokes home through James Collins' legs.

Lovely play from Rafael to dispossess Agbonlahor and launch United forward. Having a good game in defence.

Nathan Baker wins the ball at the back post but heads wide. Would have been a foul.

Agbonlahor attempts an ambitious effort from 25 yards. Mishit, but it's a corner to Villa.

Villa look to spring a surprise, but Alan Hutton's cross is poor and Jonny Evans wins the header with ease.

Beautiful pass from Valencia finding Rooney unmarked in the centre, but he screws his shot wide.

United keeping the ball once more. Attack building...

Heskey rises in the centre and looks to loop a header over De Gea, but the Spaniard tips the ball over the bar.

The handball shout was not bad. They have been given.

Appeals for hand-ball in the area by Nathan Baker. Nothing given.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Clark heads off with Heskey coming on</b>

Ciaran Clark is down again. Looks a bit dazed.

United work the ball to Valencia and the winger fires a low cross across goal. James Collins does well to clear.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Nani replaces Ashley Young</b>

United attack, but Villa have formed two lines in defence. Tough to break down.

United are readying Nani on the sidelines. Very little happening on the pitch.

Everyone should be ok. Clark just getting the cut dealt with. Lets get going.

Players receiving treatment now. Delays once more.

Evra and Callum Clark down after a collision. Clark with a cut to the head, Evra with a sore collar-bone area.

Villa looking a bit more lively now, but lacking any cutting edge.

Rafael rises high to clear Callum Clark's cross from the right. A moment or two later, Barry Bannan fires wildly over from 30 yards.

A really scrappy start to the second-period. United need to get their midfield pair on the ball once more.

The game has slowed right down with those incidents. Nothing doing though and lets play football!

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Hutton</b> booked after catching Ashley Young late in midfield.

Bit of a delay as Agbonlahor recieves treatment. Nothing serious.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Scholes</b> for catching Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Almost a horrendous defensive mess from Aston Villa, but Wayne Rooney can't capitalise.

Welbeck brings down a pass in the middle and dummies a shot to try and slip Wayne Rooney in on goal. To no avail.

Unbelievable from Paul Scholes. Beautiful raking ball out to Antonio Valencia within seconds of the half getting underway.

<b>SECOND-HALF</b> is underway at Old Trafford

Almost second-half time then. More of the same, or are Villa going to up their game?

Paul Scholes in midfield has been magnificent so far. A place at Euro 2012 this summer?

Villa are looking clueless to be honest. They are obviously talented youngsters, but to play at Old Trafford is a tough ask.

<b>HALF TIME</b> Manchester United in complete control to take advantage of some sloppy defending.

United just keeping the ball now.

One minute added time...

A delightful step-over/dummy from Nathan Baker to allow the cross to reach Welbeck though.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Manchester United 2-0 Aston Villa Welbeck at the far-post!!!</b> Unbelievably poor defending from Villa. Ashley Young's tame cross is allowed to roll right across the face of goal for Danny Welbeck to turn home.

Unlucky for Welbeck, looking to get behind Nathan Baker. Tough to achieve, but a slip makes it impossible.

Scrappy couple of minutes. Villa raising their game heading into half-time

Wayne Rooney is not having his best game. Another shot is off-target.

You can follow me on Twitter - <a href="https://twitter.com/Chris_Elastico" target="_blank">@chris_elastico</a>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0415/waynerooneygoal20120415_275x155.jpg"> Rooney slots home the penalty

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Gardner</b> booked for a late tackle on Paul Scholes

Rooney not having his finest game. Dispossessed by Gardner whilst looking to find Valencia.

What a terrible shot. Valencia looks to curl the ball with the outside of his foot, but it flies for a throw-in.

All United now. Villa are under-siege.

Fine save from Shay Given. Valencia drills the ball across goal, Welback gets a foot to the ball and Given bats it away from point-blank range.

Michael Carrick shows lovely feet to break into the area. Terrible pass though.

He's back and straight into the action, looking to pick out Rooney with a 60 yard pass that is only just intercepted.

Scholes is now down injured. Won a tackle in midfield, but stayed down. Should be ok though.

Ashley Young's corner is pulled back to Scholes at the edge of the area and he lashes a volley just wide of the post. Wow. Great technique.

Welbeck wins a corner for his side, looking to trick his way past Nathan Baker. The defender stands strong.

Stephen Ireland looks to curl the ball in at the far post from 20 yards. Not far wide, but De Gea seems comfortable.

James Collins is having a stormer so far. Valencia crosses to the far-post and Welbeck fires at goal, but Collins throws himself in the way.

Swung in by Ashley Young from the left, Carrick flicks it on and Wayne Rooney heads wide at the back-post. Tough chance.

Danny Welbeck skips past his marker and looks to curl an effort in at the far post. Corner.

Lovely stuff from Rooney, whose clever back-heel almost finds Welbeck. James Collins is there to mop up the danger.

Back with United in midfield...

Close from Aston Villa. Ciaran Clark rises high to flick his header just wide of the far-post.

Bit of a slow spell as Rafael curls a cross out for a goal-kick. All Man Utd so far.

Rafael breaks down the right and his cut-back finds Rooney. The England man works some space and fires a fine effort on goal, but Given saves well.

Taken short. The ball eventually comes to Welbeck at the back-post, but Nathan Baker does brilliantly to block his header.

United probing in midfield. Young fouled again 30 yards out. Free-kick.

<b>STAT</b> Ashley Young has now won eight penalties since the start of 2009/10. Twice as many as any other player.

Villa penned in their own half now. Good pressure from the United front-line.

Villa look to attack, but the ball is lost as Stephen Ireland attempts an audacious back-heel.

Valencia gives away a free-kick for a foul on Lichaj in the Villa area. Working hard as per usual the Ecuadorian.

James Collins denies Paul Scholes a shot on goal after clever work from Ashley Young. Top defending.

Eric Lichaj does brilliantly to cut out a ball looking for Antonio Valencia. Showed great pace there.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Carrick</b> The United midfielder is somewhat harshly booked for a foul in midfield.

There is definite contact on Ashley Young, but it will cause controversy that one. He looked for contact you might say.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Manchester United 1-0 Aston Villa Rooney from the spot!!!</b> The England striker slots it calmly in the bottom corner.

<b>PENALTY</b> to Manchester United. Foul on Ashley Young.

Young looks to release Evra down the left this time, but Alan Hutton is there to intercept.

Lovely play from Carrick and Rooney to create a shooting chance for the England striker. His shot is on target, but hits team-mate Ashley Young.

United playing keep-ball in midfield now. Trying to take the initiative early on.

Straight away a slight chance for United at the other end as Ashley Young rises at the near post from Valencia's cross. The cross is just too high though.

Straight away Villa have a chance, but Weimann's left-footed effort is tame.

<b>KICK-OFF</b> at The Theatre of Dreams

Minutes silence observed for Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini at Old Trafford, who tragically died yesterday.

<b>STAT ATTACK</b> Manchester United are undefeated in 29 of their last 30 matches against Aston Villa in all competitions.

The teams are out into the glorious Manchester sunshine. Lets get going!

A young Aston Villa line-up once more today. Will they be able to take-on the title challengers without fear and cause a shock? Or will they wilt in the face of the Red Devils might?

Think this game may be boring? Think again. Remember that Federico Macheda goal from 2009? In April, against Aston Villa. Will history repeat itself?

So, Manchester United host Aston Villa with the Red Devils looking to restore their five point advantage at the top of the league.

<b>TEAM NEWS</b><br><br><b>Aston Villa:</b> Given, Hutton, Collins, Baker, Lichaj, Bannan, Ireland, Clark, Gardner, Weimann, Agbonlahor. Subs: Guzan, N'Zogbia, Delfouneso, Heskey, Cuellar, Johnson, Carruthers.

<b>TEAM NEWS</b><br><br><b>Man Utd:</b> De Gea, Rafael Da Silva, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Young, Rooney, Welbeck. Subs: Amos, Jones, Berbatov, Giggs, Hernandez, Nani, Cleverley.

It's not over until the fat lady sings, but <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1049412/sir-alex-ferguson-expecting-more-twists-and-turns-for-title?cc=5739" target="_blank">Fergie thinks there will be a few twists and turns on the way</a>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0411/shaunmaloneygoalvmanutd_275x155.jpg">Shaun Maloney's winner for Wigan had opened up the title race.

Join us at 1600 BST to see if Manchester United can stretch the gap at the top of the league back to five points against Aston Villa.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Manchester United 3-0 Aston Villa Rooney at the double!!!</b> Once more it is Antonio Valencia the provider, picking out Rooney in the centre who pokes home through James Collins' legs.

Lovely play from Rafael to dispossess Agbonlahor and launch United forward. Having a good game in defence.

Nathan Baker wins the ball at the back post but heads wide. Would have been a foul.

Agbonlahor attempts an ambitious effort from 25 yards. Mishit, but it's a corner to Villa.

Villa look to spring a surprise, but Alan Hutton's cross is poor and Jonny Evans wins the header with ease.

Beautiful pass from Valencia finding Rooney unmarked in the centre, but he screws his shot wide.

United keeping the ball once more. Attack building...

Heskey rises in the centre and looks to loop a header over De Gea, but the Spaniard tips the ball over the bar.

The handball shout was not bad. They have been given.

Appeals for hand-ball in the area by Nathan Baker. Nothing given.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Clark heads off with Heskey coming on</b>

Ciaran Clark is down again. Looks a bit dazed.

United work the ball to Valencia and the winger fires a low cross across goal. James Collins does well to clear.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Nani replaces Ashley Young</b>

United attack, but Villa have formed two lines in defence. Tough to break down.

United are readying Nani on the sidelines. Very little happening on the pitch.

Everyone should be ok. Clark just getting the cut dealt with. Lets get going.

Players receiving treatment now. Delays once more.

Evra and Callum Clark down after a collision. Clark with a cut to the head, Evra with a sore collar-bone area.

Villa looking a bit more lively now, but lacking any cutting edge.

Rafael rises high to clear Callum Clark's cross from the right. A moment or two later, Barry Bannan fires wildly over from 30 yards.

A really scrappy start to the second-period. United need to get their midfield pair on the ball once more.

The game has slowed right down with those incidents. Nothing doing though and lets play football!

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Hutton</b> booked after catching Ashley Young late in midfield.

Bit of a delay as Agbonlahor recieves treatment. Nothing serious.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Scholes</b> for catching Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Almost a horrendous defensive mess from Aston Villa, but Wayne Rooney can't capitalise.

Welbeck brings down a pass in the middle and dummies a shot to try and slip Wayne Rooney in on goal. To no avail.

Unbelievable from Paul Scholes. Beautiful raking ball out to Antonio Valencia within seconds of the half getting underway.

<b>SECOND-HALF</b> is underway at Old Trafford

Almost second-half time then. More of the same, or are Villa going to up their game?

Paul Scholes in midfield has been magnificent so far. A place at Euro 2012 this summer?

Villa are looking clueless to be honest. They are obviously talented youngsters, but to play at Old Trafford is a tough ask.

<b>HALF TIME</b> Manchester United in complete control to take advantage of some sloppy defending.

United just keeping the ball now.

One minute added time...

A delightful step-over/dummy from Nathan Baker to allow the cross to reach Welbeck though.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Manchester United 2-0 Aston Villa Welbeck at the far-post!!!</b> Unbelievably poor defending from Villa. Ashley Young's tame cross is allowed to roll right across the face of goal for Danny Welbeck to turn home.

Unlucky for Welbeck, looking to get behind Nathan Baker. Tough to achieve, but a slip makes it impossible.

Scrappy couple of minutes. Villa raising their game heading into half-time

Wayne Rooney is not having his best game. Another shot is off-target.

You can follow me on Twitter - <a href="https://twitter.com/Chris_Elastico" target="_blank">@chris_elastico</a>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0415/waynerooneygoal20120415_275x155.jpg"> Rooney slots home the penalty

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Gardner</b> booked for a late tackle on Paul Scholes

Rooney not having his finest game. Dispossessed by Gardner whilst looking to find Valencia.

What a terrible shot. Valencia looks to curl the ball with the outside of his foot, but it flies for a throw-in.

All United now. Villa are under-siege.

Fine save from Shay Given. Valencia drills the ball across goal, Welback gets a foot to the ball and Given bats it away from point-blank range.

Michael Carrick shows lovely feet to break into the area. Terrible pass though.

He's back and straight into the action, looking to pick out Rooney with a 60 yard pass that is only just intercepted.

Scholes is now down injured. Won a tackle in midfield, but stayed down. Should be ok though.

Ashley Young's corner is pulled back to Scholes at the edge of the area and he lashes a volley just wide of the post. Wow. Great technique.

Welbeck wins a corner for his side, looking to trick his way past Nathan Baker. The defender stands strong.

Stephen Ireland looks to curl the ball in at the far post from 20 yards. Not far wide, but De Gea seems comfortable.

James Collins is having a stormer so far. Valencia crosses to the far-post and Welbeck fires at goal, but Collins throws himself in the way.

Swung in by Ashley Young from the left, Carrick flicks it on and Wayne Rooney heads wide at the back-post. Tough chance.

Danny Welbeck skips past his marker and looks to curl an effort in at the far post. Corner.

Lovely stuff from Rooney, whose clever back-heel almost finds Welbeck. James Collins is there to mop up the danger.

Back with United in midfield...

Close from Aston Villa. Ciaran Clark rises high to flick his header just wide of the far-post.

Bit of a slow spell as Rafael curls a cross out for a goal-kick. All Man Utd so far.

Rafael breaks down the right and his cut-back finds Rooney. The England man works some space and fires a fine effort on goal, but Given saves well.

Taken short. The ball eventually comes to Welbeck at the back-post, but Nathan Baker does brilliantly to block his header.

United probing in midfield. Young fouled again 30 yards out. Free-kick.

<b>STAT</b> Ashley Young has now won eight penalties since the start of 2009/10. Twice as many as any other player.

Villa penned in their own half now. Good pressure from the United front-line.

Villa look to attack, but the ball is lost as Stephen Ireland attempts an audacious back-heel.

Valencia gives away a free-kick for a foul on Lichaj in the Villa area. Working hard as per usual the Ecuadorian.

James Collins denies Paul Scholes a shot on goal after clever work from Ashley Young. Top defending.

Eric Lichaj does brilliantly to cut out a ball looking for Antonio Valencia. Showed great pace there.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Carrick</b> The United midfielder is somewhat harshly booked for a foul in midfield.

There is definite contact on Ashley Young, but it will cause controversy that one. He looked for contact you might say.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Manchester United 1-0 Aston Villa Rooney from the spot!!!</b> The England striker slots it calmly in the bottom corner.

<b>PENALTY</b> to Manchester United. Foul on Ashley Young.

Young looks to release Evra down the left this time, but Alan Hutton is there to intercept.

Lovely play from Carrick and Rooney to create a shooting chance for the England striker. His shot is on target, but hits team-mate Ashley Young.

United playing keep-ball in midfield now. Trying to take the initiative early on.

Straight away a slight chance for United at the other end as Ashley Young rises at the near post from Valencia's cross. The cross is just too high though.

Straight away Villa have a chance, but Weimann's left-footed effort is tame.

<b>KICK-OFF</b> at The Theatre of Dreams

Minutes silence observed for Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini at Old Trafford, who tragically died yesterday.

<b>STAT ATTACK</b> Manchester United are undefeated in 29 of their last 30 matches against Aston Villa in all competitions.

The teams are out into the glorious Manchester sunshine. Lets get going!

A young Aston Villa line-up once more today. Will they be able to take-on the title challengers without fear and cause a shock? Or will they wilt in the face of the Red Devils might?

Think this game may be boring? Think again. Remember that Federico Macheda goal from 2009? In April, against Aston Villa. Will history repeat itself?

So, Manchester United host Aston Villa with the Red Devils looking to restore their five point advantage at the top of the league.

<b>TEAM NEWS</b><br><br><b>Aston Villa:</b> Given, Hutton, Collins, Baker, Lichaj, Bannan, Ireland, Clark, Gardner, Weimann, Agbonlahor. Subs: Guzan, N'Zogbia, Delfouneso, Heskey, Cuellar, Johnson, Carruthers.

<b>TEAM NEWS</b><br><br><b>Man Utd:</b> De Gea, Rafael Da Silva, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Young, Rooney, Welbeck. Subs: Amos, Jones, Berbatov, Giggs, Hernandez, Nani, Cleverley.

It's not over until the fat lady sings, but <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1049412/sir-alex-ferguson-expecting-more-twists-and-turns-for-title?cc=5739" target="_blank">Fergie thinks there will be a few twists and turns on the way</a>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0411/shaunmaloneygoalvmanutd_275x155.jpg">Shaun Maloney's winner for Wigan had opened up the title race.

Join us at 1600 BST to see if Manchester United can stretch the gap at the top of the league back to five points against Aston Villa.