WAYNE'S FLYING AGAIN

 

(Image taken from BBC)

Last season, Martin O'Neil was Villa manager and his guys certainly caused us a headache in the Premiership - including beating us 1-0 at Old Trafford. Drawing 1-1 at Villa Park wasn't much of an improvement for the Reds who lost out on the title with Villa got to try the Europa League for size again. The last time we beat Villa in the Premiership was back in 08/09 with that 3-2 win at Old Trafford featuring two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo before then-Academy graduate Macheda hit the winner. For the last time we did the double over Villa you have to go back to 07/08, beating Villa 4-1 at Villa Park and 4-0 at Old Trafford with Ronaldo and Tevez hitting the net in the latter affair.

Well O'Neill quit just before the start of the season which left Kevin McDonald in charge to start with before Gerrard Houllier took over in time for our visit to Villa Park which ended in a 2-2 draw when we weren't on the best of form. Now though, we're top of the league, and Villa aren't exactly having a vintage season so this Premiership game at Old Trafford looked to be relatively straightforward. Van de Saar in goal, Rio and Vidic(captain) in central defence, Evra left back. Nani right mid, Carrick and Fletcher centre mid, Giggsy left mid, Rooney and Berbatov up front. A solid lineup for what looked to be a solid performance.

I wasn't expecting anything quite like this though. In only 49 second van de Saar picked up the ball, lobbed it the entire length of the pitch to Rooney who lobbed the Villa goalie for his first goal of 2011! Villa certainly had their chances after that but this was very much a United show and I suppose you have t give the Villa goalie credit where it's due - after having been caught of guard for United's goal he did keep Villa in it. That was untill Wayne decided to end the half the same way he started it and Nani crossed the ball over in injury time for Wayne to slot it in. The England assasin was starting to remember how deadly he could be.

In the second half though, Villa started to get big ideas and they came to fruition in the 58th minute when Stewart Downing found Darren Bent and Villa's newest assasin took care of business. United didn't take too long to reply though, Rooney playing a 1-2 with Vidic before the Serb lobbed the Villa defence and goalie for United's third. It could have been a lot worse for Villa - United should certainly have gotten a fourth goal before full time. As it was well, not only was that another three points for the Red cause but it was got in such a fashion that I don't think anyone could complain about the standard of play. We are the team to beat, what are the rest going to do about it.

Elsewhere, Arsenal faced Everton at the Emirates Stadium. Well ex-United assasin Louis Saha looked to do us a favour by opening the scoring for the visitors and indeed, the Toffees were able to retain their lead till half time. Arsenal certainly looked to be the better team though but finishing off games has often been easier said than done for this Gunners side. It wasn't a problem this time around though, Andrei Arshavin and Larent Koscielny suppying the goals to turn the game around. That leaves United still top of the Premiership, five points ahead of second placed Arsenal. Steady as she goes - it would take a spectacular collapse for us to lose the title now.

North of the border, Aberdeen faced Celtic at Pittodrie in the SPL. Once again the Greens seemed to have the Reds number and Gary Hooper opened the scoring for league leaders with the Dons already down to ten men by that point. The second half...well the Celts continued running the show and the Dons never looked like coming back, the Greens finishing the game off with goals from Mark Wilson and Anthony Stokes then cruising to the finish. Craig Brown was annoyed with the early sending off but had to give credit where credit was due as far as the result. Once again, the Celts had ground the Dons into the dust and Brown needs to remind his guys how to win again.

Elsewhere, St Johnstone faced Hamilton at Mc Diamond Park. Steve May quickly opened the scoring for the Saints with the Accies looking unlikely to do anything about events before half time - though the Saints didn't look likely to hit the net either. Early on in the second half, May got his second and the latter stages of the match were certainly a lot livlier than the earlier ones but really, the better team here was pretty obvious! That allowed the Dns to remain 9th in the SPL, six points behind Dundee United and the top half of the table while the Tangerines have three games in hand but still nine points ahead of Hamilton and relegation though the Accies have a game in hand.

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