Man United 4-0 Aston Villa

So this is a must win game for the Devils. Manchester City is breathing down their necks, only two points separating them. At the time of writing, the game is in it's fourth minute into the second half and Manchester United in two goals up against a goalless Villa.

So what's been happening in the first half? Rooney converted a penalty that results from Ashley Young's dive, and Welbeck scored a clinical poacher's goal. So it's a standard Manchester United 2011-2012 performance - not particularly good, that is. They haven't been able to boss the midfield properly, the side looks out of its depth, the defence looks panicky at times and Rooney didn't manage to stamp his authority on the match.

One conclusion so far from this match is that the first goal validates that Young is a serial diver. There was almost no contact made. It made me wonder, did Sir Alex inadvertently bought and nurture a succession of divers (Cristiano, Nani, now Young?). Anyway, take a look at these pics.

One dive..

The dive last week..

Another illogical dive..

He eventually gain this superpower.

Nothing particularly important happens from the moment i start this entry up to now, that is the 58th minutes mark. It's not really tight between the sides. Ashley Young is substituted at 60th minute mark, his place taken by Nani. He proceed to start on a dribble that ends up nowhere.

63rd minute - Ciaran Clark is substituted for - whoa, he's still playing - Emile Heskey. It seems that he have an instant impact, forcing a save from De Gea with an excellent header a couple minutes after his introduction. Two minutes later (67th), Rooney would miss a shot after being set up nicely by Valencia's cross.

So both sides exchange attacks without any real threat on the opposition's goal. In the 71st minutes, Aston Villa were given a corner, which Nathan Baker dully head across United's goal.

73rd minute - GOOOOOOOOAAALL!! After a neat exchange between Nani, Welbeck, Rooney and Valencia, United is three goals in front through a neat Rooney's try. Really, I'm almost certain that was the first time United manage to string a few passes together in the second half. That goal ultimately is Rooney's final contribution to the game as he is eventually substituted for Dimitar Berbatov.

Tom Cleverley were introduced into the game in the 77th minute, replacing Paul Scholes. One corner kick later, Shay Given made a save with his face when a Welbeck shot deflected off a Villa defender. Really. It was almost a comedy goal.

On the 80th minute, Given produced a superb save from a Valencia's shot that bounced off the ground. One has to question Mancini's decision in letting him go. Shay Given, in spite of United three goals, is probably the one Villa player who leave this game with some dignity.

In the dying minute, United scored their fourth goal through Nani. Johnny Evans (surprisingly) thread a beautiful through pass on which Nani is lashing too to score his first goal in aeons. From the restart, United manage to craft another attack, where Tom Cleverley fluff a shot over the bar, denying him of his first United goal.

So the end result is Man United 4, Aston Villa nil. United manage to muddle through this test of nerve without playing particularly well, and they sits pretty atop the EPL table. Five points separated them from Manchester City, and it looks like the fight for the title would come to a conclusive climax in Etihad.

Game on.