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A brace from Wayne Rooney and goals from Juan Mata and Javier Hernandez were enough as United eased past an Aston Villa who took an early lead. The win eases some pressure off Moyes as he goes into a crunch Champions League tie againt the reigning champions on Tuesday. Here are the five things we learned from the game.
#1 Rooney is Villas villain yet again
Aston Villa must be sick at the sight of Wayne Rooney as his brace sealed a comfortable 4-1 victory for the Red Devils. Having not scored at Old Trafford since October, Villa would have been hoping for that run to continue. But, unfortunately, it wasn’t to be as Rooney made it 12 goals against Aston Villa, making them his most favorite opposition to play against.
Having missed two good chances in the second half, Rooney would have been disappointed to have been taken off before scoring a hat-trick. But, all things considered, he will be happy into go into a crucial clash against Bayern with four goals in his last three games as the club’s leading goal scorer this season.
#2 A game of two halves
It might be a cliché but this was a classic case of a game of two halves. The first half was a scrappy affair that saw Villa take the lead and then surrender it meekly. It was one that saw plenty of fouls committed by the visiting side, most of which were left unpunished by the referee. It was one that saw United unable to bring the ball out of defense and one that needed Mata to drop really deep to create anything.
However, after the interval, it was a completely different ball game altogether as the pace was much quicker. Both sides pushed forward with a lot more purpose and the game was a lot more open and end-to-end. In the end, United were much more clinical in front of goal as Moyes was greeted with a rapturous applause at the end of a convincing result.
#3 Has Moyes finally found Evras replacement?
With Evra suspended for the first leg against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, David Moyes opted to give Buttner an opportunity. And it proved to be a masterstroke as the Dutch fullback took it with both hands as he impressed against the Villans. After a slightly sluggish start that saw him booked after just 16 minutes, the Dutchman went onto have a faultless game, impressing both offensively and defensively.
Buttner came forward at every opportunity and whipped some sumptuous crosses, which unfortunately the attackers couldn’t make full use of. Even on the defensive end, the Dutchman made some crucial interceptions and was excellent with his recovery runs, something Evra hasn’t been doing all that well.
#4 Villas square back four their undoing
After a bright start that saw them take the lead with a Westwood free kick in the 13th minute, Aston Villa shot themselves in the foot with some of their defending. When United equalized, it looked as though it was only a matter of time before they score the winner, such was Villa’s defending.
Their high line meant that Villa were vulnerable to the ball over the top. Coupled with the fact that their full backs weren’t on the money defensively, made for some calamitous errors that was easily picked off by a triumvirate of Mata, Rooney and Kagawa. Although they are nine points off the relegation zone and are currently in 12th place, should they continue defending like this, they might find themselves perilously close
#5 The calm before the storm?
Manchester United have scored more goals, won more games and have secured more points against Aston Villa than anybody else in the Premier League. Even in a season in which they have struggled, the Red Devils have managed to do the double over the Villans and scored seven goals in two games.
Although Villa got off to a bright start, once United scored, Villa’s defensive vulnerabilities and Benteke’s failings in front of goal meant that United were never really in trouble. The Bavarians will prove to be much tougher opposition on Tuesday but Moyes will be happy that his side will go into the game high on confidence and belief.
