Match Review
Aston Villa 0 v 3 Manchester United, Villa Park, 15.00 Saturday 23rd December 2006.
Goals: Aston Villa  - n/a,   Manchester United - Ronaldo (58), (85), Scholes (64).
Attendance: 42,551

A glittering second half performance saw United 'shit on the Villa' as the Reds scored three times in a 4-3-3 formation after the break. A brace from the brilliant Ronaldo and a typical 30-yard Scholes effort took all the points, ensuring Jose would have to apologise again for lying because, Chelski, United are top of the table on Christmas Day and the team's best player was on the bench.

SAF opted to rest Rooney, with Heinze, Solskjaer and the injured Carrick missing from the line-up completely.

In front of a sell out crowd of 42,551, the likes of which has not been seen at Villa Park for a long time, United started slowly with a front three of Park, Saha and Ronaldo ahead of Giggs, Fletcher and Scholes across the middle of the park in a 4-3-3 system.

Villa started much brighter than United and were first to go close from Barry's free-kick, headed on by Chris Sutton for Gardner to head against a post. The danger wasn't cleared and EVDS had to save well from the follow up.

United's opportunity came when the returning Park was gifted a ball only for the rusty Korean to miss. Earlier Nemanja Vidic was booked for only what can be described as GBH. The resulting caution means the Serbian monster will miss the United's next match against Wigan.

With no real width United used Evra and Neville to great effect as the two full-backs ran and attacked all day. The Frenchman, returning from injury, saw a shot saved by the man in crap grey pants, Gabor Kiraly. Gaining rhythm as the match wore on, United almost took the lead through Ronaldo who released by Giggs twisted and turned before unleashing a shot wide of the far post.

United came into their own in the second half - the deadlock broken by Ronaldo. Collecting the ball in his own half, the winger ran fifty yards before letting fly. The Lord of the Wings shot was blocked by Cahill only for the ricochet to land at the Portuguese players feet for another bite at the cherry. This time there was no question as the net bulged.

Ronaldo, who devastated the Villa full-back Hughes all afternoon, squared for Giggs only for the Welshman to continue his poor form by missing a great opportunity. McCann cleared the resulting corner, his header falling to the feet of Scholes who's scorching 25-yards volley beat crap pants Gabor Kiraly off the underside of the bar.

SAF then brought on Rooney for Park who twice set up Ronaldo - one ruled out for offside, the other saved by Kiraly. The White Pele didn't seem, having been benched for that very reason.

United's final goal on the counter attack was straight out of the text book. Starting from their own half Giggs and Rooney combined to release Neville down the right - the full-back's squared ball fell to the deserving Ronaldo who had the simplest of tap-ins.

Rant Ratings
(4-4-3): van der Sar (6); Neville (8), Ferdinand (6), Vidic (7), Evra (8); Fletcher (7), Scholes (6), Giggs (4); Ronaldo (9), Saha (6), Park (6).
Subs: Rooney (7) for Park (66 mins), O'Shea (n/a) for Giggs (88 mins), Silvestre (n/a) for Scholes (88 mins).
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Brown.

United's Man of the Match
Ronaldo. No arguments.

Rants Reaction
Ferguson's 4-3-3, with the right legs in the engine room, was so better than a 4-5-1 with Rooney wide Right. We'd still rather see 4-4-2!

Was Rant's Prediction Right?
We said 2-1. United Rant 4 v 24 Wrong Predictions.

Milestones
Cristiano Ronaldo's 25th and 26th Premiership goals of his United career and 34th and 35th goal overall for the club.
Paul Scholes's 91st Premiership goal of his United career and 133rd goal overall.
SAF's 354th Premiership Victory.
Rio Ferdinand's 190th competitive appearance for United.

Miscellaneous Info
United's next match is on Tuesday 26th December 2006 at home to Wigan Athletic in the Premiership with a 15.00 kick off