By Chris Burton Last updated: 31st March 2008
United celebrate Ronaldo's opener
Manchester United's title dreams remain firmly on track after they cruised to a 4-0 victory over Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo was once again among the goals, and was joined on the score sheet by Carlos Tevez and a brace from a rejuvenated Wayne Rooney.
A bright start from Villa masked what was to eventually become a procession from United as Sir Alex Ferguson's men put on an eye-catching display.
It took just 17 minutes for Ronaldo to stamp his authority on the game and once again prove that he is arguably the most precocious talent in the game at the moment.
It appeared that there was little on for the Portuguese winger when a Ryan Giggs corner fell to his feet 10-yards from goal.
However, it has become clear that Ronaldo's talents should never be underestimated and with one clever flick of his right foot United were in front and Villa were left bemused.
He was again involved in the Red Devils' second as a free-flowing move, started by Tevez, was finished off by the Argentinean as he headed home a Ronaldo cross from the right.
Eight minutes into the second period Rooney then put the result beyond doubt when he was allowed to waltz around Scott Carson before slotting into an empty net.
With Villa's defence beginning to capitulate, Rooney grabbed a fourth on 70 minutes when he was given far too much room at the far post and made no mistake with a low finish.
Tevez them missed a sitter when it appeared easier to score, while Rooney battled in vain for an elusive hat-trick before the final whistle put Villa out of their misery.
Miserable
Even though Ashley Young went close with a shot in the fourth minute Villa never looked like ending a miserable run of results at the ground, stretching back 25 years.
That close shave only succeeded in getting United going and Rooney rattled in a shot from the edge of the area that was cleared by Stiliyan Petrov.
Ryan Giggs then slipped the ball through to Tevez in the 10th minute but Mellberg made a crucial block.
United almost took the lead a minute later when Michael Carrick released Ronaldo. He cut inside only to see his effort turned around the post by goalkeeper Scott Carson.
Giggs swung in the corner and Brown peeled away from his marker only to head over the bar.
Outrageous
United went ahead in the 17th minute. Villa failed to clear Giggs' corner and Rio Ferdinand chested the ball into Ronaldo's path. The Portugal winger clipped an outrageous back-heel through Martin Laursen's legs and beyond Carson.
Nigel Reo-Coker, drafted in at right-back instead of his usual midfield role, was struggling to settle and United made it 2-0 after 33 minutes with Ronaldo this time setting up the goal.
He latched on to a clever pass from Scholes and delivered a cross to the back post. Reo-Coker had gone missing and Tevez was left with the simple task of heading the ball home.
United were knocking the ball around with ease with Scholes at the heart of everything good about their play.
United should have extended their lead in the 48th minute when Rooney was sent clear by Tevez. It looked as though he must score but the England striker sent his effort wide from close range.
Rattled
Villa substitute Shaun Maloney followed suit a minute later when he rattled his effort wide with only Tomasz Kuszczak to beat.
United hit back and Ronaldo came close in the 52nd minute when his shot hit Wilfred Bouma and came back off the bar.
However a minute later Rooney made it 3-0 when he rounded Carson after Ronaldo's flick-on split the Villa defence. It was Rooney's first goal in six games in all competitions for United and he savoured the moment after taking his tally to 16.
However Maloney nearly reduced the arrears in the 55th minute only for Kuszczak to make a superb block.
With Roma in mind next Tuesday in the UEAF Champions League, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson made three substitutions in the 62nd minute.
Owen Hargreaves, Anderson and John O'Shea replaced Patrice Evra, Ferdinand and Michael Carrick.
Impressive
United remained in the driving seat and Tevez should have scored in the 66th minute only to head wide in front of the posts following a cross from Hargreaves before Rooney hit the post.
Rooney made it 4-0 in the 70th minute with his second of the game after again being released by Ronaldo and Villa boss Martin O'Neill cut a miserable figure in the lashing rain.
Rooney thought he had scored his hat-trick in the 78th minute, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside. Given his unselfish running it would have been well deserved in an impressive show by United.
They played out the last four minutes with 10 men as Giggs came off with what appeared to be a knock.
The 32nd round of the English Premiership took place this past weekend with both the battles for the league title and the battle against relegation still raging on. The fate of one team has been sealed for the rest of the season as Derby County has been mathematically guaranteed relegation, setting a new league record for earliest relegation. At the top of the table, nothing changed this week as Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool all won.