Aston Villa 1 Manchester United 4: Wayne Rooney took his goal tally to six in his last five games for club and country as Alex Ferguson's side over-ran nine-man Aston Villa tonight.
Rooney bounced back from England's Euro 2008 disappointment in Russia to help the Red Devils chalk up a seventh successive win in the Barclays Premier League - and only a saved penalty denied him a hat-trick.
It moved United back into second place as they recovered from conceding their first league goal for 611 minutes to Gabriel Agbonlahor, against a Villa side who had Nigel Reo-Coker and goalkeeper Scott Carson sent off in the second period.
Ferguson was delighted with his side's victory and attacking flair.
"The performance was absolutely superb, probably our best of the season," Ferguson said. "The first half in particular was absolutely excellent.
"It's been disappointing we haven't scored more goals and that was a big surprise considering the players we've had available, although Tevez and Anderson did miss pre-season.
"I don't think the sendings off affected the result but it did give us an easier task in the second half."
United travel to Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Tuesday and Ferguson added: "It's a big game obviously, European football is a special occasion and we're going in there in good form, but it's not an easy place to go to."
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