Villa unable to raise the ante

Success, or more probably the possibility of unique success embracing three competitions, is having a discernible effect on Alex Ferguson. It could just be that as the masterful team he has fashioned at Manchester United drag tired limbs and weary minds towards an anticipated appointment with footballing history, Ferguson is actually beginning to mellow.

It sounds rather implausible, but his demeanour in the immediate aftermath of a game his team could have lost had they tried very hard, was that of a man at peace not only with himself but, even more improbably, with those around him.

Now, it is unthinkable that Ferguson has fully exorcised those demons which have always demanded of him an unnecessarily acerbic tongue and a brusque, almost-dismissive manner, but he was in largely conciliatory mood after his side's unbeaten sequence had been stretched to 27 games.

The first inkling that any perceived criticism of his players would, for once, not be met with the traditional Medusa-like withering glare came with the acknowledgment that, in substituting Jesper Blomqvist midway through the second half, he had blundered.

"After he came off we lost our width, so we did well to survive a managerial mistake," he said with more than a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

The room fell silent. But perhaps we should not really have been too surprised, for in his programme notes Ferguson had urged the supporters to lap up every second of what he feels is a golden period in United's history. "This is a special season," he wrote. "No matter what happens on the last lap you should enjoy it, because you may never see the like again."

The more cynical might suggest that Ferguson was merely inflating his own ego by pointing out that he is the dream-weaver, the main man, and as such is worthy of high and sustained praise.

But that would be unfair. Ferguson is actually right to demand that those who will care passionately about United's fortunes over the coming weeks - on Merseyside, on Teesside, at Wembley, in Barcelona - should seize the moment.

His assertion that the enormous feats of this campaign will not lightly be repeated is, it must be said, open to serious debate for he has at his disposal a squad to die for.

The team which defeated Aston Villa were lacking Jaap Stam, Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane, Andy Cole, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Henning Berg, and yet had Denis Irwin not extended the afternoon's competitive theme by missing a 65th-minute penalty, United would have won with much to spare.

Although Villa did briefly threaten to leave their fingerprints on the script after Julian Joachim's well-taken strike had cancelled out Steve Watson's unfortunate own goal, United enjoyed so much authority in midfield, where Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt were outstanding, that the outcome was rarely called into doubt.

"We have been in this position before - me asking my players to win just four more matches. I don't know whether that's what it will take to get the title - 12 more points - but that is what I would like," said Ferguson.

Once again the abiding memory was provided by the breathtaking precision of David Beckham, a young man whose vanity away from the pitch is to be deplored but whose brilliance upon it can only be adored.

Early in the first half Beckham had seen one of laser-guided free kicks stopped on the line by Gareth Southgate, who rose to prevent the ball entering the net just beneath the crossbar. Smart move, Villa.

"We had spent some time during the week working on that, making sure Gareth went back to help our goalkeeper," said the Villa manager John Gregory.

"When Beckham was preparing to take his second free kick our goalkeeper felt he could deal with it on his own, without Gareth being on the line. Problem was, he didn't," he added.

Beckham's shot, from 30 or so yards, absolutely flew home leaving that goalkeeper, Michael Oakes, to rue his over-confidence.

"You just can't legislate for skill like that," said Gregory in an individual tribute which would have held just as much credence had it been applied collectively.

Man Utd: Schmeichel, G Neville, May (Brown 79), Johnsen, Irwin, Beckham, Scholes, Butt, Blomqvist (P Neville 63), Yorke, Sheringham. Subs Not Used: Wilson, Greening, Van Der Gouw. Goals: Watson 20 og, Beckham 46.

Aston Villa: Oakes, Watson, Southgate, Calderwood, Wright, Stone, Draper (Thompson 67), Taylor, Merson, Joachim, Dublin (Vassell 75). Subs Not Used: Barry, Enckelman, Ehiogu. Booked: Taylor. Goals: Joachim 33.

Referee: K Burge (Tonypandy).