Aston Villa 2 United 3

stray pass allowed the hosts to break and Benteke's dummy saw Ireland switch the ball to Agbonlahor. The speedy forward made the most of the space afforded to him on the left to cross for Weimann to thunder in from close range.

United looked to be on the ropes but Hernandez showed his nose for goal to reduce the deficit eight minutes later. The in-form Mexican made the most of Scholes' delightful ball over the top to clip under Guzan for his seventh strike of the season.

Five minutes later, it looked as though Chicharito had swiftly extended his tally to eight but instead the equaliser was credited as a Vlaar own goal. Rooney beautifully picked out the run of Rafael and, when Hernandez met the Brazilian's cross at the far post, the ball cannoned into the net off the Dutch defender.

Playing with the purpose of a team at the top of the table, the visitors almost went ahead but Guzan dived to palm away a Rooney attempt while Villa showed they were still very much in the mix with Weimann only denied a hat-trick by a superb stop from De Gea following a Barry Bannan centre.

After Tom Cleverley was introduced at the expense of Scholes, the Reds came agonisingly close to going ahead with van Persie hitting the bar twice inside 47 seconds. The Dutchman smashed a header against the woodwork from a Rooney corner and then produced a wonderful attempt that