Villa's nightmare run against Manchester United continued on an evening to forget at Villa Park.

Leading at one stage through Gabby Agbonlahor's fourth goal of the season, Martin O'Neill's men ended the game with nine men and on the receiving end of a heavy defeat.

Wayne Rooney (2), Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs did the damage, but a controversial display from referee Rob Styles did little to help the Villa cause.

Styles controversially penalised Bouma for a back pass on five, but Giggs fired into the wall from the free-kick.

Evra sent a low angled drive just past the post as he cut in from the left two minutes later.

Moore and Agbonlahor almost combined to breach the United defence as Young crossed low from the left on eight. But Ferdinand scrambled the ball clear.

As Villa settled, Gardner's right-wing cross just eluded Moore on 11.

Villa had the lead a minute later as Young crossed from the left and Agbonlahor rose to angle his header beyond Van Der Sar.

Scholes saw a low drive blocked by Tevez on 14, before the South American fired into the side-netting.

The end to end action continued and Gardner cut in from the right moments later, but fired high over the bar.

Young tried his luck from the edge of the box on 17, but was unable to keep a right-foot half volley down.

Agbonlahor, again looking lively, fired across the face of goal as he met Barry's clever through ball on 20.

Moore fired into the side-netting on 22 after brilliantly robbing Brown of possession and racing to the edge of the United box.

As Villa continued to compete for every single ball, Scholes fired high into the Holte End on 26.

Mellberg superbly blocked a close-range effort from Tevez on 27, sliding in as the striker looked sure to level matters.

Laursen almost doubled Villa's lead on 29, missing a Young corner by inches as he arrived unmarked in the six-yard box.

Mellberg sent a weak volley straight at Van Der Sar on 34.

Rooney levelled matters for the visitors on 36, popping up at the far-post to meet a Nani cross and slot past Carson.

Villa responded well though and Moore's deflected shot on the turn was comfortably gathered by Van Der Sar on 38.

Villa penalty appeals went ignored on 42 as Agbonlahor claimed he was tripped in the box by Ferdinand.

Rooney had his and United's second on 44, meeting a Tevez pass and turning to fire low past Carson.

Ferdinand added a third for the visitors in stoppage-time as Young blocked a Pique header, but the England defender followed up to score.

Nani sent a low angled shot straight at Carson on 48.

Agbonlahor rounded Van Der Sar as he raced onto Barry's through ball on 55, but was forced wide and his cross cum shot was blocked.

Mellberg did well as he slid in to block a rising drive from Tevez on 57.

Villa were reduced to ten men on 60 as Reo-Coker brought down Anderson and was shown a second yellow card.

Osboure sent a rising drive straight at Van Der Sar after good work from Agbonlahor two minutes later.

Substitute Maloney fired wide as he cut in from the left on 65.

Villa were then reduced to nine men on 67 as Carson upended Tevez - as the United striker was heading away from goal! Taylor saved Rooney's spot-kick.

Rooney fired against the bar with a snap shot on the turn on 71. Taylor then raced off his line to block a rising effort from Tevez.

The visitors incresed their lead on 75 as a Giggs drive took two deflections and looped over Taylor's despairing dive.

With the game long since over as a contest, Maloney fired high into the Holte End on 84.

The Scottish international then clipped the United wall with a right-foot free-kick seconds later.

Taylor produced a double save to deny United substitute Ronaldo in stoppage time.

VILLA: Carson (sent-off 67), M, Bouma, Laursen, Knight, Gardner, Barry, Reo-Coker (booked 52 - sent-off 60), Young (booked 66), Agbonlahor, Moore. Subs: Taylor (for Knight 67), Davies, Petrov, Osbourne (for Gardner 53), Maloney (for Moore 53).

Man Utd: Van Der Sar, Evra, Ferdinand, Brown, Anderson, Rooney, Giggs, Nani (booked 89), Scholes (booked 39), Pique, Tevez. Subs: Kuszczak, Ronaldo (for Giggs 77), O'Shea (for Scholes 77), Fletcher, (for Tevez 73) Simpson.