Villa were no match for Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester United on a depressing evening at Old Trafford.

Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney (2) gave the hosts all three points.

And despite a bright opening Villa could have no complaints as they slipped to a third straight defeat.

Reo-Coker, in an unaccustomed right-back slot, did well to block Ronaldo's cross on three.

Young's right-foot drive from a Reo-Coker centre was deflected over the bar by Brown a minute later.

Carew headed over the bar from the subsequent corner.

Petrov blocked Rooney's angled drive from the edge of the box on six.

Carew tried his luck from distance moments later, but saw his right-foot effort deflected wide by Ferdinand.

Mellberg, restored to central defence, slid in to deny Tevez on 10.

Carson brilliantly denied Ronaldo a minute later, palming a low shot from the edge of the box around the post.

The hosts had the lead on 17 as Villa failed to clear a Giggs corner and Ronaldo back-heeled beyond Carson.

Carew almost levelled matters on 19 as he sent a low angled drive fizzing past the post from 25 yards.

United were 2-0 up on 33 as Ronaldo crossed from the right and Tevez nodded home at the far post.

Young fired high over the bar as he met Barry's lay off on the edge of the box a minute before the interval.

Bouma fired straight at Kuszczak as he cut in from the left on 46.

Rooney should have extended the home side's lead on 49, but somehow fired wide after exchanging passes with Tevez.

Maloney then missed a golden opportunity to reduce the arrears as he raced onto Carson's long clearance, but dragged a low shot past the post.

Carson then spectacularly denied Ronaldo on 52, deflecting a rising shot away to safety.

The respite was brief though and Rooney added to the scoreline a minute later as he found space in the Villa box and skipped around Carson to slot home.

Maloney's angled drive from the left was tipped onto the bar by Kuszczak on 56.

Petrov sent a rising drive over the bar on 61. Teves sliced a right-foot effort wide at the other end two minutes later.

Tevez headed wide from Hargreaves' right-wing centre on 64.

Agbonlahor's header from a Young corner was blocked by Brown two minutes later.

Rooney rattled the post with a right-foot flick on 67. The England striker then added United's fourth three minutes later, slotting home  as he met Ronaldo's through ball.

Rooney was denied a hat-trick by an offside flag on 78. Replays showed the linesman made the correct decision.

Maloney sliced a right-foot effort wide of the upright on 88.

Man Utd: Kuszczak, Evra, Ferdinand, Brown, Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs, Vidic (booked 60), Carrick, Scholes, Tevez. Subs: Hargreaves (for Carrick 61), Anderson (for Evra 61), Foster, Park, O'Shea (for Ferdinand 61).

VILLA: Carson, Bouma (booked 22), Mellberg, Laursen, Reo-Coker, Barry, Petrov, Young, Agbonlahor, Carew, Harewood. Subs: Taylor, Salifou (for Harewood 69), Maloney (for Carew 42), Osbourne (for Bouma 80), Knight.

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