Birmingham Post: When it comes to Aston Villa's visits to Old Trafford, there are two absolute certainties - one is that the Midland side will never come away with three points, the other is that the match will be played under leaden skies. As the rain hammered down, Sir Alex Ferguson's rampant Manchester United proved true to form, tearing apart Martin O'Neill's side with four goals which underlined once again the gulf between the Premier League's top side and those who aspire to hang on to their coat tails.

Birmingham Post: Manager Martin O'Neill conceded that Villa had been defeated by the best team in Europe - but insisted his own team's aspirations of European football were still not dead and buried. "United were really brilliant," he said. "They have been in these situations so many times - they are in the quarter finals of the Champions League and going for the Premier League title and they have great determination and ability. "We do have a lot to do if we are still going to be in with a chance of Europe. We have six games to go and we are capable of getting back into it."

Birmingham Post: Aston Villa defender Wilfred Bouma admits he and his team-mates were left open-mouthed at the sublime quality and skill of Cristiano Ronaldo's classy goal that set Manchester United on their way to a comprehensive 4-0 Premiership victory at Old Trafford on Saturday. The Holland international and Villa left-back says his side will spend a day or two on their post-match analysis to try and pinpoint why their club has such a problem in defeating the Red Devils.

Independent: There is a different between playing an Aston Villa side so short of personnel that their manager is forced to convert Nigel Reo-Coker to right-back and a side homing in on the Scudetto and intent on raining on United's parade as Roma will be tomorrow night in the Italian capital.

Times: Villa could not cope. The statistics said that their patched-up side had rivalled United in most areas - shots on target, shots off target, corners, possession - but Martin O'Neill, their manager, did not attempt to clutch at such straws. "They are playing fantastically," he said. "They've got great confidence in their own ability and in each other's ability."

Telegraph: Aston Villa attempted to engage Manchester United in open football, from which there is usually only one outcome. But their manager Martin O'Neill reflected that he preferred these kind of tactics to massing 10 men behind the ball and hoping not to be sliced open. Star: Martin O'Neill knows a European Cup-winning team when he sees one. The Villa manager sat on the bench while his Nottingham Forest team-mates won the trophy in 1979. The following year, Brian Clough put O'Neill in the team as Forest repeated their triumph. So when O'Neill, now a manager of pedigree, suggests Manchester United are on the verge of conquering both Europe and the Premier League, you know it makes sense.

Guardian: So impressed was Martin O'Neill that the Aston Villa manager suggested his younger players watch a DVD of the thrashing to learn from both Rooney and Ronaldo. Villa departed Old Trafford battered and bruised - John Carew with a groin injury that threatens to further deplete an already stretched squad - and with their hopes of qualifying for the Intertoto Cup fading fast.

Mirror: As a double European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest, Villa boss Martin O'Neill knows what it takes to triumph in the ultimate club competition and after his side's mauling at the hand of United, O'Neill tipped Fergie's men for Champions League glory.

Mirror: Martin O'Neill watched his Aston Villa side marmalised by Manchester United - than attacked teams who turn up at Old Trafford with damage limitation their top priority. Rather than following the trend of packing midfield and playing one up front to stifle United, O'Neill's side took the game to Fergie's men with an adventurous approach. "You've got to come to places like this and try to compete. What's the point in putting nine or 10 men behind the ball?"