PHIL JONES was the unlikely hero as Manchester United kept pressure on neighbours City with a comfortable win at Villa Park.
Jones volleyed home a Nani first-half cross but United's title chances may have been dealt a blow as Javier Hernandez was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle injury.
A lacklustre Villa rarely threatened and Alex McLeish suffered a double injury disaster of his own with Shay Given and Jermaine Jenas both forced off. Villa have now gone three games without scoring and Charles N'Zogbia was dropped from the squad for an undisclosed breach of club discipline.
For United, the result was their fourth 1-0 win in five league games and leaves Alex Ferguson's side five points behind free-scoring Manchester City.
The game started with a major early setback for the visitors as with just eight minutes gone, Hernandez appeared to twist his ankle after turning on the Villa turf.
After a long delay, the Mexican had to be taken off to polite applause.
Despite the early blow, the champions managed to regroup and took the lead after 20 minutes through England starlet Jones who was playing in central midfield.
A fine team-move saw Patrice Evra release Nani whose cross was met by Jones on the volley for his first goal in 60 senior games.
United began to dominate the game after the opener and Nani nearly doubled their lead but his header from an Ashley Young cross was well saved by Given.
That was to be the Irish keeper's last action of the game as he limped off holding his hamstring to be replaced by Brad Guzan.
The visitors continued to dominate proceedings in the second half without carving out any clear-cut chances.
Wayne Rooney tried his luck from 25-yards and Barry Bannan blocked well from a Nani shot inside the box.
While United couldn't find a second goal, Villa did not look like posing a threat and suffered another injury blow when Jermaine Jenas was stretchered off with a serious-looking ankle problem.
The home side did force a good save from United keeper Anders Lindegaard with 15 minutes to go when James Collins headed a Richard Dunne cross.
But this proved to be Villa's best chance and Rooney came closest to scoring late on — shooting just over after a neat move with Michael Carrick.
Aston Villa: Given (Guzan 38), Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Jenas (Heskey 63), Herd (Petrov 59), Bannan, Albrighton,Bent, Agbonlahor. Subs Not Used: Ireland, Delph, Clark, Cuellar
Man Utd: Lindegaard, Smalling, Ferdinand (Giggs 64), Vidic, Evra, Jones, Carrick, Nani, Rooney, Young (Welbeck 78), Hernandez (Valencia 12). Subs Not Used: De Gea, Evans, Park, Fletcher
Goals: Jones 20
Att: 40,053
Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
Source: thesun
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