Van Nistelrooy secures points for United

FT Manchester United 1 Aston Villa 0

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s close-range tap in maintained Manchester United’s 100% start to the season and ensured there was no end to Aston Villa’s Old Trafford nightmare.

Not since 1983 have the midlands outfit triumphed at the Theatre of Dreams and they never looked likely to end that run.

But, with Thomas Sorensen performing heroics in the visitors goal, David O’Leary harboured hopes of snatching a point until van Nistelrooy arrived at the far post to tap home a second-half winner after Darren Fletcher’s cross had been flicked on by Olof Mellberg.

Scholes rose to meet a Neville cross but could only power his header straight at Sorensen, who managed to push it away.

Solano was finally introduced 18 minutes from time, although he had not made any impression by the time Smith replaced Rooney, a decision that clearly disappointed the young forward.

Sorensen came to Villa’s rescue again with a flying save from Scholes but his efforts proved in vain as the visitors, toothless in attack, never came close to threatening an equaliser.