Wayne Rooney looks down to find a foreign object at his feet. He was mostly invisible getting his first touch in the opposition box in injury time. Once again, Utd did enough without ever looking convincing. Maybe they have stumbled onto something inadvertently. A variation on the rope a dope lulling the opposition and in its midst coming up with one or two instances of cutting edge. This is not Louis Van Gaal’s strategy obviously but its been the way they’ve been playing since the end of last season. For the more statistically minded the win preserved Utd’s unbeaten streak at Villa Park, now numbering an impressive twenty.

Juan Mata’s lovely through pass in the 28th minute finds Adnan Januzaj, a surprise inclusion in the starting XI and the Belgian international first controls and then wrong foots the Aston Villa defense to angle the ball past Brad Guzan far post via a very helpful deflection. In the second half, Mata the only functional midfielder it would appear slid another equally delectable ball for Memphis Depay. The Dutch winger’s first time connection was not quite accurate.

The goalscorer Januzaj faces an uncertain future at Utd and has been linked to loan moves to Everton or Sunderland and Van Gaal was not very forthcoming in his post match interview, “I am pleased with the goal because it was a wonderful goal but you have to do more than scoring a goal.”

Villa on its part should have had a penalty as Utd’s new signing Matteo Darmian practically mugged big unit Micah Richards in the box following a corner. But other than that and a few stray forays, the rebuilding side were ineffectual. There were five new players making their home debut including three with the first name Jordan. Full back Jordan Amavi, midfielder Jordan Veretout, and on attack Jordan Ayew. Former City defender Micah Richards as captain anchoring the back four and Idrissa Gueye in front of them. Missing from the line up Carlos Sanchez, Carles Gil, and new signing Adama Traore. Villa’s big worry is to fill the big holes left in attack with Christian Benteke departing for Liverpool and Fabian Delph, such a bright spark moving to City.

For those who missed the full match, here it is: