Manchester United recover to beat Aston Villa

Manchester United have recovered from back-to-back home defeats in the Premier League to beat Aston Villa 4-1 at Old Trafford.

The away side actually took the lead early on before United improved, aided by two goals from Wayne Rooney in the first half, to turn the game around.

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Villa started confidently and were given a good chance to test the goalkeeper when Rafael fouled Gabriel Agbonlahor just outside the box.

Ashley Westwood stepped up and gave David de Gea no chance, firing the ball into the top corner after 12 minutes.

The hosts responded well and were level within seven minutes thanks to Rooney, who found space at the back post and headed home from Shinji Kagawa's cross.

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The Red Devils looked much better after their goal with Rooney, Kagawa and Juan Mata all getting involved.

It was Mata and Kagawa who linked decisively just before half time, exchanging passes inside the box before the former was hacked down by Leandro Bacuna.

Rooney made no mistake from the penalty spot and United had completed their turnaround before the break.

Villa could, and probably should, have got themselves back into the game just after half time, but Christian Benteke missed two excellent opportunities, volleying well wide before heading over the bar from close range.

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The Belgian striker was made to rue those chances moments later, as Mata got his first United goal, collecting the ball from Marouane Fellaini and firing past the goalkeeper.

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United manager David Moyes enjoyed a comfortable 30 minutes thereafter and there was even time for substitute Javier Hernandez to add a fourth in the final minute, nodding in from close range after good work from Adnan Januzaj.