David Beckham ensured Manchester United kept the pressure on Premiership leaders Arsenal with the only goal in a hard-fought win over Aston Villa, in Saturday’s early FA Premiership kick-off today. The 12-minute winner was not one that will make it into any video collection of the England captain's master-strikes. But although the United faithful were made to endure some anxious minutes in the second-half, it ultimately proved enough to extend United's unbeaten run in the league to ten matches.
Beckham, Fabien Barthez, Ryan Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooy, who were all rested for the low-stakes Champions League clash with FC Basel in midweek, were restored to the starting line-up for a clash the visitors could not afford to lose. And in the opening stages it looked as if the United big-guns were in the mood to blow Villa away. Beckham could have singlehandedly killed the game with a hat-trick inside the first 22 minutes but the United fans had to settle for a return of one from the three gilt-edged chances which fell to him.
Villa goalkeeper Stefan Postma, brought in for the dropped Peter Enckelman, prevented the first one being converted with a superb point-blank save after Beckham got on the end of a cross from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The offside flag then denied van Nistelrooy what would have been his 30th goal of the season before Beckham atoned for his earlier miss by getting on the end of a Ryan Giggs cross to sweep the ball home at the back post.
Villa tried to hit back immediately but Lee Hendrie failed to get any power into his shot which Barthez saved comfortably. Beckham spurned another chance mid-way through the opening period and that proved to be the catalyst for a spirited fightback from Villa, who enjoyed the better of the rest of the opening half without ever seriously threatening Barthez. The France number one had to be at his best soon after the interval when he produced two top-quality saves to keep out a Dion Dublin header and, seconds later, tip Alan Wright's rising drive over the bar.
The latter stages of the second half were particularly scrappy as Villa ran out of ideas and United held on for the three points.
Filed by James Boylan.
