Aston Villa struggles are just plane to see - match analysis
While Villa fans taunted the hosts about being the second team in Manchester the response was cutting.
'You're just a rubbish Aston Villa' came the reply. Swap 'rubbish' for something more offensive and you've got the idea.
It was meant as a dig that Villa are a shadow of their former selves, just like United.
But on Saturday even a below-par United overshadowed the claret and blues.
Many will remember when the pair duelled for the title at the start of the Premier League era, but now they are both in the midst of transition.
It is difficult for both sets of fans to accept their lot this season as the two clubs try to rediscover past identities.
One has the power, money and clout to re-emerge quickly, while the other still has a long way to go.
Victory will not cure all the ills at United nor will defeat condemn Villa as they strive to prove the progress Paul Lambert swears by.
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United are less than a season post-Ferguson as Lambert looks towards a third year with Villa still trying to convince.
Money talks and David Moyes is likely to be handed a mammoth kitty in the summer while Lambert will have work with a relative loose change.
A big summer for both beckons as Villa aim to trim the dead wood – including signings made by Lambert – and add the quality to give them a chance of evolution.
It has to be a change for the better or the patience at Villa Park, which has already been severely tested, will run out.
Four wins in the last 17 games, with 10 defeats, gives a measure of the way they are limping towards May, victory over Chelsea aside.
A top-10 finish is still up for grabs and would represent improvement, even if performances this season have left more questions than answers.
And any lingering thoughts of relegation would be all-but banished should they win against Fulham this weekend.
After the 4-1 loss to Stoke there is some bridges to build at Villa Park and Ashley Westwood – who opened the scoring at Old Trafford – admitted there is some faith to gain.
The final score, not the defeat, was hard on Villa but had Christian Benteke not produced a contender for miss of the season it could have been different.
A swing and a miss just five yards out from the Belgian as Villa trailed 2-1 cost them dearly. It was decisive as fragile United rarely looked in total control until the final stages.
The build-up focused on a plane and a banner as a group of United fans hired an aircraft to fly the message 'Wrong One – Moyes Out' over Old Trafford at kick off.
But it is a misnomer the Red Devils are in a tailspin. Even at half speed they cruised past Villa.
Moyes wanted to set the tone and strolled out solo two minutes before his team, defiant after all the pre-match talk.
But just as the plane had stopped buzzing overhead Westwood had Villa in front, curling in a free-kick after Rafael upended Gabby Agbonlahor.
It was a strong start – composed and controlled – but Villa have collapsed like a broken chair before and it started again when United levelled on 20 minutes as Wayne Rooney was given acres of space to guide a header past Brad Guzan.
It hadn't been coming but Villa wilted, just as they did against Stoke, and the recalled Ciaran Clark blocked a Rooney drive before the striker struck again.
Shinji Kagawa had been given licence to roam and his ball dissected the Villa defence to find Juan Mata, who was cleaned out by Leandro Bacuna. Rooney buried the penalty.
While the scoreline was harsh, the visitors had their chances to level after the break.
The best was Benteke's miss when he controlled Westwood's pass only to miss the ball completely five yards out and Michael Carrick cleared.
Minutes later he planted a header over the bar. They were costly and any revival hopes ended when Mata swept in on 57 minutes.
It took the sting out of Villa and there was never any semblance of a comeback.
United had taken advantage of the reprieve and Guzan denied Rooney a hat-trick with a smart save while Benteke missed Ryan Bertrand's cross on the stretch. By the time Javier Hernandez slid in a fourth in the final minute the game was already over.
Villa have won just once at Old Trafford in 31 years so defeat there is nothing new. Yet the United fans were right, things have still changed.
