Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 1 - report

Aston Villa's poor home record against Manchester United remains intact after Phil Jones scored the only goal of the game to give the Premier League champions a routine victory.

The claret and blues have not beaten United at Villa Park since the 1995/6 season and despite a few chances from set-piece situations after half-time it was a relatively straightforward win for the visitors.

Alex McLeish made three changes from the side which drew 0-0 with Swansea City as Jermaine Jenas was handed his first start of the season while Barry Bannan was restored to the side with Stiliyan Petrov and Emile Heskey both dropping to the bench.

Marc Albrighton was also recalled with Charles N'Zogbia axed from the Villa squad for what McLeish described before kick-off as a "breach of club discipline" after failing to show up for a club commitment.

United were dealt an early blow when goal poacher Javier Hernandez was taken off on a stretcher in the 10th minute and replaced by Antonio Valencia.

The visitors still enjoyed the bulk of possession and took the lead in the 20th minute when Patrice Evra slid the ball into Nani down United's left flank and he outpaced Alan Hutton and curled a low cross into the box.

Phil Jones ghosted in the penalty area unmarked and got in between Stephen Warnock and Richard Dunne to direct the ball past helpless Villa keeper Shay Given.

Villa were indebted to Given moments later when Valencia's cross from the right was met by Nani but his goal-bound header was parried by the Ireland international.

The home side's luck worsened in the 38th minute, though, when Given pulled up clutching the back of his leg as he was turned to make his way back to goal and had to be replaced by backup keeper Brad Guzan.

Villa began the second half with a much better tempo as they kicked towards the Holte End but it was United who looked the more likely to score with Wayne Rooney and Nani both striking shots from distance.

Warnock denied Rooney with a brilliant tackle in the 52nd minute, but Villa's bad luck with injuries continued as Jenas broke down and was replaced by Heskey in the 63rd minute.

Villa's best chance predictably came from set-pieces as they twice went close to equalising in the space of 10 minutes.

Bannan's corner was flicked on by Dunne for Heskey but he failed to test United keeper Anders Lindegaard as he headed wide at the back post.

The ball was cleared to Dunne from another corner shortly after and his up and under was met by the head of Collins but Lindegaard was able to tip the attempt over the bar.

Rooney blazed over the bar in the 87th minute after a neat one-two with Michael Carrick while Danny Welbeck had the ball in the net shortly after but the linesman had already flagged.

Heskey had a good chance during a late surge of pressure from the home side but the collective groans of the claret and blue faithful were audible as he sliced his shot out for a throw in.