Danny Welbeck granted David Moyes and his Manchester United team some much needed respite with two first half goals at Villa Park this afternoon, on the way to a 3-0 win – United’s first in 5 league games.

United looked shaky at the back a couple of times in the early exchanges and had they been facing a more clinical side they might have been behind. Villa forwards Marc Albrighton and Christian Benteke were both guilty of failing to maximise on the opportunities available before Welbeck struck the opening goal on 15 minutes. Rafael put nia cross from the right and Adnan Januzaj got up well to put a fine header towards the bottom of corner of Brad Guzan’s goal. The ball bounced back off the post and, with Guzan laid out on the ground, directly at the waiting, and well positioned, Welbeck who put the ball into the unguarded net.

From there on United asserted their dominance and just three minutes later had Welbeck to thank for their second. The goal again came from the right, with Antonio Valencia Villa’s tormentor this time. The winger put in a fine low cross and Welbeck slid in at pace to double the advantage.

Nathan Cleverly was the corer and the driving force behind the third goal. As Villa passed the ball around in their own half, near the left wing, Cleverly darted in to steal possession and lay off  aquick pass to Wayne Rooney. Rooney then returned the pass, splitting the onrushing defenders and setting the still sprinting Cleverly in on goal. A low finish to Guzan’s right made it three.