England striker Danny Welbeck made the most of a rare start for Manchester United with a first-half double in a 3-0 win at Aston Villa. PHOTO: AFP
Manchester United ended a run of four Premier League games without victory on Sunday as Danny Welbeck scored twice
in a resounding 3-0 win at Aston Villa.
It took the champions to within 10 points of top-of-the-table Arsenal and ensured the continuation of Villa’s poor home sequence against United, who they have not beaten at Villa Park since 1995.
Aston Villa, who made Gabriel Agbonlahor their captain on his 300th appearance, started the game in promising fashion and forced several early chances.
However, David Moyes’s United took the lead with their first attack of the game. Rafael da Silva’s 15th-minute cross was headed against the post by Adnan Januzaj and Welbeck reacted quickest to slot the rebound into an empty net.
United’s control of the game was evident and they could have extended their lead before half-time, with Rooney shooting just wide after being set up by more good work from Valencia.
Villa struggled to deal with the pace of Antonio Valencia down the visitors’ right and it was the winger who set up the second just three minutes later as he beat Antonio Luna easily and crossed for Welbeck to convert his fourth goal of the campaign.
A third goal arrived on 52 minutes as Wayne Rooney produced a slide-rule pass to play in Tom Cleverley, who beat Brad Guzan at his near post for his first goal of the season.
Mourinho expects title race to go down to wire
Jose Mourinho insists the title race will not be decided until the final moments of the season after Chelsea put themselves in with a chance of topping the table at Christmas.
The Blues’ 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday moved Mourinho’s side to within two points of leaders Arsenal.
Chelsea’s next league fixture takes them to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal and a victory there would take them to the top of the table.
But Mourinho played down the prospect of striking a blow against their major rivals in the race for the title.
“I think it will be open until very late,” said Mourinho. “Of course we want to win and we go to Arsenal with the objective of being at the top of the league. But I don’t think it’s crucial.”
Ozil sorry for snubbing Arsenal fans
Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil has apologised to the club’s fans after failing to acknowledge them following their heavy 6-3 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday.
Ozil was chastised by teammate Per Mertesacker after opting to head straight for the tunnel at the final whistle, rather than going over to applaud the visiting supporters.
He apologised later on Saturday, writing on his official Facebook page: “Sorry I didn’t thank the fans at the end of the game.
“You have been brilliant to me and I know you travelled a long way and spent money to support us. I was upset with the result and I should have come to say ‘thank you’. I know it is a big Arsenal tradition win, lose or draw.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2013.
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