Manchester United 3 - 1 Aston Villa

Man Utd 3-1 Aston Villa

Updated: January 13, 2007, 1:06 PM ET

Michael Carrick celebrated his first goal for Manchester United as Sir Alex Ferguson's side cemented their place at the top of the table with a 3-1 home win over Aston Villa.

The #18million buy from Tottenham may have taken time to open his account, but the midfielder is certainly not fazed by the big stage as Old Trafford hosted a record crowd of 76,073, who roared United towards putting the squeeze on Chelsea.

• Fergie not bothered by BluesHowever, Villa made it easy for them with some shocking defending and have now failed to win in 12 games.

United winger Cristiano Ronaldo was presented with his Barclays player-of-the-month award before kick-off and he marked the occasion by taking his season's tally to 13 goals, with Ji-Sung Park also on target.

United ran the show from the off and Henrik Larsson almost made the breakthrough in the fourth minute after being set up by Gary Neville.

The on-loan striker peeled away from his marker to power in a header that was superbly tipped away by Thomas Sorensen.

United took the lead in the 11th minute after Gary Cahill's miskick six yards out. Park was first to react and found the corner with his effort for his first goal of the season.

United made in 2-0 two minutes later, with Carrick finally showing his scoring prowess. He took a ball from Park in his stride and sent in a half-volley that went under Sorensen's body.

There was a scare for United in the 26th minute when Gabriel Agbonlahor sprung the offside trap.

He homed in on goal, but Edwin van der Sar stood tall to make a good block and keep United's two-goal advantage.

United went 3-0 ahead in the 34th minute after Park won possession off Gavin McCann. The Korea midfielder found Carrick and his cross was headed home at the far post for Ronaldo to score his 13th goal of the season.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill was left shaking his head in disbelief at a series of errors.

United were controlling the midfield and Paul Scholes released Carrick in the 43rd minute, but he lofted his effort high over the bar.

A minute later Wayne Rooney should have extended their lead after good work by Ronaldo. The England striker turned quickly on the edge of the area, only to drag his effort wide of the post.

Villa reduced the deficit after 51 minutes when Agbonlahor scored from close range after a good run and cross from Milan Baros.

Rooney was putting in a hard shift with little reward and came close to finding the target after 63 minutes. He carved out an opening for himself, but Sorensen was equal to his effort from an acute angle.

United threw on an additional striker a minute later, with Louis Saha replacing goalscorer Park following the Frenchman's swift recovery from the groin injury he suffered only 12 days ago at Newcastle.

Saha was quickly into action and saw his goal-bound effort blocked on the line by Cahill as United stepped up the pressure.

Larsson came close to scoring in the 72nd minute when he got away from Liam Ridgewell on the edge of the area. He rattled in a shot, but Sorensen got down quickly to turn his effort away at the post.

A minute later Rooney was out of luck his curler from 20 yards coming back off the bar.

Larsson came off in the 79th minute and was replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who scored a late winner in the cup victory last weekend.

While United failed to add to their first-half tally, the victory keeps Chelsea at arm's length.

Fergie not bothered by Blues

Sir Alex Ferguson saw his Manchester United side keep Chelsea at arm's length and insisted he was not concerned about the champions' form.

Goals from Michael Carrick - his first for the club - Ji-Sung Park and Cristiano Ronaldo defeated Aston Villa.

The 3-1 victory meant United remain six points clear of Chelsea, who beat Wigan 4-0 to end their recent patchy league form, and in the driving seat to win the Premiership title.

With Arsenal next up, Ferguson said: 'The important thing is for us to do our job.

'This is another one on our list of games. We now have 15 left.

'We want to go to Arsenal and get the result we want. That is the only thing we can think about.'

Ferguson was pleased to see Carrick get off the mark following his £18million move from Tottenham last summer.

He found the target with a half-volley after being set up by Park for United's second goal.

Park had made the breakthrough following a dreadful error from Gary Cahill, who miskicked in the six-yard area.

Ferguson said: 'It is good for Carrick and Park as well to get goals.

'We now have quite a few scorers in our ranks, which is pleasing.

'We are just waiting for Gary Neville to come up with one.'

Ronaldo celebrated being presented with his Player of the Month award by scoring his 13th goal of the season.

He headed home at the far post following Carrick's cross after Park had dispossessed Gavin McCann.

Ferguson said: 'We did the sensible things well, like keeping possession at the right time.

'The good thing is we are creating chances and scoring goals.'

Wayne Rooney was again out of luck, seeing one effort come back off the crossbar.

Ferguson said: 'He needs a goal to give him confidence.

'But he is working hard and enjoying his football. I have no concerns about him.

'There was good penetartion by us and good passing up front.

'Henrik Larsson had another marvellous game. His link-up play is fantastic as is his movement.'

Villa pulled a goal back through Gabriel Agbonlahor after a good run and cross from Milan Baros.

But first-half errors cost them dearly and they have now failed to win in 12 games.

It was their third defeat at the hands of United in three weeks and manager Martin O'Neill said: 'We did not help ourselves by conceding two poor goals.

'United did not need to do a great deal of work to put them in the net.

'Any sort of plan we had was thrown aside. But regardless of that we were well beaten.

'We gave ourselves a bit of a chance after half-time and got ourselves into the game.

'United were much too good for us while there is some inexperience in our side.

'We are on a difficult run but eventually it will stand the younger players in great stead.

'But let's not be fooled. We have a long way to go and I knew that at the start of the season when we were gathering a few points.'