Football: Beckham's late efforts add to United's advantage

Aston Villa 0 Manchester United 2

IF WINNING when not at your best really is a trait of true champions, Manchester United must have left Villa Park last night confident that they will take the Premiership title for the third successive season.

Two ruthless pieces of finishing in the final eight minutes, by David Beckham and Ryan Giggs, ended a spirited challenge by struggling Aston Villa and enabled Alex Ferguson's side to open a seven-point lead at the summit.

The victory was only their second in the League since Boxing Day and it flattered them. But this time, just when it looked as if Villa were about to emulate Bolton, Coventry, Southampton and Leicester in slowing United's progress, Beckham rediscovered his pre-Christmas virtuosity to score one and make the second.

Ferguson, who had played what might be termed his Coca-Cola Cup XI in Sunday's drawn FA Cup match with Barnsley, demonstrated that he places a higher priority on the Premiership by restoring four England players, including Beckham, to his starting line-up.

The United manager will no doubt see the result as vindicating his rotation of playing resources. Yet, with their European Cup quarter-final in Monaco a fortnight away, there were few signs of the form that led some good judges to make them favourites for the Continent's most coveted prize.

Villa, who themselves face a make-or-break Uefa Cup tie with Atletico Madrid at the start of next month, surprisingly recalled Savo Milosevic. The prodigal Serb had previously refused to play after incurring a club fine for spitting at supporters, but the double whammy of having his wages stopped and possibly missing out on the World Cup finals with Yugoslavia induced a change of heart.

Milosevic's name had been booed when the teams were announced, but he quickly won over his detractors by sheer endeavour. However, neither he nor Stan Collymore, who also had one of his livelier games, managed to test Peter Schmeichel. When Villa did create chances, mainly in the 20 minutes after the interval, they tended to fall to midfielders.

Ian Taylor unleashed one volley which Schmeichel turned behind via the crossbar, and also saw a diving header smothered by the Dane. Julian Joachim blazed excitably over when well placed, while Collymore was also too high following Milosevic's cross.

Andy Cole, breaking clear, had drilled United's best opportunity into the side netting before Mark Bosnich was finally called upon to parry a stinging Teddy Sheringham shot in the 77th minute. Suddenly, United were playing with pace and conviction, whereas Villa were fading.

Beckham, gliding round the outside of the defence, angled a left-footed drive high into the net for his eighth goal of the season. Then, in the final minute, he crossed low from the right for Giggs to collect his seventh at the far post after Gareth Southgate had missed his clearance.

Ferguson reflected later: "Until the last 20 minutes the game was evenly matched. But [then] our passing became so much better and back to the way I know we can play."

The Villa manager, Brian Little, drew some consolation from his side's display but added: "The sooner we can reach the safety margin - whatever it may be - then the better for us all."

Of his decision to recall Milosevic he said: "I had no hang-ups about picking him and the decision was easy for me when Dwight Yorke became unavailable through injury."

Aston Villa (4-4-2); Bosnich; Scimeca, Ehiogu, Southgate, Wright; Joachim, Taylor, Grayson, Nelson; Collymore, Milosevic. Substitutes not used: Hendrie, Collins, Byfield, Walker, Oakes (gk).

Manchester United (4-4-2): Schmeichel; G Neville, Berg, Pallister, Irwin; Beckham, McClair (P Neville, h-t), Butt, Giggs; Sheringham, Cole. Substitutes not used: Cruyff, Nevland, Clegg, Van der Gouw (gk).

Referee: M Bodenham (Sussex).