United had a touch too much power and class for a Villa outfit still seeking genuine inspiration.

As manager Ron Atkinson observed last week, the FA Cup represents Villa's most realistic path Into Europe next season.

Still essentially a team in the embryonic stage, they do not yet possess the consistency to hold any great hopes of a top-four place, a fact underlined by their disappointing haul of a single point and a solitary goal from four League fixtures since Christmas.

In fairness, last night's setback was not altogether unexpected, even if United needed a piece of slack marking to claim maximum points and go top.

When Mark Hughes drove Neil Webb's curling 48th-minute cross beyond Les Sealey from 10 yards, it was the only time in the match that the Welsh international did not have either Shaun Teale or Paul McGrath at his side.

Sealey had a relatively quiet night. The goalkeeper, fresh from his weekend tantrums, could hardly have received a warmer welcome on his return to Manchester.

Indeed, Villa's central defensive fortress otherwise looked impregnable, and with the rapidly improving Bryan Small freezing out Russian winger Andrei Kanchelskis.

But with the striking trio of Cyrille Regis, Dwight Yorke and Tony Daley making precious little headway against United's resolute defenders, Villa rarely looked likely of salvaging a point once behind.

Steve Staunton, carrying a groin strain, was well below his best, while Kevin Richardson and Garry Parker functioned only fitfully. The visitors' best chances came in a first halt which they shaded. Daley's goalbound drive hitting goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel on the shoulder and Parker firing well off target from a good position.

Teenager Stephen Froggatt, a 78th-minute substitute for Staunton, also produced a late threat, skipping daintily past Steve Bruce and Neil Webb, only to see his inviting cross flash across goal.