3-1

Villa produced a glorious first half attacking display to destroy Manchester United in front of an opening day full house at Villa Park.

Brian Little’s reshaped outfit turned on the style to establish a three goal lead against a depleted United side.

Ian Taylor opened the scoring on 14 minutes, with a delightful end to end move setting up Mark Draper for the second.

New boy Draper was also involved in the 37th minute move which ended with Savo Milošević being pulled down and Dwight Yorke converting the penalty.

Sadly Milošević’s involvement ended six minutes after the restart the £3.5 million record signing being carried off on a stretcher after a nasty collision with full back Dennis Irwin.

There was no question about Villa superiority in the opening stages. Yorke put a low cross too near to Schmeichel and when Milošević cleverly back heeled Draper’s 25 your drive was blocked on the edge of the area by Sharpe.

The visitors first threat came from the unlikeliest of sources in the 13th minute, Bosnich lost concentration as he moved to collect Ugo Ehiogu’s throw in and the ball rolled past him and went tantalisingly towards goal.

Thankfully for the keeper, it carried little momentum, and he was able to rush back and save his blushes.

Having escaped that embarrassment Villa deservedly stormed in from in the 14th minute.

Wright and Yorke combined cleverly down the left with the Trinidad and Tobago international delivering a powerful cross from the by line which took a deflection beyond the far post.

Charles collected the loose ball and drilled it low and hard to the near post where Taylor got in front of Schmeichel to make a vital contact and prod it over the line.

United produced the first serious threat of their own in the 23rd minute and again Ehiogu had the misfortune to be involved, this time the towering defender slipped as he attempted to cut out a Scholes through ball allowing Butt to charge into the penalty area and hit a tremendous right foot drive which flew just too high.

Once again however Villa responded to a moment of adversity in the best possible fashion and three minutes later they were two up.

The goal stemmed from a United attack which broke down went Wright made a superb sliding tackle to halt Phil Neville on the home byline.

Wright quickly got to his feet and played the ball forward to Draper who in turn switched it forward to Yorke.

With United back pedalling furiously, Yorke’s pass picked out Milošević, and the £3.3 million record signing played it square to Draper who had made a strong run from midfield.

The former Leicester player had time to pick his spot, leaving the unguarded Schmeichel with a low right foot drive from just inside the penalty area.

It was turning out to be a gala occasion for Little’s men who increased their lead to 3 nil with a 37th minute penalty.

Draper was again instrumental in the build up, his delightful chip forward sending Milošević racing into the dangerzone.

The new striker held off Pallister’s challenge and was just about to bring the ball under control when he was sent sprawling by the diving Schmeichel.

United protested that the challenge had been fair but referee Hart pointed straight to the spot and Yorke calmly sent the keeper the wrong way with a cool right foot penalty.

Just before half-time Villa piled on the agony when a move of at least a dozen passes which had United chasing shadows until Parker unceremoniously brought down Milošević.

Half-time Aston Villa three; Manchester United nil.

A shellshocked United started the second half with Beckham taking over from Phil Neville at right back.

Draper nearly caught the visitors on the hop again with a magnificent drilling cross which Schmeichel held acrobatically as Milošević moved in menacingly.

Sadly, the Serb striker was able to make little further impact on the match, being stretchered off in the 50th minute after colliding heavily with Irwin as he charged through the middle.

Johnson took over as substitute - but not before Bosnich had preserved Villa’s three goal advantage with a fabulous reflex save.

Beckham’s cross from the right was flicked on by Scholes, and Keane powered his way forward for a thumping headers which was heading for the top corner until Bosnich brilliantly stretched to tip it over.

A challenge by Townsend on on Pallister left the United central defender needing treatment. He rejoined the action after a few minutes but it was clear he would be unable to continue with O’kane taking over in the 59th minute.

Despite having a little hope of pulling the game round United look dangerous on occasion and Bosnich again came to Villa’s rescue in the 62nd minute.

Sharpe moving onto a loose ball 30 yards out spotted the keeper off his line and cleverly floated the ball goalwards.

Once again however Bosnich was equal to the task, leaping backwards to catch the ball just when it looked certain to go in.

The visitors finally got the goal they deserved on 85 minutes Beckham’s 25 yard shot taking a deflection and dipping over a stranded Bosnich.

Three minutes from time Scimeca made his Villa first team bow replacing Yorke.

Argus man of the match: Draper