*Villa hold Man Utd*

Diego Forlan’s first Premiership goal rescued a point for Manchester United against Aston Villa.

The misfiring Uruguyuan striker finally found his range from open play with a well-taken header 13 minutes from time.

Olof Mellberg had given Villa a first-half lead and Graham Taylor’s side seemed set to secure their first away win of the season.

But United hit back after the break and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could have snatched all three points for the hosts, only to see Peter Enckelman pull off a superb save late on.

Villa boss Taylor will take heart from the performance, while Sir Alex Ferguson will be left contemplating yet more ground lost to leaders Liverpool, who are eight points clear of United.

Rio Ferdinand returned to the United line-up for the first time in a month following knee surgery.

But Ryan Giggs, initially named among the substitutes, was forced to watch the game from the stands after pulling up with a slight twinge in the warm-up.

Despite the clouds gathering over Taylor’s Villa, who started the day in 15th place, the visitors adhered to their manager’s attack-minded tactics from the outset.

Indeed, only youngster Stefan Moore’s profligacy spared United from suffering an early setback, first shooting wide and then seeing his second effort expertly saved by Fabien Barthez.

With David Beckham’s industry in midfield the exception, United lacked their customary sense of purpose early on.

And they were made to pay for their lethargy when Villa deservedly took the lead on 35 minutes.

Not for the first time this season, Laurent Blanc was the culprit.

The United defender tried to run the ball along his own goal-line but succeeded only in nodding it out for a corner.

He then failed to pick up Mellberg, who powered home a header from Mark Kinsella’s curling effort.

It was left to United’s true thoroughbreds - Beckham and Paul Scholes - to lead the charge for an equaliser.

Both went close - England captain Beckham’s left-foot shot crashing off the crossbar and Scholes’ strike fizzing just wide.

United stepped up the tempo after the interval and their endeavour was finally rewarded on 77 minutes.

Forlan rose headed home United’s equaliser from a Mikael Silvestre cross to send the Old Trafford faithful into raptures.