'Manchester United rose to third in the Premiership last night, keeping Chelsea just about within sight with a fine goal from Ryan Giggs. The Welshman was the outstanding player on view, giving himself greater leverage in his contract negotiations with a well-taken first-half strike.
The one concern for United was a lacklustre contribution by Wayne Rooney, who appeared distracted by the possibility of disciplinary action by the Football Association today following his raised hand on Bolton Wanderers' thespian Tal Ben Haim. Rooney failed to finish last night's game, injuring a thigh muscle.
Giggs has always had fond memories of Villa Park, notably that unforgettable FA Cup semi-final dribble against Arsenal five years ago that culminated with a bare-chested lap of honour. Such was his dashing form in the opening half-hour last night, the dark-haired flier embarking on a series of thrilling runs at Villa's defence, that more than a few visiting fans must have been tempted to place their shirts on him scoring.
Giggs, given greater licence to attack by Sir Alex Ferguson's switch from 4-1-4-1 to 4-3-3, duly scored four minutes before the break, seizing on the quick thinking of John O'Shea down the right and hesitancy in the Villa ranks. Giggs began the move, spiriting the ball wide to O'Shea, who broke off from watching Carlton Cole, the disappointing left point of O'Leary's two-tiered three-man attack.
Here the Irish full-back found momentary time and space to venture upfield, bringing down Giggs's pass before quickly lifting it back in to the Welshman's path. Davis, caught out briefly here, failed to intercept the ball as it passed him, allowing Giggs a glimpse of goal.
The finish was sweet, drilled irresistibly past Thomas Sorensen, the goalkeeper given no chance such was the velocity and accuracy of the strike. And so another twist was given to the long-running saga of Giggs's contract negotiations. But his third Premiership goal of the season was the least Giggs deserved. He was terrific last night.
He had already threatened Sorensen's goal twice. On the first occasion Giggs had glided through the middle, racing away from the promising Mathieu Berson only for his shot to deflect to safety off Ulises de la Cruz. Giggs merely redoubled his efforts at forcing a breakthrough. As the hugely vocal away support warned Villa that "Giggs will tear you apart again", the United No 11 ran on to a clever reverse pass from Darren Fletcher and shot goalwards only to be denied by a wonderful tip-over save from Sorensen.'