FA Premiership / Manchester United 4 Aston Villa 0: Manchester United have become a team who inspire equal measures of admiration and confusion.

This equalled their biggest win of the season, yet Alex Ferguson complained they were "too casual" and Roy Keane was in one of those moods when he brooded over every misplaced pass.

Not even two goals could spare Ruud van Nistelrooy from the snake lick of Keane's tongue. David Bellion's shrug hardly appeased the captain when it was his turn to experience Keane's febrile temper and, before the two stoppage-time goals that polished this routine victory, Diego Forlan was also fixed with one of those impenetrable stares. The vein on the side of Keane's forehead was throbbing so furiously it looked like there was a worm under his skin.

Keane's mood can usually be gauged by how well United are playing and, so far this season, a first-timer at Old Trafford might wonder what all the fuss is about. It is difficult to remember a single performance when they have reached their most exhilarating peaks, but plenty when they have lacked their customary fluency.

And yet their results cannot be cavilled at: six clean sheets in eight games and 20 points out of 24. For now, United are hugely efficient rather than hugely entertaining.

Granted, a 4-0 win is nothing to be sniffed at and there was plenty to appreciate - not least the clinical finishing, a confirmation from Kleberson that he has acclimatised to this level, and a reminder from Forlan that the requirement to sign a new striker is not as acute as many people imagine.

The regal swipe of Forlan's left boot for the third goal was hardly reminiscent of the player who could not differentiate between a barn door and a set of goalposts when he first arrived.

That was quickly followed by another smart finish, courtesy of a clever assist from Kleberson. Forlan is unlikely to hurt Europe's most accomplished defenders, but he has finally won the confidence of his team-mates and it is a personal victory for the Uruguayan that he can no longer be regarded among Ferguson's worst buys.

Otherwise, Ferguson, who revealed yesterday that he has provisionally agreed the details of his new contract, identified Paul Scholes's return from injury as the highlight of the afternoon. He was less inclined to go into the reasons why Nicky Butt did not even merit a place on the bench or why Quinton Fortune, a left-winger by trade, is being preferred to John O'Shea at full back.

Villa, alas, were just as poor as had been expected - and they have gone nearly a year without an away victory.

David O'Leary's decision to substitute Juan Pablo Angel was roundly booed by the travelling contingent and, in an increasingly impatient business, Villa fans are approaching the stage where they might redirect their anger from the chairman, Doug Ellis, to the manager.

Ellis could hardly be blamed for the defensive disorganisation that allowed Van Nistelrooy space to put the result beyond any question before half-time.

For both the Dutchman's goals, Villa had plenty of players back without a decisive tackle being made. For the second, there were at least four Villa defenders who went missing when a corner picked out Ryan Giggs and, again, when his centre reached Van Nistelrooy. It says much about Villa right now that their best defender is Dion Dublin, a converted centre forward.

Equally, there was a worrying lack of conviction about Villa's front players. Angel was peripheral and Darius Vassell was unrecognisable from the player who provides such pace and penetration when in an England shirt.