Even when not at their best, Manchester United continue to prosper. This was low-key, often dull, fare but this morning the defending champions stand four points clear of their closest rivals Blackburn and, perhaps more significantly, 10 points in front of fourth-placed Arsenal.
Aston Villa will rue a catalogue of missed opportunities but United will possibly be lamenting the same failure after a night of profligacy. Worryingly for those who would see United fail, this signalled a return, in earnest, to the domestic arena.
The real prospect of glory on foreign soil lies ahead and the manager Alex Ferguson, never one to pass up the chance to indulge in psychological fisticuffs, has openly admitted he would like to see another title gift-wrapped before next March's Champions League quarter-finals.
Although lacking the suspended Paul Scholes, Ferguson was able to usher Nicky Butt back into midfield. Villa were not so fortunate with their goalkeeper Mark Bosnich on international duty and the striker Dwight Yorke injured.
Even so, Villa acquitted themselves admirably in the early stages, which saw United enamoured with, and subsequently almost totally reliant upon, the less-than-subtle lofted pass from central midfield.
It was, perhaps, United's remarkable self-belief which was almost their undoing during this ragged period, for by pushing so many men forward they often hinted at a disregard for safety.
Had their finishing been slightly crisper Villa, improbably, could have led by two goals as early as the eighth minute. Shortly after Simon Grayson had sliced his shot wide when well placed, Ian Taylor sprinted clear to pick up one of Stan Collymore's more intelligent passes.
But Taylor was to lose out in the game of brinkmanship into which Peter Schmeichel enters so willingly. By racing from the sanctuary of his line, Schmeichel dramatically reduced Taylor's options and when he drew back his boot in anger, his low shot struck, almost inevitably, not the United net but the United goalkeeper.
Thereafter, despite some ill-discipline, United's football was often mesmerising, intricate in its construction yet executed with breathtaking ease.
It was a timely reminder that football is a simple game which the less efficient strive to make look difficult.
Nonetheless, it was almost refreshing to learn that even a team as accomplished as the defending champions can turn up a collective nose at the most presentable of opportunities.
Ryan Giggs struck a post and had a shot hacked off the line by Ugo Ehiogu and Ole Solskjaer drove tamely into the legs of the goalkeeper Michael Oakes as Villa toyed with the idea of capitulating.
The second half threatened to present itself as a virtual mirror image of the first until, six minutes in, United underlined a growing supremacy by scoring a splendid goal.
Sublimely created though it was, Villa had only themselves to blame for a basic lack of cohesion in central defence, courting disaster when the opposition is of such quality.
Andy Cole's delicately lifted pass forward was stunning and although Giggs did drive his shot dangerously close to the tumbling Oakes it still flew home.
Solskjaer should have moved the game beyond Villa's reach seven minutes later but, uncharacteristically, he sent his header into the goalkeeper's body after reaching a Teddy Sheringham cross at the back post.
The evening was drifting away from Villa, although Sheringham did his level best to guarantee it continued to hold a competitive edge, steering wide a 65th minute penalty, awarded apparently for handball.
Manchester United: Schmeichel, G Neville, Johnsen, Pallister, Beckham, Butt, Cole, Sheringham, Giggs, P Neville, Solskjaer (McClair 85). Subs Not Used: May, Van Der Gouw, Berg, Curtis. Booked: Cole. Goals: Giggs 52.
Aston Villa: Oakes, Charles, Wright, Ehiogu, Staunton, Southgate, Taylor, Draper, Grayson (Joachim 70), Milosevic (Hendrie 70), Collymore. Subs Not Used: Nelson, Scimeca, Ghent. Booked: Milosevic, Grayson.
Referee: P Durkin (Portland).
