Aston Villa 0-2 Manchester Utd

Jan 6 2008 John Mathieson Reports

FABIO CAPELLO travelled to Villa Park hoping to see some of his England stars shine - and got his wish as supersub Wayne Rooney rocketed Manchester United into round four. The England coach started his new job by watching the champions edge out Aston Villa in a dull match that only came to life in the final 10 minutes.

It had 0-0 written all over it until Portuguese ace Ronaldo lost his man at the back post and scrambled home a Ryan Giggs cross and Rooney added a second two minutes from time with a peach of a drive.

Capello won't have learned much from the displays of the nine English starters on the pitch but would have been pleased to see Rooney change the game when he was sent on with 20 minutes to go.

England defender Rio Ferdinand hailed his team-mate and said: "Wayne's a fantastic footballer. He's been out for a couple of games and looked fresh when he came on. He's a player who has bundles of energy."

Ferdinand also raved about Ronaldo and said: "It was a scruffy goal but he scores goals. No matter how they go in, it's great for us."

While some top-flight sides went out the FA Cup after fielding weakened teams Ferdinand insisted United wanted to lift the trophy.

He said: "It's up there with the top things to win. We don't go into any competition thinking we don't care about it.

"I think that's disrespectful to the tournament. If we could win that cup it would be fantastic."

Gabriel Agbonlahor gave an early demonstration of his pace to Capello with a break down the left flank before squaring a low cross towards Stilian Petrov.

But the ex-Celt's first touch was poor and United keeper Edwin van der Sar was able to collect.

A floated cross from Gareth Barry was won in the air by fit-again John Carew but his back header was easily dealt with by van der Sar.

Anderson was quick to spot a gap down the middle and made a powerful 50-yard run that ended with Scott Carson saving his left-footed drive from the edge of the Villa box at the second attempt.

Petrov was only just too high with a dipping 30-yard drive in an open start to the game.

Then Agbonlahor turned sharply but Ferdinand was alert and blocked his shot.

Carew had a rare sight of goal after turning Ferdinand when running on to a Petrov pass but drilled his low shot just wide.

Ronaldo won a free-kick 30 yards out after having his shirt tugged by Barry but Carew blocked his shot.

Van der Sar, who had missed the previous four games through injury, dealt confidently with an inswinging corner from Barry but Villa weren't looking as dangerous as usual at set-pieces.

Giggs missed a golden chance to put United ahead a minute before the interval after a boob by Carson.

The on-loan Liverpool keeper should have dealt better with a dipping drive from Ronaldo but only parried it straight to Giggs.

With the goal at his mercy the Welshman pushed his shot wide.

Villa began the second half strongly and Carew flicked on a Luke Young centre that van der Sar saved down to his right.

Michael Carrick teed up Anderson on the edge of the Villa area but his shot flew well wide.

United fans began chanting for the introduction of Rooney and got their wish.

Ronaldo slid home his effort and Rooney made the tie safe with a typical strike from the edge of the box as time ran out.