Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came up trumps for the second time in four days as his late goal maintained Manchester United's eight-point lead at the top of the Premiership.

The Norwegian had scored both goals in Saturday's 2-0 home success over Ipswich Town.

And he again carried the burden of being United's only available striker admirably on his shoulders as he headed an 85th-minute decider.

It capped off an excellent move involving Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane and then David Beckham, who delivered a first-time cross which Solskjaer headed past Villa goalkeeper David James.

Victory was no more than the Red Devils deserved for their performance over the 90 minutes despite a spirited second-half reply from John Gregory's side.

United dominated the first half and it was like men against boys for much of the opening 45 minutes.

Keane and Nicky Butt gave them a grip in midfield while the runs of Giggs and Paul Scholes plus the pinpoint passing of David Beckham troubled Villa.

The home side seldom threatened during this period but United failed to turn their chances and superiority into goals.

It was a different story after the break as Villa looked more menacing and Paul Merson started to stamp his authority on the game.

They enjoyed far more possession but United still looked dangerous on the break and had enough clear-cut opportunities to earn the win they deserved.

United's are now being unbeaten on Boxing Day for 12 years, but for Villa the arrival of Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel cannot come quickly enough to pep up their attack.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who brought back Dennis Irwin and Nicky Butt in place of Phil Neville and Quentin Fortune, saw his side take charge from the start.

Solskjaer should have put them ahead after four minutes following a long clearance from Fabien Barthez.

But after controlling the ball on his chest his accuracy deserted him as he drove his shot wide with only James to beat.

It was all United with Keane and Butt establishing a supremacy in the centre of the park.

Keane had a powerful 25-yard effort deflected just over the bar and then James failed to hold on to a shot from Ryan Giggs but was able to smother the rebound from Butt.

Villa striker Gilles de Bilde, preferred in the starting line-up to the available again Dion Dublin, had the ball in the net midway through the half but referee Graham Poll had already blown for a foul on Wes Brown.

Solskjaer then headed inches wide at the near post from a Beckham cross after an excellent move involving Irwin, Gary Neville and Keane.

James earned his corn with an excellent save away to his right to keep out a header from the onrushing Scholes after another menacing centre from Beckham.

Villa posed little in the way of a threat despite the occasional piece of trickery by Paul Merson and the hard work of George Boateng.

They were restricted chiefly to long-range efforts and half-time arrived with Barthez not having had to make a serious save.

The home side also suffered a setback when central defender Alpay limped out of the action with what looked like a hamstring injury to be replaced by Mark Delaney.

Villa looked more penetrating in the second period as Merson was pushed closer to the front two - and was more menacing.

The former Arsenal star was just off target with a 25-yard shot and then Barthez produced a splendid save when called into meaningful action for the first time after 64 minutes.

Ginola sent over a pinpoint centre and the previously ineffective de Bilde sent in a powerful header which Barthez finger-tipped away to his right.

United were now less dominant but they still had their moments in attack. Gareth Southgate produced an important tackle to deny Solskjaer after Giggs had rolled the ball into his path.

Then Giggs found Scholes breaking into the area but, after turning back inside Barry, he curled his shot from 10 yards out wide of the far post.

Gregory then sent on Dublin in place of de Bilde for the final quarter. The striker sent a shot just wide from a Lee Hendrie cross but then came that Solskjaer winner just after Scholes had headed wide from six yards out.

Aston Villa: James, Wright, Southgate, Alpay (Delaney 38), Merson, Ginola, Barry (Vassell 87), Boateng, Hendrie, Stone, De Bilde (Dublin 67).

Subs Not Used: Staunton, Enckelman.

Booked: Boateng.

Man Utd: Barthez, Irwin (Wallwork 60), Brown, Gary Neville, Silvestre (Phil Neville 46), Beckham, Butt, Scholes, Keane, Giggs, Solskjaer.

Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Greening, Chadwick.

Booked: Brown, Butt.

Goals: Solskjaer 85.

Att: 40,889

Ref: G Poll (Tring).