With a record-breaking double strike, Ruud van Nistelrooy conjured an FA Cup third round comeback worthy even of Manchester United's epic proportions at Villa Park.

But the pitch invasions which followed both of the Dutchman's late goals as a substitute brought even Sir Alex Ferguson to his feet in anger, especially in the wake of the shameful scenes at Ninian Park earlier in the day.

The Football Association will have their work cut out in not only investigating the incidents during and after Leeds' shock defeat at Cardiff, but also in taking action against United's fans who stupidly invaded the Villa Park pitch on three separate occasions.

However, while nothing will ever compare to the Champions League final of 1999, this classic cup tie - just like at White Hart Lane earlier this season - was yet another late comeback of massive significance to United's resurgent campaign.

Their manager may be going at the end of the season, but his side have not lost their resilience or sheer dogged refusal to give up a seemingly lost cause.

United were down and out with just 13 minutes left at Villa Park as their defensive Achilles heel had undermined them yet again to leave them 2-0 behind and Villa seemingly coasting to victory.

Then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struck out of the blue and that was the cue for van Nistelrooy, who has set a record by scoring in each of his past eight games for United, to take over and seize the game by the scruff of the neck.

First, he put his side level three minutes level and then, incredibly, hit the winner only 60 seconds later to leave Villa Park in disbelief.

Then again, Ferguson will know that unless his team - who will travel to Wimbledon or Middlesbrough in the next round - stop giving themselves such mountains to climb, they will eventually fall flat on their faces.

Not that anything of note happened in a dreary first half, however, as a BBC1 TV audience had to wait a while for the incredible drama to unfold.

David Beckham may have been back in the United side for only the second time in nine matches, but there was no creative spark in either team at this stage.

With van Nistelrooy starting on the bench due to a groin injury, Andy Cole sold and Dwight Yorke in the departure lounge, United were down to just Solskjaer up front.

Indeed, the only real chance of the entire first half came after 38 minutes when substitute Luke Chadwick, who had earlier replaced the injured Nicky Butt, was set clear by Solskjaer but shot wide.

Chadwick also missed a clear opening just after the break and then, when United upped the pace, Solskjaer looked to be held back by Steve Staunton in the penalty area only for referee Graham Poll to wave play on.

Within a minute, Villa were ahead completely against the run of play.

Lee Hendrie was the instigator with a measured through-ball, while Ian Taylor provided the finish as he held off Phil Neville with too much ease.

Juan Pablo Angel was adjudged to be not interfering with play as he raced back but United had far more to worry about two minutes later.

This time, it was Phil Neville's embarrassing error which cost them as he headed past stand-in keeper Roy Carroll while under little pressure from Taylor as they chased Merson's lobbed through-ball.

No sooner had the 2001 Christmas video compilation of defensive blunders been completed, than United had started work on the 2002 version.

On came van Nistelrooy to replace Chadwick but Angel came close to converting a cross by Vassell and it looked all over for United.

Famous last words.

Ferguson's side were back in the game when Solskjaer muscled his way past Olof Mellberg as he raced onto Mikael Silvrestre's through-ball to finish under Schmeichel's body.

Cue the van Nistelrooy show.

First the Dutchman swivelled onto Beckham's knock-down as he held off Staunton to put his side level. Then he capitalised on Solskjaer's ball to go round Schmeichel and finish with aplomb.

Ferguson angrily urged his team's supporters back into the stands, while referee Poll warned that any further repeat would lead to him taking the teams off.

The so-called fans instead waited until the final whistle to invade the pitch again and, while good-natured even though Beckham was submerged, it was stupid enough to cast a cloud on the occasion.

But not to take the shine away from van Nistelrooy's brilliance or United sheer dogged determination never to give in.

Is there truly no comeback beyond this side?

Teams

Aston Villa: Schmeichel, Wright (Stone 86), Mellberg, Staunton, Samuel, Hendrie, Merson (Hadji 85), Taylor, Boateng (Barry 86), Angel, Vassell.

Subs Not Used: Delaney, Enckelman.

Booked: Vassell.

Goals: Taylor 51, Phil Neville 53 og.

Man Utd: Carroll, Phil Neville, Gary Neville, Blanc, Silvestre, Beckham, Butt (Chadwick 26), Keane, Veron, Scholes, Solskjaer, Chadwick (van Nistelrooy 56).

Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Stewart, O'Shea.

Booked: Blanc.

Goals: Solskjaer 77, van Nistelrooy 80, 82.

Att: 38,444

Ref: G Poll (Tring).