Forget the maulings of relegation fodder like Derby or Bolton - this is the kind of result that could win Manchester United the Premier League title.

It has often been said a title-winning side is one that can win when they are not playing well.

United were definitely below their best against Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

Blame it on the newly-laid surface, the icy blustery conditions, the noon kick-off or their Champions League trip to Nantes in midweek.

Pick whatever excuse you like, but for whatever reason United only managed to perform in spurts against a very poor Villa side.

That is what makes this win all the more significant and these three points could prove crucial come May.

Even the goal was not pretty and the ball squirted through a couple of challenges before falling to Ruud van Nistelrooy who turned and scored his 28th competitive goal of a prolific season.

His strike earned United their 12th win in their last 13 league games and maintained their lead in the Barclaycard Premiership race.

Watching van Nistelrooy was Denis Law, the first king of the Stretford End, and he would have been impressed by the perseverance of this latest claimant to his crown.

Law was back at Old Trafford to unveil a 10-foot statue of himself at the old Stretford End where he is still adored.

If van Nistelrooy continues to score at his present rate of knots, then years from now he, too, could be unveiling a statue of himself.

Sir Alex Ferguson made three changes and in came Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Denis Irwin and Nicky Butt in place of Ryan Giggs, who had a knock, Paul Scholes and the ill Phil Neville.

Peter Schmeichel recovered from a shoulder injury to captain Villa, who lost Paul Merson on Friday with an ankle injury, on his first competitive return to Old Trafford.

The Dane will have busier afternoons and van Nistelrooy missed a great chance to test the legendary goalkeeper after just five minutes.

Juan Sebastian Veron, who played on the left, floated a ball over the top of the Villa defence to Roy Keane, who knocked the ball across to van Nistelrooy only for the Dutchman to drag his shot wide.

Van Nistelrooy did not need telling it was a bad miss and his frustration with himself was obvious.

David Beckham, who is going to be a dad again, created a chance for Solskjaer and his shot was deflected into the side netting and from the corner, van Nistelrooy went close.

Aside from Keane, who was his usual imperious self, the champions could not find top gear and too many passes were going astray.

Beckham tried to find a way through with two long-range shots, but only succeeded in doing a fine impersonation of England fly-half Johnny Wilkinson.

The game had none of the excitement or drama that marked their last encounter in the FA Cup in January, but then it would be asking too much to expect a repeat of that epic.

The match desperately needed a goal and on 50 minutes George Boateng obliged when he committed the equivalent of footballing suicide.

For some reason, the Villa midfielder decided to dribble the ball back towards his own box.

He was tackled by Keane and the ball went to Solskjaer, who was then challenged by Mark Delaney, before breaking to van Nistelrooy, who turned and fired home from 12 yards out.

It was the breakthrough United had needed and Beckham suddenly found his range and whizzed a shot just over.

United looked more like their old selves and Veron fired in a drive at Schmeichel before van Nistelrooy shot just wide of the far post from a position on the right.

United were in control now and Villa could hardly get hold of the ball, yet alone create a chance.

Ferguson felt so confident he sent Ronny Johnsen on five minutes from time for his first taste of action after four months out with yet another knee injury.

His confidence was justified and the United bandwagon shows no signs of slowing.

Teams:

Man Utd: Barthez, Silvestre, Gary Neville, Blanc, Irwin (Johnsen 86), Beckham, Keane, Butt, Veron, van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer.

Subs Not Used: Carroll, Scholes, Forlan, O'Shea.

Goals: van Nistelrooy 50.

Aston Villa: Schmeichel, Delaney, Mellberg, Staunton, Barry, Samuel (Dublin 79), Boateng, Hadji (Hitzlsperger 63), Stone, Angel, Vassell.

Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Balaban, Kachloul.

Att: 67,592

Ref: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).