Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stepped off the bench to propel Manchester United into the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The Norwegian striker has a habit of scoring crucial goals and this third-round match was no exception.

He scored the winner in stoppage time, the striker's effort squirming under the body of goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly.

With Henrik Larsson marking his debut for United by finding his scoring touch, it was a good day for manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Villa looked to have secured a replay when substitute Milan Baros equalised but Solskjaer had the last word.

Larsson was quickly in the action and delivered a good ball into the area after two minutes that was headed clear by Liam Ridgewell.

United pushed forward and Ji-Sung Park's shot was deflected to safety three minutes later following a flowing move involving Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney.

Larsson then knocked the ball back to Rooney 25 yards out in the 12th minute, only for his effort to clear the bar.

Larsson was certainly looking sharp at this stage and sent a header into the arms of Kiraly in the 14th minute. He came close after Cristiano Ronaldo's effort had been cleared high into the air.

A minute later and Larsson turned quickly after being released by Rooney only for Kiraly to make the save.

Rooney should have made the breakthrough in the 21st minute but sent a weak effort into Kiraly's arms after being set up by Larsson.

Kiraly then came to Villa's rescue after 30 minutes when he did well to get a hand to Rooney's effort following some trickery from Ronaldo.

The England striker then delayed his shot a minute later after Larsson made the opening, allowing Wilfred Bouma to make a timely challenge.

Villa were again forced on the back foot in the 37th minute and Larsson looked certain to score.

While he got a sweet enough touch on the ball, Kiraly stuck out a leg and made the clearance.

United were on a roll at this stage and Larsson peeled away from his marker in stoppage time but could not get enough power on his header.

United started the second half brightly and Wes Brown should have at least tested Kiraly in the 47th minute.

The central defender got on the end of a cross from Rooney but headed over the top from inside the six-yard box.

Villa retaliated immediately, however, and Juan Pablo Angel found space inside the area, only to stray into an offside position.

Ronaldo then raced forward after being released by Giggs in the 52nd minute but pulled his 20-yard effort wide of the target.

Larsson marked his debut and announced his arrival at Old Trafford by making the breakthrough in the 55th minute.

He showed good composure after being picked out by Rooney in the area to rattle a shot beyond Kiraly.

It could have been worse for Villa three minutes later had a delightful free-kick from Giggs not come back off the bar.

Hughes then headed clear a goal-bound chip from Giggs and Ronaldo found the side-netting from an acute angle.

Villa almost drew level in the 67th minute but Gary Cahill headed wide following a corner from Gavin McCann.

Then two minutes later Osbourne got clear only for Tomasz Kuszczak to make a crucial block.

Villa drew level in the 74th minute through substitute Baros and the goal stunned United's supporters. The Czech Republic striker took advantage of some slack marking to score from close range.

Larsson was rightly given a rousing reception in the 78th minute when he was replaced by Solskjaer.

Rooney almost regained the lead for United in the 85th minute only to drag his effort wide.

But then up stepped Solskjaer to score the winner for United in stoppage time after a mistake by Kiraly, who allowed the Norwegian's shot to squirm under his body.

Teams

Man Utd Kuszczak, Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Evra, Ronaldo,Carrick (O'Shea 89), Giggs, Park (Fletcher 72), Rooney,Larsson (Solskjaer 78).

Subs Not Used: Van der Sar, Heinze.

Goals: Larsson 55, Solskjaer 90.

Aston Villa Kiraly, Hughes, Ridgewell, Cahill, Bouma, McCann,Osbourne, Petrov (Samuel 66), Barry, Angel (Baros 53),Agbonlahor.

Subs Not Used: Davis, Whittingham, Olejnik.

Booked: Cahill.

Goals: Baros 74.

Att: 74,924

Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).