Manchester United's fit again England midfielder David Beckham and Ryan Giggs sent their side seven points clear at the top of the Premiership with a late double act at Villa Park.

Beckham, who was forced to pull out of England's World Cup warm-up match with Chile last week through a hamstring injury, started and finished the move which put United ahead eight minutes from time.

He fed Teddy Sheringham, kept on running to receive the return pass and then fired an unstoppable rising shot past Villa 'keeper Mark Bosnich from 15 yards out.

It was his eighth goal of the campaign and then a minute from time Beckham turned provider when his left wing cross was turned in at the far post by Ryan Giggs.

Victory enabled the Red Devils to put their recent sticky patch behind them and move back into the driving seat in the bid to retain their title.

How Alex Ferguson's rivals will probably bitterly regret failing to take advantage of a run which had seen United collect only four points from their previous five games.

It was not a classic United performance and, apart from one glaring miss by Andy Cole, Villa had created the better chances before the late one-two from Beckham and Giggs.

But the most important thing was that United had regained that habit of winning when not firing on all cylinders with Nicky Butt an influential figure in midfield.

But for Villa there was more doom and gloom after Saturday's FA Cup reversal and the threat of being sucked into a relegation fight still hangs over their heads.

Manager Brian Little instantly brought in disgrace striker Savo Milosevic straight back into his starting line-off after he ended his one-man strike following peace talks on Monday.

His return was a necessity as Villa's leading scorer Dwight Yorke was ruled out for the second successive match with a calf injury.

He was predictably greeted with a chorus of boos in the early stages by supporters still upset at his spitting outburst at Blackburn a month ago which resulted in him being transfer-listed.

But the anger on the terraces gradually relented and the Yugoslav international was involved in most of Villa's dangerous moments in a desperately disappointing opening 45 minutes.

There was precious little goalmouth action in that period between two sides who have been struggling in the Premiership in recent matches.

United, with only one win in their previous five league outings, demonstrated the neater approach work.

But creativity was in short supply and the Andy Cole/Teddy Sheringham and Milosevic/Stan Collymore forward combinations were caught offside a combined total of 15 times in the first half.

Villa, desperate to take significant strides towards safety before returning to the UEFA Cup trail in a fortnight, managed the only shot in anger that found the target from Collymore.

The former Liverpool player made a 50 yard run but his powerful effort from the edge of the area in the 29th minutes flew straight into the arms of United 'keeper Peter Schmeichel.

The second half began with more purpose with Villa twice going close to breaking the deadlock inside the first ten minutes and Julian Joachim involved in both moves.

First his neat chip released Ian Taylor whose powerful shot was parried onto his own crossbar by a relieved Schmeichel.

Then the former Leicester player burst through the challenges of Nicky butt and Dennis Irwin into the area only to send his shot over the bar.

Villa were now looking the more likely to score and an inch perfect centre from Milosevic picked out the on-rushing Taylor.

However, his header lacked the full power that was needed and Schmeichel was able to gather low to his left.

United were now being restricted to the occasional breakaway but Cole should have given them the lead in the 68th minute.

A clearance from Grayson rebounded off Taylor into the path of Cole who found himself with a clear run at goal and only Bosnich to beat.

But he had almost too much time and after advancing into the area he drilled his shot into the side netting.

That looked like proving crucial before Beckham and Giggs spared his blushes.

Teams:

Aston Villa: Bosnich, Wright, Scimeca, Southgate, Ehiogu, Grayson, Taylor, Nelson, Milosevic, Collymore, Joachim.

Subs Not Used: Hendrie, Collins, Byfield, Walker, Oakes.

Booked: Grayson.

Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, McClair (P. Neville 45), Berg, Pallister, Beckham, Butt, Cole, Sheringham, Giggs.

Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Cruyff, Nevland, Clegg.

Booked: P. Neville.

Goals: Beckham 82, Giggs 89.

Att: 39,372

Ref: M J Bodenham (East Looe).