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MICHAEL CARRICK grabbed his first United goal as Alex Ferguson's Premiership leaders beat Villa for the third time in three weeks.
Ji-Sung Park's low drive and a header from new player-of-the-month Cristiano Ronaldo - his 13th goal of the season - also netted for the dominant hosts inside the first 35 minutes.
Gabriel Agbonlahor's close-range reply was nothing more than a flattering consolation.
Midfielder Carrick, an £18million buy from Tottenham, was certainly not fazed by an Old Trafford record crowd of 76,073.
But Villa, now winless for 12 games, made it easy for them with some shocking defending.
United ran the show from the off - and Henrik Larsson almost made the breakthrough in the fourth minute after being set up by Gary Neville.
The on-loan striker peeled away from his marker to power in a header that was superbly tipped away by Thomas Sorensen.
And Fergies's side took the lead seven minutes later after Gary Cahill's miskick six yards out.
Park was first to react and found the corner with his effort for his first goal of the season.
United made in 2-0 two minutes later when Carrick took a ball from Park in his stride and sent in a half-volley that went under Sorensen's body.
There was a scare for United when Agbonlahor sprung the offside trap.
He homed in on goal but Edwin van der Sar stood tall to make a good block and keep United's two-goal advantage.
United went 3-0 ahead in the 34th minute after Park won possession off Gavin McCann.
The Korea midfielder found Carrick and his cross was headed home at the far post for Ronaldo to score his 13th goal of the season.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill was left shaking his head in disbelief at a series of errors.
United were controlling the midfield and Paul Scholes released Carrick in the 43rd minute but he lofted his effort high over the bar.
The England striker turned quickly on the edge of the area only to drag his effort wide of the post.
Villa reduced the deficit after 51 minutes when Agbonlahor scored from close range after a good run and cross from Milan Baros.
Rooney was putting in a hard shift with little reward and came close to finding the target after 63 minutes.
He carved out an opening for himself but Sorensen was equal to his effort from an acute angle.
United threw on an additional striker a minute later with Louis Saha replacing goalscorer Park.
The Frenchman has made a swift recovery from the groin injury he suffered only 12 days ago at Newcastle.
Saha was quickly into action and saw his goal-bound effort blocked on the line by Cahill as United stepped up the pressure.
Larsson came close to scoring in the 72nd minute when he got away from Liam Ridgewell on the edge of the area.
He rattled in a shot but Sorensen got down quickly to turn his effort away at the post.
A minute later Rooney was out of luck his curler from 20 yards coming back off the bar.
Larsson came off in the 79th minute and was replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who scored a late winner in the cup victory last weekend.
While United failed to add to their first-half tally the victory keeps Chelsea at arm's length.
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