First of all, the two teams for this evening’s game.

Javier Hernandez drops down to the United bench, while Paul Scholes starts.

For the home side, 22-year-old Enda Stevens will be tasked with keeping an eye on Antonio Valencia. Tough start for the Dubliner…

Aston Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Stevens, Weimann, Westwood, Ireland, Bannan, Agbonlahor, Benteke
Subs: Given, El Ahmadi, Albrighton, Holman, Delph, Bowery, Williams

Man Utd: De Gea, Da Silva, Ferdinand, Smalling, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Young, Rooney, van Persie
Subs: Lindegaard, Anderson, Hernandez, Welbeck, Cleverley, Fletcher, Buttner

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)

We have boos for Ashley Young, playing against his former side. Apart from that, little to report in the opening minutes.

First chance of the game, as Young cuts in from the left but curls his effort around Brad Guzan’s post.

Barry Bannan’s free-kick is dangerous, and goes out for a corner as Patrice Evra goes down under a Ron Vlaar tackle.

It leads to a good spell from Villa, with Christian Benteke going close but seeing the ball taken off his toe by Rio Ferdinand.

Evra, who had been taken off for treatment, is back on the pitch.

Villa waste two decent chances. First, Andy Weimann fails to pick out either Stephen Ireland or Benteke… A couple of moments later, the young Belgian striker gets caught in two minds in front of David de Gea’s goal and the chance goes begging.

Oddly enough, Villa only have 30% possession but seem to have been the far more threatening side.

Ashley Westwood clatters into Young and gives away a free-kick. That could easily have been a booking.

Brett Holman and Gabby Agbonlahor both miss a cross from Benteke, who looks lively.

Incidentally, no Darren Bent even on the Villa bench. Lambert clearly just doesn’t rate him. Could make a useful Liverpool signing in January, or even Arsenal if Giroud goes back to being goalshy.

Villa defending well. United’s passing is errant.

It’s one of those games that gives the illusion of being free flowing, but there’s nothing going on. Even Twitter seems disinterested.

Stephen Ireland fires an attempt wide after good work by Weimann. That actually marks Villa’s first serious effort of any description.

There has been one shot on target in the entire half so far, from United, but I must have been picking my nose because I can’t recall it.

Rooney shoots from distance, easily gathered by Guzan.

We’ve just heard the first boos for Young in about 15 minutes. To say he’s been quiet is an understatement.

1-0 to Aston Villa!

United attack but Aston Villa manage to clear the ball to Benteke. The striker makes a completely mug out of the returning Chris Smalling before crossing for Andi Weimann, who thumps the ball past, or through, the badly positioned de Gea.

No more than Villa deserved, and it’s half-time.

We’re back for the second half. Ashley Young has been taken off after a poor first half, replaced by Javier Hernandez.

2-0 to Aston Villa!

The simplest of finishes from Weimann, who lashes the ball home after brilliant work in setting him up by Ireland and Agbonlahor. Weimann has now doubled his entire Premier League tally.

Trap should definitely have a look at this Stephen Ireland lad, maybe see if he has an Irish granny?

Anyway, Villa’s midfielder has been booked for a nasty foul on Smalling. Otherwise he’s been superb today.

United have a goal back!

Javier Hernandez has just scored his sixth goal in five games, as he takes a lofted Scholes cross down brilliantly. The ball gets stuck under the Mexican’s feet but he somehow squeezes it through the legs of Guzan and into the net.

A fine finish from, arguably, the best finisher in the league.

He’s only gone and done it again!

Rafael loses Agbonlahor and crosses for Hernandez to volley home. The ball struck Ron Vlaar on its way in but it should go to the Manchester United striker, who has made a little bit of a difference since replacing Young.

Weimann is denied the hat-trick by a great de Gea save! It all came from a wonderful, curling cross from Gabby Agbonlahor.

A far, far better second half here.

Lowton feeds the ball in from the Villa right, deep, but Smalling gets an important intervention in on Benteke. Good work from the young defender.

As Tom Cleverley replaces Scholes, we can tell you that Chicarito’s second goal was, in fact, a Vlaar own goal.

Back on the pitch, van Persie hits the woodwork twice! First, he almost breaks the crossbar in two with a header from a Rooney corner, and then his curling effort also hits the frame of Guzan’s goal.

Surely it won’t be long?

Anderson is getting ready to come of for Wayne Rooney as United press and press. Roughly 15 minutes left in the game.

Rooney has a word with Ferguson as he leaves the pitch, while Stephen Ireland has been replaced by Karim El Ahmadi.

Weimann comes off to be replaced by Brett Holman.

Rafael tries a shot from distance but it’s off target.

Ten minutes (ish) remaining, assuming the ref adds about three or four minutes of Time, a fragrance by Alex Ferguson.

Fabian Delph replaces Bannan as… United take a 3-2 lead!

Robin van Persie has been anonymous for all but two minutes of this game, but he floats in a brilliant free-kick and Hernandez outfoxes the Villa defence to head past Guzan. Cruel on the home side.

As the clock ticks down, Hernandez is named as man of the match. He’s probably the best poacher in the Premier League since Francis Jeffers turned out to be completely rubbish.

And that’s that!

Despite taking a 2-0 lead, Aston Villa could not stop Javier Hernandez from inspiring United to a 3-2 win. Hernandez is laying claim to the match ball despite  the fact that his second will go down as a Vlaar own goal, but that doesn’t really matter.

A fine game, and thanks for keeping up…