UNITED recovered from an early scare to ease to victory over nine-man Aston villa. The home side had taken the lead through Gabriel Agbonlahor, but United big guns Wayne Rooney (two) Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs ensured the Reds jumped back up to second in the Premier League table.

Wayne Rooney was left "gutted" after England threw away a single-goal lead in Moscow last night.

Sir Alex Ferguson has been pleasantly surprised by the way Nani has settled since moving from Sporting Lisbon, and the Reds boss predicts a bright future ahead for the Portuguese winger.

The 20-year-old has played in 11 of United's opening 13 fixtures in 2007/08, seven of which have been starts.

Manchester United's attacking trio of Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney put their side top of the table for the first time this season.

United suffered two more injuries in the first half when Nemanja Vidic and John O'Shea had to go off, two substitutions that disrupted the champions' impressive early rhythm.

Wayne Rooney's first goal of the season fired Manchester United to victory against Roma at Old Trafford. Rooney broke the deadlock with a sharp 15-yard finish after he was set up by Nani to leave United three points clear at the top of Group F.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits he was shocked by the manner his team were dumped out of the Carling Cup by Coventry City last night.

"I was absolutely flabbergasted by that performance," said Ferguson.

"I did not expect that at all. I am not interested in giving reasons or mitigating circumstances. It was just a very bad performance."

Championship side Coventry sprung a major surprise by sending a re-shuffled Manchester United crashing out of the Carling Cup at Old Trafford.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson changed his entire team from Sunday's win against Chelsea and paid the price.

Manchester United winger Nani admitted it was a "special feeling" as he helped defeat his old team Sporting Lisbon 1-0 last night.

"It is a very special feeling, it was here that I played great games and I developed. It was very good to come back and see this stadium full, with two teams who play good football," said Nani.

Owen Hargreaves has assessed the season so far, and is looking forward to getting on the pitch with Ronaldo and Rooney - something he hasn't been able to do yet because of injury and suspensions.

"Any time you don't have players like Louis, Wayne and Cristiano it is difficult. They are three of the best players in England," said Owen.

Manchester United managed to break down a stubborn Sunderland to record a second successive 1-0 victory.

Roy Keane, on his return to Old Trafford, had his Sunderland side organised and solid but on 70 minutes the deadlock was finally broken by French striker Louis Saha.

United winger Nani whipped in a corner and the powerful striker got himself in front of Craig Gordon to head home.