text: Louis van Gaal has found the best way to keep Manchester United fans happy is to win at home. Powering past Aston Villa was their 13th victory in 16 Premier League matches at Old Trafford and they have accumulated more points on their own territory, 40, than anyone else. No wonder after a period of irritation earlier in the season, the Stretford End are cheering regardless of whether United play quickly, slowly, pass back to goalkeeper David de Gea or boot it up to Marouane Fellaini . Wayne Rooney (centre) scored a stunning half-volley as Manchester United beat Aston Villa 3-1 in the Premier League on Saturday . Rooney put United 2-0 ahead on 79 minutes as he crashed home the Red Devils' second with his right-footed strike . United's No 10 celebrates his stunning effort at Old Trafford - his sixth goal in eight games for the club since being moved back up front . Rooney (centre right) is mobbed by his team-mates after his wonderful goal gives them a 2-0 lead against lowly Villa . Manchester United (4-3-3): De Gea 6; Valencia 7.5, Jones 7, Rojo 7, Blind 6.5; Carrick 7, Herrera 8.5,  Fellaini 6.5 (Falcao, 77 mins); Mata 6.5, Young 7 (Di Maria, 70), Rooney 7. Subs not used: Valdes, Rafael, McNair, A Pereira, Januzaj. Goals: Herrera 43 and 90+2, Rooney 79 . Aston Villa (4-4-2): Guzan 7; Hutton 5.5 (Bacuna, 45), Okore 5.5, Clark 6, Lowton 5.5; Delph 6.5, Sanchez 6, N'Zogbia 5.5 (Baker, 61), Weimann 6 (Cole, 77); Agbonlahor 5, Benteke 6.5. Subs not used: Given, Vlaar,   Gil,  Grealish. Goal: Benteke 80 . Booked: Delph . Referee: Roger East . Attendance: 75,397 . CLICK HERE to view our brilliant Match Zone - including the move for Ander Herrera's opener in Manchester United's win . They remember losing seven home games under David Moyes last season. Two goals by Ander Herrera and a special one from Wayne Rooney were enough to sweep aside lowly opponents  and took United up to third place, a point ahead of neighbours Manchester City who play Crystal Palace on Monday before they are up next at the Theatre of Dreams. Even more importantly, Van Gaal's side are now eight points clear of Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool in fifth. It means his number one priority, restoring Champions League football to Old Trafford, has nearly been achieved. In terms of performance, it was something of the old, something of the new. United used width as their tradition demands with former Villa winger Ashley Young seeing a lot of the ball on the left. But there was a lot of patience and possession too. United had 72% of the ball without a lot to show for it until the reward came after 43 minutes. Daley Blind overlapped for the umpteenth time and on this occason his cutback to Herrera was perfect for the Spaniard to drill home. The second goal didn't arrive until 11 minutes from the end but was worth the wait. Angel Di Maria, on as a substitute, chipped the ball behind Rooney, but the England striker still found a way to score. He fully extended his left luminous green boot, brought the ball under control with his first touch and then spun 180 degrees to lash home his finish on the half-volley with his right. On such goals has the Theatre of Dreams acquired its reputation. But surprisingly there was still work to do for United because David de Gea let a Christian Benteke shot squirm through his body almost immediately aftewards. Villa manager Tim Sherwood (right) shakes the hand of his United counterpart Louis van Gaal before Saturday's encounter . United felt they should have had a penalty in the opening minutes of the match at Old Trafford when  Rooney (left) fell in the box . The United skipper  appeals to the officials after being denied a penalty during the opening exchanges at Old Trafford . United midfielder Marouane Fellaini (right) challenges for the ball against Villa defender Jores Okore during the first half . Rooney attempts an overhead kick midway through the first half as both sides try to break the deadlock at Old Trafford . It was only when Herrera added his second goal that van Gaal's men were totally safe though anything other than three points would have been a travesty on the balance of play. 'I wanted to come here and compete, and I thought we did that,' said Villa boss Tim Sherwood. 'But United have players who have been round the block, they know when to speed it up and slow it down. The goal just before half-time killed us.' FA Cup semi-finalists Villa could be in the bottom three when they face QPR at home on Tuesday night in a genuine relegation six-pointer. But they will be without a string of injured players including Alan Hutton. taken off at half-time yesterday with an ankle injury, Scott Sinclair, Ashley Westwood and Kieran Richardson. 'I've never known anything like it. Ridiculous,' said Sherwood. Van Gaal was simply relieved to get United's first game after the international break out the way. 'I was afraid before this match because we were playing against a very defensive organisaton. That is not easy to create chances and score goals,' he said. United midfielder Ander Herrera (left) hit the first goal of the game just before half-time with a crisp left-footed strike . The 25-year-old (centre left) watches on as his shot heads towards the bottom of the  Villa net . Herrera wheels away in celebration after scoring his fourth Premier League goal of the season since joining from Athletic Bilbao . United winger Ashley Young celebrates Herrera's strike - after providing the assist for the Spaniard's goal . Herrera shows his emotion at scoring United's opener as he is congratulated by his Old Trafford team-mates . On two-goal Herrera, he added: 'He has always been very good technically but sometimes was not composed at the right moment. But he is developing. He has scored seven goals now.' Villa defended well in the first-half with Marcos Rojo going closest with a long-range shot that was tipped over by Brad Guzan. For long periods, Rooney cut an unhappy figure, beating the turf in frustration and arguing with referee Roger East after beind denied a penalty for Ciaran Clark's early challenge in the area where he seemed to grab the United striker by the back of the neck. If Rooney reflects on it later, maybe his over-dramatic fall to the ground persauded the official not to award a spot-kick. The deadlock was eventually broken when United passed and passed long enough for Blind to escape free down the left. The Dutchman picked out Herrera and he converted from 12 yards for his first goal at Old Trafford since September. When United couldn't get a second goal with Marouane Fellaini going closest, van Gaal sent on Di Maria and Falcao, combined value £103million. Former Villa winger Young made way to jeers from the away fans and cheers from everyone else after a decent display. Christian Benteke wheels away in celebration after pulling one back for Villa just moments after Rooney's goal . Benteke (second left) watches on as his tame shot proves too much for David de Gea (centre) in the United goal . The Belgium international punches the air in delight as the visitors made it a nervy ending for Van Gaal's men . Meanwhile De Gea is left rather red-faced at his error  allowed the visitors back into the match late on at Old Trafford . However any hope of a Villa comeback were quashed when Herrera (right) added a third in injury time . Di Maria claimed an assist for Rooney's special, pinging the ball across from the touchline. 'He has 10 assists,' pointed out van Gaal, though he baulked at being asked why the winger hadn't started. 'You think we should always pick the most expensive XI? I think not,' was the manager's retort. Surprisingly, David de Gea gave Villa brief hope to make the game 2-1. Herrera gave the scoreline a realistic edge when he burst forward into the penalty area once again to fire past Guzan. The Manchester derby next Sunday is going to be a cracker. Herrera (third right) watches on as his curled right-footed effort heads towards the bottom corner of the Villa net . United substitute Angel di Maria (left) congratulates Herrera after his injury time goal restores United's two-goal advantage . Aston Villa players look crestfallen after conceding Herrera's goal in injury time during their match at Old Trafford .
target: Ander Herrera put Manchester United ahead just before half-time with a low left-footed effort .
  Wayne Rooney doubled United's lead with a beautiful half-volley on 79 minutes at Old Trafford .
  Christian Benteke pulled one back for the visitors a minute later after a rare David de Gea error .
  Herrera added a third in the closing stages of the first half to complete the scoreline for the Red Devils .
  PLAYER RATINGS - Herrera shines as Louis van Gaal's side triumph to move above Manchester City into third .