ALEX FERGUSON saw his Manchester United side cement their place at the top of the table by defeating Aston Villa in front of a record 76,073 crowd at Old Trafford.

The victory was secured in the first half with Michael Carrick scoring his first goal for the club, and Ji-Sung Park and Cristiano Ronaldo were also on target. Villa pulled a goal back through Gabriel Agbonlahor but are officially in the middle of a slump and without a win in 12 games.

Ferguson made three changes to the team that defeated Martin O'Neill's side in the FA Cup last Sunday.

Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic and Paul Scholes all returned while Henrik Larsson retained his place after scoring on his debut. Villa boss O'Neill also made three changes with Thomas Sorensen replacing the hapless Gabor Kiraly between the posts. Olof Mellberg and Milan Baros were also included.

Larsson almost made the breakthrough after just four minutes after being set up by Gary Neville. The Swede peeled away from his marker to power in a header that was superbly tipped away by Sorensen.

But United did take the lead in the 11th minute after Gary Cahill's miskick six yards out. Ji-Sung Park was first to react and found the corner with his effort for his first goal of the season.

United made it 2-0 two minutes later with Michael Carrick's first goal for the club. The former Tottenham midfielder - an £18million summer signing - took a ball from Park in his stride and sent in a half-volley that went under Sorensen's body.

Villa boss O'Neill was already pacing the technical area - and little wonder. United were knocking the ball about in the middle of the park with Carrick growing in confidence.

Villa were rattled but Gareth Barry's ball into the United area in the 23rd minute gave them some hope but Osbourne headed wide.

There was a scare for United in the 26th minute when Gabriel Agbonlahor sprung the offside trap. He homed in on goal but Van der Sar stood tall to make a good block and keep United's twogoal advantage.

United went 3-0 ahead in the 34th minute after Park won possession from Gavin McCann. The Korean midfielder found Carrick and his cross was headed home at the far post for Ronaldo to score his 13th goal of the season.

O'Neill was left shaking his head in disbelief as the damage had been self-inflicted.

Villa went into the match without a win in 11 games and it showed as they were short on confidence.

United were controlling the midfield and Scholes released Carrick in the 43rd minute but he lofted his effort high over the bar. A minute later Wayne Rooney should have extended their lead after good work by Ronaldo. The England striker turned quickly on the edge of the area only to drag his effort wide of the post.

United captain Neville delivered a good ball into the area after 50 minutes but Scholes's effort failed to test Sorensen.

Villa reduced the deficit a minute later when Agbonlahor prodded home from close range after a good run and cross from Milan Baros. It was just the boost O'Neill needed if his side were to get anything out of the game.

Larsson was finding it difficult to get into the game although no one could question his work ethic as he continued to roam the pitch looking to create some space for himself.

Rooney was also 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 two weeks ago at Newcastle and was quickly into action but 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 curling shot 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 still kept Chelsea at arm's length.