Wayne Rooney produced an instant response to Sir Alex Ferguson's demand for the Manchester United striker to reach double figures this season with a double for the Premier League leaders in their win over Aston Villa.

It was the first time Rooney has scored two in a game for almost 11 months and, in front of England coach Fabio Capello, took his seasonal tally to five.

By way of a side issue, the striker's efforts also ensured United matched the efforts of the 1999 Treble-winners by matching their club record 29 league games unbeaten and at the same time maintaining a five-point advantage over Arsenal in the title race.

Not that Rooney's efforts, a brilliant goal after just 50 seconds and a tap-in during first-half stoppage time, ensured three points on their own.

Ferguson's side were also indebted to skipper Nemanja Vidic, who calmed nerves by driving home from 18 yards after Darren Bent had dragged Villa back into it.

Ferguson could hardly have timed his pre-match address better.

There were plenty who had wondered whether Javier Hernandez's recent goalscoring efforts might have earned the Mexican a starting berth alongside Dimitar Berbatov this evening.

That was clearly not part of Ferguson's thinking, choosing his programme notes to extol Rooney's wider contribution.

Yet, amid the praise was also a target for the 25-year-old to aim for. Some distance short of the 34 he managed last term but a significant improvement on the three he went into the game with.

And Rooney wasted absolutely no time in responding.

There were just 50 seconds on the clock when Edwin van der Sar launched a clearance deep into Villa territory from just outside his own area.

Rooney took one touch to control, then belted the ball past Brad Friedel, Richard Dunne's lack of pace having already been cruelly exposed.

With the exception of one Bent effort, which Van der Sar saved low to his right, United dominated thereafter.