Three points in the bag, but this was a performance that had most of the worst hallmarks of United's season. The Reds were pedestrian, cautious, sloppy and languid against the worst Villa side for many, many years, for whom defeat brought the confirmation of a relegation that's been inevitable for some months.
The Reds dominated the game but rarely did they come anywhere near the heights achieved in the victory at the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday night. In the first half, only the influence of the returning Wayne Rooney and the constant threat of Marcus Rashford raised United above the mediocre and they were predictably both involved in the goal that was enough to give United their win.
Functioning impressively in a deep position, Rooney sprayed the ball out wide to Valencia on the right and his cross found Rashford in the middle, who steered the ball past Guzan for the vital goal.
If we thought that would lead to a more accomplished performance from United, we were wrong. Rooney's impact on the game diminished with his tiredness and by the time he was replaced in the second half, the Reds had reverted to the all-too-familiar process of pointlessly rotating possession around the team, moves that more often than not ended in a misplaced pass.
When Gestede hit a post during a rare Villa attack late in the game, it saved United's blushes. There was still embarrassment to come, however, with the sight of United players spinning out time at the corner flag. Fine against a top side in Europe, but against easily the worst side in the Premiership it only served to emphasise what this United side has become this season. A performance as weak as this will not be good enough, you sense, against Crystal Palace in midweek and certainly not in the FA Cup semi-final next weekend.
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