'Manchester United are clinging on to the coat tails of Chelsea in the Premiership title race after Ryan Giggs struck for the second time in 48 hours to secure a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side will enter the New Year nine points adrift of the Blues but will believe they can make inroads into that lead in 2005 if Giggs maintains his current form.
The Welsh international looks as if he has gained a new lease of life and on this form it is imperative the Red Devils find a solution to the deadlock over a new contract for the winger. United have now collected 22 points from their last eight matches with only a last-gasp equaliser by Fulham denying them a maximum haul.
They were not at their imperious best but were still in control for long periods against an injury-ravaged Villa. United seized the initiative from the first whistle and Wayne Rooney soon seized on to a pass from John O'Shea after a mistake by Liam Ridgewell. The England striker's low shot was struck firmly across Villa 'keeper Thomas Sorensen but he was able to save albeit at the second attempt.
Villa rallied briefly and midfielder Lee Hendrie tested Roy Carroll who was forced to parry his curling effort around the post after being found in space by Nolberto Solano's pass. But it was a brief lull in United's dominance with Giggs looking so full of confidence. One mazy run ended with a left-footed drive which deflected off Ulises De la Cruz and landed on the top of Sorensen's goal. Then Sorensen had to react sharply to tip Giggs' 12-yard drive over the bar.
It was now virtually one-way traffic towards the Villa goal and a Scholes shot was deflected wide after a poor clearance by Ridgewell had set up the opportunity. Carroll atoned for his own error after 39 minutes when his throw-out was deflected into the path of Solano.
Then after 41 minutes United took the lead through a move started and finished by the impressive Giggs. He played the ball out to John O'Shea on the right flank, then moved forward to take the return pass before drilling his left-footed shot past Sorensen.'