Adnan Januzaj rewards Louis van Gaal with winner as Manchester United beat Aston Villa

Adnan Januzaj was the matchwinner on his return from the Premier League wilderness as Manchester United maintained their 100 per cent start to the new season with a 1-0 success at Aston Villa.

The Belgium international rewarded boss Louis van Gaal for springing the surprise of giving him a first start in six months by firing the decisive strike in a game that was largely uninspiring and devoid of many moments of notable action.

Tim Sherwood's side set out to nullify the visitors and struggled to find a way back into the contest, although they could have had a penalty when Micah Richards appeared to be tugged back in the area by Matteo Darmian.

Memphis Depay should have sealed victory but he side-footed wide after being put clear by the inventive Juan Mata late on.

The result continues Villa's miserable home run against the Red Devils and gives van Gaal a solid if unspectacular start to the new campaign as his side move to the summit of the league for the first time since his predecessor, David Moyes' maiden match in charge.

Pre-match: Adnan Januzaj comes in for his first start in six months for Manchester United. He replaces Ashley Young. Sergio Romero continues in goal as the David De Gea saga rumbles on. Villa are unchanged from their win at Bournemouth which means Idrissa Gueye, Jordan Amavi, Jordan Ayew, Jordan Veretout and Micah Richards make their home debuts. Rudy Gestede is again on the bench.

29' - GOAL! ASTON VILLA 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED. Januzaj rewards his manager for giving him his chance by firing United into the lead. Mata slips an incisive pass into Januzaj on the left of the area, who cuts inside past Richards and slots a deflected low shot into the far corner.

38' - ASTON VILLA PENALTY SHOUT! Richards meets Westwood's left-wing corner with flying header but it screeches over the top. Hardly a surprise that it wasn't on target as Matteo Darmian appeared to man handle the Villa defender in the build up. Could easily have been a penalty!

49' - ASTON VILLA CHANCE! An error from Mata gifts the ball to Ayew who races towards the edge of the box before flashing a shot over the bar.

74' - MANCHESTER UNITED CHANCE! A big miss from Depay. Mata is again the architect as he puts the Dutch star through on goal, but his side foot effort flies narrowly past the far post.

Manchester United have won their first two Premier League matches for the seventh time. They went on to win the league twice (1993/94 and 2006/07).

Adnan Januzaj scored his fifth Premier League goal for Manchester United and his first since April 5, 2014.

Aston Villa have not beaten Manchester United at home in the Premier League since August 1995 (D7 L13).

Aston Villa have won just one of the last 40 Premier League games against Manchester United (L29 D10 W1).

For the first time since Louis van Gaal is coach at Manchester they did not concede in back-to-back away Premier League matches.

Manchester United have kept a clean sheet in all four Premier League games that David de Gea has missed since the start of 2013-14.

(Stats courtesy of Opta and Infostrada)
Matchcast: Full match stats and commentary

TALKING POINT: Should Januzaj get a run in the side? LVG brought the Belgium international in for his first start since February 11 and granted the forward the opportunity to play in his favoured no.10 role. It proved to be an inspired decision as the youngster rewarded his manager with a well-taken goal and a hard-working, if unspectacular, performance. Januzaj was hailed as United's future just two seasons ago, but with the likes of Pedro being linked with Old Trafford will he nail down a regular start from here? He may have faded and been substituted in a dour encounter, but this is still a step in the right direction - and bookies responded instantly by slashing the odds on him staying at Old Trafford to 1-6.

Juan Mata (Manchester United). Defenders often stand out in matches like this, but when Mata did manage to get on the ball he was the key protagonist. His precision pass set up Januzaj for the winner and he would have had another assist, but for Depay's late miss.

ASTON VILLA: Guzan 7, Bacuna 6, Clark 6, Richards 6, Amavi 7, Gueye 6, Veretout 6, Westwood 7, Sinclair 6, Ayew 6, Agbonlahor 6. Subs: Gestede 6, Sanchez 6.

MANCHESTER UNITED: Romero 7, Darmian 7, Smalling 7, Blind 8, Shaw 7, Carrick 6, Schneiderlin 7, Mata 7, Depay 6, Januzaj 7, Rooney 5. Subs: Herrera 6, Schweinsteiger 6, Young 6.