Fergie: Young played for penalty

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted Ashley Young went looking for the penalty which gave Manchester United the opener in a 4-0 victory over Aston Villa.

But the United boss believes a spot-kick was the correct decision.

Young was at the centre of more controversy seven days after facing accusations of diving against QPR as he went down under minimal contact once again, this time over Ciaran Clark's half-outstretched foot.

Wayne Rooney converted his 30th goal of the season from the resulting spot-kick before Danny Welbeck finished off from close range just before the break.

Rooney added the third in the 73rd minute before Nani fired home in injury time as United restored their five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

"I think he played for the penalty," Ferguson told Sky Sports 1. "If a player decides to put his foot in and he's definitely taken him down then he's fallen in to that.

"I think it was a dramatic fall (by Young) and maybe he overdid the fall but it was a penalty and there's no doubt about that.

"I don't think they can have any complaint as he has taken him.

"Good defending has always been good defending - if they read the game and keep their feet in they should really cope with that."

Despite moving further ahead of City, Ferguson denied his side are now favourites for the league title.

"There could be twists and turns yet but the name of the game is to enjoy ourselves and play with expression like we did," he said. "You can never be too confident. The name is the game is to not drop too many points.

"It was a good result for us. In the first half we played some good stuff and the third goal killed the game and we were able to see it out."

United defender Rio Ferdinand dismissed last Wednesday's loss against Wigan as a "blip" and said no-one at the club is taking their foot off the gas despite re-opening the gap at the top.

"Fair dues to Wigan, they played well and we didn't," Ferdinand told Sky Sports 1. "Today we had to put on a good performance. The onus was on us to do that at home and we did that.

"We put pressure on ourselves to win games. The pressure is on ourselves from within from the fans and boss and other results don't come into it."

Ferdinand also praised United's attacking performance following the early penalty.

"It's always nice to get an early goal," he said. "It settles the team down and makes the team more fluid.

"You saw that today - we played some really good stuff, some one-touch football and when we're in full flow like that it's great to be behind and watching it.

"We know we need to score goals and if we're on top we need to punish teams. This season we haven't done that enough but today we got a good amount.

"We want to win every game to the end of the season. That's not changed and that won't change until the end of the season."

Villa manager Alex McLeish praised his young side despite the defeat, and set a target of six points from the remaining fixtures to ensure top-flight survival.

"I'm not disappointed from the view of the young players. They gave everything," McLeish said.

"United are a world-class club side and we've got a lot of young players out there that haven't played half a reserve season before now.

"Losing the second goal before half-time was something we could have done without as it sets you back a mile. United showed their true class.

"We've got three cup finals now at home and one away at West Brom and the players have to bare their teeth in those games.

"If we play as we did in the last couple of home games we've got chance.

"I'd like to get six points and target at least six points. At United today we always believed we could get something, as we believe at any club, but it was a bridge too far for us."