JAVIER HERNANDEZ was Manchester United’s super sub as Alex Ferguson’s men won a thriller at Aston Villa.
The Mexican - on at half time - scored two and set up another after Andreas Weimann had fired Villa into a shock 2-0 lead on 50 minutes.
A tidy finish by Hernandez pulled one back, before his centre on 63 forced Ron Vlaar’s own goal equaliser.
But the man they call "The Little Pea" was not done there, stooping to head home three minutes from time that ensuring the points head back to Old Trafford.
It was an enthralling match at Villa Park, brought to life on the stroke of half time when Weimann smashed the ball into the roof of David de Gea’s net after good work from Christian Benteke down the left.
And the Austrian was on hand to double that lead when he turned in Gabriel Agbonlahor’s centre following good work by Stephen Ireland.
Hernandez had other ideas though, with the Mexican pulling one back eight minutes later when he snuck the ball under the on-rushing Brad Guzan.
Villa were powerless to prevent the equaliser, a raking ball from the right hit across goal by Hernandez and deflecting home via the Villa skipper.
Fergie's troops were humming, with Robin van Persie twice striking the woodwork in the space of a minute with a header and a booming drive from outside the area.
And their dominance eventually told, Hernandez exhibiting perfect movement to nod home the Dutchman’s free-kick.
It means United stretched their advantage at the top of the table to four points after 11 games ahead of second-placed Chelsea and Manchester City who host Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow.
BANG ... Andreas Weimann makes it 1-0 to Villa
United started on the offensive and left-back Enda Stevens, making his first Premier League start, blocked a shot from Antonio Valencia at the expense of a corner.
Michael Carrick was first to react to centre, but his header flew straight at Villa keeper Brad Guzan.
Former Villa winger Ashley Young, who was booed every time he was in possession, then curled a 20-yard shot just wide.
Villa responded and, from the second of three successive corners, Benteke had a shot blocked by Young inside the danger area.
GETTING SHIRTY ... Andreas Weimann celebrates his strike
The home side found themselves with a three versus two advantage on the counter-attack but Weimann attempted to find Ireland rather than shooting and the ball deflected through to De Gea.
Ireland flashed a dipping 25-yard drive just past the post after being teed up by Weimann.
Then, in first half injury-time, a superb strike from the latter put Villa ahead.
AT THE DOUBLE ... Andreas Weimann makes it 2-0
Weimann released Benteke, who shrugged off the challenge of Chris Smalling before spotting the run into the box of the Austrian Under-21 international.
His rising first-time shot from just inside the box flew past De Gea into the roof of the net.
Ferguson brought on Hernandez for Young at the start of the second half but within five minutes Weimann had doubled Villa’s lead.
AUSTRIAN TWO-DEL ... Weimann celebrates his second
Benteke’s step-over dummy allowed Ashley Westwood’s pass to find its way to Ireland, who released the over-lapping Agbonlahor.
The England striker’s precise ball across the box was smashed home by Weimann at close range.
BACK IN IT ... Javier Hernandez pulls one back
United reduced the arrears after 58 minutes when Hernandez took a flighted pass from Paul Scholes in his stride and slipped the ball past Guzan for his seventh goal of the campaign.
Scholes headed wide from a Van Persie corner while De Gea held on to Benteke’s header from a Weimann cross.
But after 63 minutes an own goal from Villa skipper Vlaar brought United level.
LEVEL UP ... Javier Hernandez sees his cross deflect in off Ron Vlaar
Hernandez was again involved as he got on the end of Rafael’s cross but his shot deflected off Vlaar past Guzan into the net.
Villa still threatened danger and De Gea had to palm away Weimann’s header from Barry Bannan’s cross.
HEADS I WIN ... Javier Hernandez breaks Villa hearts with United's third
But the woodwork twice came to Villa’s rescue in the space of 30 seconds with a Antonio Valencia header and Van Persie’s dipping shot hitting the crossbar.
Wayne Rooney picked up a knock and was replaced with 10 minutes left as United pressed for the winner.
It finally arrived in the 88th minute when Hernandez stooped down to head home Van Persie’s free-kick.
VIA THE SUN.
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