Aston Villas relegation to the Championship has been confirmed after a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford. Marcus Rashfords seventh goal of the season, turning in Antonio Valencias low cross on 32 minutes, proved the winner in Villas 24th defeat of the season, which leaves them an insurmountable 15 points short of safety with four games left.The West Midlands club end their 28-year stay in the top-flight with one of the poorest campaigns from any Premier League side - and they went out with a wimper. The fall and fall of Villa Aston Villas fall has been years in the making, but how did it happen? Substitute Rudy Gestede went closest late on when he hit the post from a corner but United should have scored more, with Memphis Depay hitting the post in stoppage time, as Wayne Rooney made his first start in over two months after injury. Aston Villa caretaker manager Eric Black says it is a difficult day for the club after his side were relegated to the Championship Villas fate has appeared a foregone conclusion for some time, with the club sitting bottom of the division since November 2 and winning just three games all season, but that will do little to soften the blow to one of Englands biggest clubs.With victory, meanwhile, United move to within a point of the Champions League spots, with fourth-placed rivals Manchester City playing Chelsea on Saturday Night Football on Sky Sports 1HD, and they deserved their win. Marcus Rashford scored his seventh Manchester United goal of the season The hosts were buoyed by the return of Rooney, making his first start since February 13 as one of five changes to the side that won at West Ham in midweek, with boss Louis van Gaal mindful of another game against Crystal Palace on Wednesday and an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley next weekend.Rooney was lively and influential from the start and his side bossed the opening 20 minutes, with Marouane Fellaini and Chris Smalling both heading wide from corners before Juan Mata danced into the area and should have found the target from 12 yards. Juan Mata says hes delighted Wayne Rooney has returned to the Manchester United line-up following their 1-0 win over Aston Villa At the other end, Jordan Ayew and Kieran Richardson smashed speculative efforts over the bar from distance as Villa struggled to cope with Uniteds movement, and Valencia found space on the right to pick out Rashford for a well-taken opener.Villa had a debatable case for a penalty as Ayew was brought down in the box, but got nothing, and the forward continued to be a rare live-wire for the away side, almost finding the net on the stroke of half-time when a close-range shot was blocked by Smalling. Wayne Rooney made his first start in over two months following injury United then had their own shout for a penalty when Rashford was brought down by Alan Hutton, but got nothing either, before the young striker got up and was put through by Mata to flash a shot wide of the near post.Depay and Daley Blind flashed excellent crosses in front of the Villa goal as United hunted for a second, but they were fortunate not to draw the game after Gestede emerged from the bench to cause problems.The goal was gaping as the forward tried to turn home Ayews cut back, but his shot was blocked, before he volleyed against the upright with six minutes left.But Villa had to win to have any hope of embarking on a great escape and, as they have done for most of the season, they fell short of what is required to win a Premier League football match.Soccer Saturday verdict - Charlie Nicholas Charlie Nicholas says Aston Villa were no threat to Manchester United at Old Trafford, despite only one goal seperating the teams I thought it was a stroll in the park for Manchester United. They didnt pass it quick enough, didnt get the ball into Rashford early enough. Rooney came back and enjoyed pinging the ball about but never really looked a threat in front of goal. For the first 20-25 minutes he did not really link up with Rashford and it was all a bit slow and deliberate. But, once he started spraying the balls around, you could see he was starting to enjoy it. He comfortably felt his way back into the game. The fourth spot is vital for Manchester United and I thought they could have filled their boots today but they just strolled through the game.Villa looked like a team who need the season to end now, understandably so. They had a little bit of fight, when Gestede came on. He hit the post and he should have scored just before that. Ayew up front gave United a bit of work. Looking at the group they have that might be saleable, I think Ayew would be an asset, but they have got big decisions to make defensively. They have got a lot to do in a short space of time Louis van Gaal wasnt pleased with the tempo of Manchester Uniteds football, despite beating Aston Villa 1-0 Player ratingsMan Utd: De Gea (7); Valencia (7), Smalling (7), Blind (7), Rojo (6); Schneiderlin (6), Fellaini (6), Mata (8), Rooney (8), Depay (7); Rashford (7)Subs used: Martial (6), Lingard (6), Fosu-Mensah (6)Aston Villa: Guzan (6); Hutton (6), Lescott (6), Clark (6), Cissokho (6); Bacuna (5), Westwood (5), Gana (7); Richardson (6), Ayew (7), Sinclair (5)Subs used: Gestede (7)Man of the Match: Wayne Rooney Luis Arraez Jersey . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. Wholesale Twins Jerseys . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. https://www.cheaptwins.com/ . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Max Kepler Jersey . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. Trevor May Jersey . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. A UFC welterweight fight between former champion Robbie Lawler and Donald Cerrone is official for UFC 205 in New York on Nov. 12, according to UFC president Dana White.White confirmed the bout to Clevelands 92.3 The Fan on Wednesday. Sources told ESPN.com last week that the UFC was targeting the matchup for its debut at Madison Square Garden, but contracts had not been finalized.Lawler (27-11) is coming off a first-round knockout loss to Tyron Woodley at UFC 201 in July. The defeat, his first since 2014, cost him the 170-pound title. His reign included two action-packed defenses against Rory MacDonald and Carlos Condit.Fighting out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, the 34-year-old Lawler has won 20 professional fights via knockout.Cerrone (31-7) will remain in the welterweight diivision for now, despite recent talk of a potential return to 155 pounds.ddddddddddddCowboy moved up a weight class in 2016 and has gone 3-0, including a TKO finish over Rick Story at UFC 202 in August.The 33-year-old Cerrone has the third-most wins in UFC history with 18. He trails only middleweight champion Michael Bisping and Georges St-Pierre, who each have 19.ESPN.com ranks Lawler the No. 3 welterweight and Cerrone the No. 5 lightweight in the world.The UFC has not announced a main event for the Nov. 12 pay-per-view event. It will mark the promotions first event in New York since a 1997 state ban on professional mixed martial arts was lifted earlier this year. ' ' '