Rooney 74

Manchester United retained the Carling Cup thanks to another header from Wayne Rooney, overcoming Aston Villa in an entertaining Wembley final.

But United were also grateful to referee Phil Dowd, who failed to dismiss Nemanja Vidic, as the laws require, when Vidic fouled a goalbound Gabriel Agbonlahoor to concede a fifth-minute penalty.

James Milner drilled home the spot-kick but United drew level eight minutes later when a last-ditch tackle by Villa’s Richard Dunne on Dimitar Berbatov broke to Michael Owen, who swept the ball home unerringly from 15 yards.

Owen succumbed to a hamstring injury shortly before half-time, to be replaced by Rooney, who missed last year’s final and started on the bench this year.

But United were already on top, with Park Ji-Sung striking the inside of the post and Michael Carrick forcing a fine right-handed save from Brad Friedel, either side of half-time.

The winner arrived on 74 minutes. Antonio Valencia and the impressively hard-working Berbatov played an incisive one-two before Valencia crossed for Rooney to loop a terrific header beyond Friedel from ten yards.

Rooney hit the post with another header from another Valencia cross four minutes later. And United withstood late Villa pressure to lift the trophy.