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 Clearance Football Jerseys Throwback . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. Custom Football Jerseys Throwback . 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Not even one week into the season and were already blown away by Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid and Patrik Laine. Way too early to identify real trends, but it wont stop us from ranking every single team from top to bottom. So get ready.1. (last week: 1)?Pittsburgh Penguins, 2-0-0The Penguins are perfect to start the season without Sidney Crosby in the lineup. What a start for Marc-Andre Fleury, who has stopped 73 of 77 shots in winning two in a row while Matt Murray recovers from a broken thumb.2. (12) St. Louis Blues, 3-0-0The Blues have looked good. They got a little nicked up in their win Saturday against the New York Rangers, so thats worth watching, but so far so good for a St. Louis team that has had significant turnover the past two seasons.3. (2)?San Jose Sharks, 2-0-0The Sharks have started out as they finished last season, on a high note, with two wins in which they allowed just three goals. Their victory over the Blue Jackets on Saturday starts a five-game road trip for a team that a year ago was the leagues best away from home.4. (4)?Tampa Bay Lightning, 2-0-0The Lightning have fallen behind in each of their first two games, but their depth has saved them in both cases. They are setting the tone early for a team many like to win the Atlantic.5. (9) Florida Panthers, 2-0-0Speaking of winning the Atlantic,?Roberto Luongo starts the season with back-to-back wins and the defending division champs are undefeated without Jonathan Huberdeau and Nick Bjugstad, who are both out long term.6. (26) Ottawa Senators, 2-0-0Hey, lets give the Senators some due as they open with two wins. The good news is the offense has been there with nine goals. Allowing seven over the same time period isnt a recipe for long-term success, though.7. (3) Washington Capitals, 1-0-1The Capitals bounced back after their shootout loss to the Penguins on banner night in Pittsburgh with a win over the New York Islanders in their home opener.?Daniel Winnik?had both goals as Caps depth reveals itself early.8. (30) Vancouver Canucks, 2-0-0The Canucks sneaked in an opening-night win over the Flames, in spite of an own-goal by Loui Eriksson, then roared back after being down three against the Hurricanes. Nice start for a team most picked to be a bottom-feeder.9. (29) Toronto Maple Leafs, 1-0-1Speaking of giving credit where its due. The Leafs gave away an extra point in OT loss to start season in Ottawa, but bounced back to win handily against Boston on Saturday. And, oh yeah,?Auston Matthews?is pretty good.10. (8) Montreal Canadiens, 1-0-1Still no?Carey Price as the Canadiens, in front of Al Montoya, start the season 1-0-1, including a shootout loss to Ottawa on Saturday.11. (19) Philadelphia Flyers, 1-0-1The Flyers have looked good in two road games, taking three of four points after losing in OT to Arizona on Saturday to follow up an opening-night win in Los Angeles. They are getting production from up and down the lineup, including three points from rookie?Travis Konecny.12. (23) Edmonton Oilers, 2-1-0Impressive start for?Connor McDavid, with six points in twin wins over the Flames to start, but a disappointing lopsided loss Sunday at home to the Sabres highlights ongoing goaltending and defensive issues for the Oil.13. (7) Nashville Predators, 1-1-0The?P.K. Subban era in Nashville is off to a rollicking start, although they dropped the second of back-to-back efforts against the Chicago Blackhawks with Pekka Rinne?taking the night off Saturday. Subban has done a little bit of everything, including producing a goal and an assist.14. (6) Dallas Stars, 1-1-0The Stars are very Stars-like to start, scoring nine times in two games but giving up eight -- which in large part explains their record.dddddddddddd15. (17) Arizona Coyotes, 1-0-0Youthful Yotes looked good in an entertaining win over the Flyers in their home opener. But it was veteran?Mike Smith?in goal who helped secure the victory.16. (27) Colorado Avalanche, 1-0-0Good on the Avalanche, who did not lose in the preseason, for staying on task while edging the Stars 6-5 to give rookie head coach Jared Bednar his first NHL head-coaching win.17. (15) New York Rangers, 1-1-0The?Mika Zibanejad?deal is already paying dividends, as the former Ottawa Senator has four points in two games.18. (5) Chicago Blackhawks, 1-2-0The Blackhawks avoided going 0-3 to start the season with a win Saturday over the Predators as?Richard Panik collected his first NHL hat trick against backup Marek Mazanec.19. (13) Minnesota Wild, 1-1-0The Wild get their first win for new coach Bruce Boudreau, over the Winnipeg Jets, after a disappointing loss against the Blues to open the season.20. (22) Winnipeg Jets, 1-1-0The Jets could not build on a come-from-behind win over the Hurricanes in their opener as they fall to the Wild. Nice start for rookie-of-the-year candidate and No. 2 draft pick?Patrik Laine, who has a pair of important points in two games.21. (24) Buffalo Sabres, 1-1-0The Sabres, buckled by injuries to top-six forwards?Jack Eichel and Evander Kane, show nice backbone by whipping the Oilers on Sunday.22. (14) Carolina Hurricanes, 0-0-2Good news is the Canes have points in two road games to start the season. Bad news is they blew leads in both, including a 3-0 lead in Sundays 4-3 overtime loss to the Canucks. Not good for a team thats hoping to be in the playoff race.23. (18) Boston Bruins, 1-1-0Disappointing follow-up to a nice come-from-behind win over the Blue Jackets to start the season as the Bruins were handled easily by the Maple Leafs on Saturday. No Patrice Bergeron is troubling, and Tuukka Rask?couldnt go either against the young Leafs, although Bergeron should be close to returning.24. (21) New York Islanders, 1-2-0Modified lineup comes up with its first win of the season in overtime Sunday against the Ducks. Still lots of questions dogging the Isles early in the going.25. (20) New Jersey Devils, 0-1-1The Devils have scored just three goals in two games. Even with?Taylor Hall?in the lineup, their scoring problems persist with the offensively challenged Devils.26. (10) Anaheim Ducks, 0-2-1The Ducks begin the coach Randy Carlyle era (Part II) with three straight losses, although they get the losers point for coming back and forcing overtime against the Islanders on Sunday. Took the Ducks a long time a year ago to get rolling, so history might be repeating itself.27. (11) Calgary Flames, 0-2-1Lots of folks loved the Flames to challenge in the Pacific. So far, defense and goaltending look uncomfortably like last season.?28. (16) Los Angeles Kings, 0-2-0This could be the start of a very long season for the Kings, especially if injured goalie?Jonathan Quick?ends up requiring surgery. Regardless, things off to a rocky start for a team many liked to return to Cup contender status.29. (25)?Detroit Red Wings, 0-2-0The Wings looked good early against the Lightning in their opener, but fell apart and have allowed twice as many goals (10) as theyve managed to score (5) in twin losses to start the season.30. (28) Columbus Blue Jackets, 0-2-0The Blue Jackets blew early lead against the Bruins in their first outing and have not looked good in dropping their first two. If there was a team desperate to not stumble out of the gate -- again -- its Columbus. ' ' '