United machine stretch league lead

Just as heartening for Eriksson, who values off-field moderation among his players, will have been the news that Sir Alex Ferguson offered his players a night out on their own during last week's break in Spain and, to a man, they declined.

The United manager said: 'They stayed in the hotel and focused on what we were doing. For me that was a great demonstration of their professionalism and their determination to make sure they aren't going to slip up.

'I'd have been happy for them to go out, don't get me wrong, but they didn't want to and that was smashing.'

So, despite the absence of captain-elect David Beckham - having been allowed to extend his mid- season break - it was a comforting afternoon at Old Trafford for the new England coach. And nothing will have taken his eye more than the performance of James.

Within the first eight minutes he pulled off two fine saves to deny Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

James' agility, positioning and handling remained faultless throughout and when the goals eventually came, from Gary Neville and Teddy Sheringham, they did not detract significantly from his display.

The confrontation between James and Sheringham, which subsequently involved Andy Cole, was one of the more fascinating subplots in a match which had moments of high quality. Sheringham's goal, a tap-in after James could only parry a cross-shot from Cole, was his 18th of the season and he had made an intelligent diagonal run to be in the position to take it.

Eriksson's confirmation that he is comfortable using players in their 30s re-opens the opportunity for Sheringham to prolong his international career, possibly alongside Cole, whose 28 minutes as a substitute was a worthy cameo itself.

'Cole caused us real problems and he must take over the Alan Shearer mantle,' said Gregory. 'I think he's a great player. In his half-hour he made six or seven runs, and if he had been given the ball he'd have scored.'

Even without Beckham, there were more than enough English players performing well enough to reward Eriksson, with Paul Merson the only real disappointment.

It was hardly the perfect afternoon to judge Villa's £9.5m Colombia striker Juan Pablo Angel, whose limbs were affected by previous inactivity and whose lungs hardly coped with a 35 degree drop in temperature from Buenos Aires.

'Sadly, he hasn't got three months to settle in,' said Gregory. 'He has to learn quickly. But coming here was a baptism of fire. It should be a breeze for him from now on.'