Darren Bent pulled a goal back for Villa to make it 2-1 but a Nemanja Vidic strike restored United's two-goal advantage.

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But United defenders Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand stood firm amid the home side's periods of concerted pressure.

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"There was a lot of speculation about Nemanja's future but in my view it's been the media drumming some old stories, " added Gill.

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Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans are ruled out, but Ferguson hopes Serbian center-back Nemanja Vidic will recover from illness for Wednesday's Champions League trip to Wolfsburg, with United needing a point to finish top of Group B.

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United - with only one clean sheet to their name this season - fielded centre-halves Wes Brown and Jonny Evans - in for the injured Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand - but it was their front men who were the busier pairing.

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But Federico Macheda gave United hope with a powerful shot and Nemanja Vidic stooped to head in a Nani cross to equalise for the visitors late on.

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But Portsmouth hit back seven minutes later with another spotkick, this one more debatable as Nemanja Vidic was ruled to have tugged the shirt of Frederic Piquionne.

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Ronaldo, as expected, started on the bench - but Ferguson sprung a surprise by naming Evans in his starting line-up in place of Nemanja Vidic, who is suspended for the meeting with Chelsea.

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