Aston Villa fell to a 3-0 defeat against in-form Manchester United in their Premier League clash at Villa Park.
Bruno Fernandes' controversial penalty just before the half-hour mark proved the key turning point, the Portuguese converting from the spot after he was harshly adjudged to have been fouled by Ezri Konsa.
It was tough on a Villa side who started on the front foot and had seen Trezeguet hit a post just minutes earlier.
Mason Greenwood drilled home a second for United in first-half injury time, rounding off a sweeping counter-attack, before Paul Pogba added a third from distance in the 58th minute.
Anthony Martial struck the underside of the crossbar for the visitors, who went on to seal all three points and extend their unbeaten run to 17 matches, leaving Villa still without a home league win against United since 1995.
Four matches remain for Dean Smith's side to climb out of danger and up the Premier League table, starting with Sunday's encounter against Crystal Palace.
Ally Samatta returned to Villa’s starting XI, recalled in attack in place of Keinan Davis who dropped to the bench, representing the only change from last weekend’s defeat at Liverpool.
Villa started positively and provided the greater threat, despite the visitors enjoying the bulk of the early possession.
And it was the home side who enjoyed the clearest opening after 19 minutes, captain Jack Grealish volleying off target at the far post having met Konsa’s inch-perfect deep cross.
Villa were pressing United at every opportunity and it paid dividends again as Trezeguet robbed Pogba of possession, surged forward and curled a low effort against the outside of a post.
But it was United who took the lead courtesy of a contentious 27th-minute penalty.
Konsa was adjudged to have fouled Fernandes just inside the area and, after a VAR review, the Portuguese stepped up to send Pepe Reina the wrong way from the spot.
The goal gave the visitors impetus and Reina saved well from Greenwood, before Fernandes headed over a golden opportunity from eight yards just before the interval.
Yet the visitors doubled their advantage on the counter-attack in first-half stoppage time, Greenwood rounding off a swift break when he drilled home from the edge of the box.
Villa saw a penalty appeal waved away within minutes of the restart, before United soon came within inches of a third at the other end when Aaron Wan-Bissaka headed wide from Marcus Rashford’s cross to the far post.
McGinn tested David De Gea from long range but it was the visitors who added a third just before the hour mark as Pogba received Fernandes’ corner 20 yards out, took a touch and calmly found the bottom corner.
Dean Smith turned to Davis, Conor Hourihane and Marvelous Nakamba off the bench, before Anthony Martial fired against the underside of the crossbar moments later as the away side threatened again.
Hourihane saw his strike blocked by United substitute Brandon Williams while Reina saved from Rashford late on, but it was the visitors who claimed the spoils.
Villa: Reina, Konsa, Hause, Mings, Taylor, Luiz (Vassilev 84), McGinn (Nakamba 59), El Ghazi (Hourihane 58), Grealish (c), Trezeguet, Samatta (Davis 59).
Subs: Nyland, Guilbert, Elmohamady, Lansbury, Jota.
Goals: Fernandes (27 pen), Greenwood (45+5), Pogba (58)
Who’s next?
With just four matches remaining, Dean Smith’s side are back at Villa Park again on Sunday for the Premier League visit of Crystal Palace (ko 2.15pm).
