RONALDO BRILLIANCE AS REDS WIN AGAIN AT VILLA PARK

Cristiano Ronaldo's two-goal masterclass and Paul Scholes' trademark 25-yarder kept Fergie's stylish United side top of the Premiership by two points.
And Ferguson wants Chelsea chief Mourinho to admit he has got it wrong yet again.
He crowed: "Perhaps it shows that we shouldn't believe Jose Mourinho. He said Chelsea would be top at Christmas and they are not.
"He has to apologise after lying about an Everton player this week. Perhaps he should be apologising again."
Buoyant Fergie also claimed Villa's tormentor-in-chief Ronaldo is "as good as anyone" in the Premiership.
He added: "There wasn't much in it in the first half, but after the break we turned it around and Ronaldo was unbelievable.
"He is in great form. He shows great courage and strength and he was a revelation today. He is as good as anyone in the country.
"He has got eight goals now and he could get us 15 this season. He is capable of doing that."
Villa manager Martin O'Neill claimed his side were well in contention - until Ronaldo's 59th minute opener.
He said: " We played well up until the first goal. We took the game to United and I thought we were giving as good as we were getting. But it was disappointing to lose the first goal in the fashion we did.
"We were attacking in their half, lost possession and Ronaldo runs a fair distance and scores at the second attempt.
"We lost a bit of shape after that. They then scored a terrific second goal through Scholes and we were chasing the game from then on.
"But we were up against a team that will be challenging very strongly for the Championship.
"I have the utmost respect and admiration for Sir Alex Ferguson. He is putting another team together who can challenge strongly.
"Eventually Manchester United beat us quite well but I'm not so sure the scoreline tells the whole story.
"They are a class side which we will hope to aspire to one day - but that is some distance off."
Villa, now seven games without a win, clearly need an injection of quality in the January transfer window.
Before the kick-off, former Villa manager Ron Saunders, who guided the team to the League Championship in the early 1980s, was given a standing ovation on his first return to the ground for more than 20 years.
An the hosts made a lively start - looking busy in the centre of the park through Craig Gardner, on his first start of the season, and Gavin McCann, who passed a late fitness test on his hamstring injury.
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PARK STRIFE ... Villa star Barryhassles Man Utd winger ParkUnited gradually started to come into the game and Villa centre-back Gary Hill blocked a left-footed drive from Ji-Sung Park and a long-range attempt from Ronaldo.
But after 15 minutes Gareth Barry's free-kick was flicked on by Chris Sutton to Gardner, whose header clipped the outside of a post.
United centre-back Nemanja Vidic became the first player to be yellow-carded for hauling down the lively Gabriel Agbonlahor in full flight.
Park, in his first league start since August, looked lively in the early stages but would have been disappointed with the accuracy of his finish from United's first clear-cut opening. Gary Neville had time and space to the right of the Villa box to pick out the run of Park but his mis-hit shot curled wide.
On-loan Villa keeper Gabor Kiraly clung onto a low angled drive from Evra and then held onto Ronaldo's header which flew straight at him from Giggs' corner.
Darren Fletcher stabbed wide following another inviting Ronaldo pass.
Giggs then led a break-out from defence that ended with Ronaldo turning past Hughes but firing across the face of goal.
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United were not to be denied, though - and, fittingly, it was Ronaldo who finally rewarded them.
The Portuguese flyer picked the ball up in his own half and was allowed to advance almost unchallenged to the edge of the Villa box.
His first shot was blocked by Gary Cahill but the rebound fell straight into the path of Ronaldo who crashed a unstoppable drive inside Kiraly's near post.
Ronaldo was now in irresistible form and more trickery set up a chance for Giggs whose goal-bound shot was blocked by Cahill.
But after 64 minutes a spectacular strike from Scholes all but guaranteed victory for United.
Giggs' corner was headed out by McCann but Scholes volleyed past Kiraly via the underside of the bar.
Wayne Rooney, on for Park, immediately set up a chance for Ronaldo, whose shot was parried by Kiraly.
The bookings started to mount up with McCann, Sutton and Scholes all yellow-carded in quick succession.
Ronaldo finished it off four minutes from time when he turned home Neville's low cross.

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Tom & Katie’s post-wedding party

As you all know Tom & Katie threw a post-wedding party this Saturday, for friends and family who didn’t make it to their wedding in Italy. I’ve combined some articles together so you get all the info at once



The day began with both of the in-laws cheering on Tom´s daughter Bella at her local soccer game, where Tom’s sister Cass, mom Mary Lee and Katie’s parents – all in town for the party – laughed and kicked the ball around at half-time (Tom’s mom Mary Lee even showed off some fancy footwork). When the sun began to set, the Holmes´ stopped for appetizers at the Beverly Hills Hotel´s Polo Lounge before making their way over to the home of Tom’s producing partner Paula Wagner and her husband, CAA agent Rick Nicita, where the big fiesta was held.



Police cordoned off the area around the home in the early evening, threatening the dozens of reporters and video and still photographers with citations if they clogged the streets.

The seven-hour affair began at about 6 p.m., with Mr. and Mrs. Cruise, along with daughter Suri, arriving in a three-vehicle armada of tinted-out black SUVs around 6:40 p.m. Connor and Isabella followed in a Bentley.



Light appetizers were passed at the start of the evening, with heavier fare like short ribs, mashed potatoes and couscous served as more of the 300 or so guests filed into the bash, including Steven Spielberg and wife Kate Capshaw (arriving in a Bentley), Jerry Bruckheimer, Oliver Stone (silver Porsche), Last Samurai director Ed Zwick and producer Marshall Herskovitz, Morgan Freeman, Kirsten Dunst, James Caan, Adam Sandler, Robert Duvall, Orlando Bloom (yellow VW Bug), Dakota Fanning, Cuba Gooding Jr., James Van Der Beek, Diane Sawyer, Larry King, Derek Luke, Denzel Washington, Christian Bale, Catherine Bell, Ben Stiller and wife Christine Taylor, producer Brian Grazer and former Paramount studio boss Sherry Lansing, Variety’s éminence grise Army Archerd and ex-girlfriend Penélope Cruz.

Brooke Shields and husband Chris Henchy (with their two children), Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, who attended the Bracciano wedding, also came to the bash.



E Online: “Ostensibly, the party was a celebration for those who couldn’t make it to Rome for the couple’s Nov. 18 nuptials and a who’s who of Hollywood royalty descended upon the affair in style”. E Online also has a video of the arrivals, click here.



There was a four-hour caviar bar, complete with pink ice and imported coral. A dessert bar featured strawberry apéritifs and chocolate cigars with a hint of mint. Imported French linen napkins were custom-dyed chocolate brown, and also shipped in from overseas was the crushed cork that covered the party’s two bars.

Sisal rug was laid in the backyard, and three tents were erected to protect well-wishers from the night’s rainfall. Table centerpieces featured cream roses, peonies and amaryllis in smoke-mirrored glass boxes. A chandelier of 50,000 Swarovski crystals decorated the center tent.

A jazz trio performed throughout the night. “It wasn’t the kind of party with dancing,” one partygoer said. “It was more of an elegant cocktail party for socializing.” While the band was only booked until 11 p.m., I’m told they were asked to continue for an additional two hours, when it became clear the party would last longer than expected.



Said one guest, “Tom seemed really proud, parading Katie around his guests.” Any tension with his ex? No way! “There was so much love in the air that it seemed like a family reunion.” Dakota Fanning, Toms co-star in last year’s Spielberg-directed War of the Worlds, told People Sunday at the premiere of her movie Charlotte’s Web, “They were really happy. It was a fun party, it was great.”



An insider said the cost of the evening was estimated to be about $400,000. Event planner Damon Pease and Ikus Productions coordinated on the party, and Salt of the Earth Catering created the menu, according to the partygoer. Katie wore a simple pale pink dress, and Tom was in a dark suit, the partygoer said.