Saturday afternoon saw two new banners debut at St. James' Park, "This city is believing again" at one end and "Eddie Howe's black & white army" across the other.

After 104 minutes of one-sided action, jubilant home fans could be forgiven for unfurling another one that read "Sob in Level 7" - although there were precious few Villans there to see it after their side were well and truly routed.

This was a game of two halves, but the visitors played no active part in either of them. Instead, a trio of sizeable breaks in play for Villa players to receive medical attention resulted in 10 minutes of time added to the opening period, during which United regained their scoring touch.

Following a bright opening when both Callum Wilson and Sean Longstaff had efforts just off target, that succession of interruptions to play prevented United from getting into their stride; Miguel Almiron's 44th minute effort our first accurate effort of note.

That shot was blocked by replacement goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who had come on for concussion victim Emiliano Martinez midway through the opening half - some time after he'd had a whack on the head from a team mate.

Six minutes into added time though, Olsen was helpless to prevent Wilson hammering home a penalty kick that referee Paul Tierney awarded after Almiron's goalbound shot hit Ashley Young's upper arm.

Wilson had the ball in the net again almost immediately only for it to be disallowed for offside, but the number 9 supplied his and our second goal 11 minutes after the resumption.

That followed a neatly-worked corner routine from Kieran Trippier and Miggy that saw the former cross from the right for Wilson to nod in at the back post - the celebrations briefly delayed until an offside claim was rebuffed by VAR.

The floodgates then opened for United as they attacked Villa at will, urged on by a joyful home support. Within three minutes Olsen had denied Wilson a hat-trick, only for Joelinton to appear and knock in the rebound. 

The roof nearly came off the Gallowgate End eight minutes later, when Almiron continued his own personal scoring competition (ghoul of the month?) with another absolute peach - arcing in a marvellous 20 yard finish.

Further goals looked likely as Wilson twice came close to completing his first treble: cannoning one header off the crossbar then just failing to connect with Jacob Murphy's low ball across the face of goal.

In between, Murphy himself worked a shooting opening in the box, cannoning his effort off the far post in the 77th minute with Olsen stranded.

A succession of home substitutions inevitable saw United lose momentum; one glorious late chance spurned by Chris Wood that would have been surely put away by Wilson. There was even a cameo by Allan Saint-Maximin  following his three game absence.

This was Villa's fifteenth consecutive failure to win here and seldom can they have made less of an impression on a game, managing no shots on or off target and no corners - Everton were equally shot-shy in the previous home game.

Incoming manager Unai Emery's first job will be re-watch this and it won't make for pleasant viewing, with his new side lucky to only lose by four.

By contrast though, the alleged second choice for the Newcastle job a year ago will doubtless derive some satisfaction from tuning in to another praiseworthy display - although noting some slackness in possession during the first half.

Howe admitted to journalists this week that he usually watches highlights with the sound turned off, but if he makes an exception this week then he'll hear mass choruses of "you laughed at us when we went down; who the f*** is laughing now!" echoing around the stadium as the goals flew in. This was glorious.

Some stats to end with: 13 games played, six wins, six draws, one defeat. 24 goals scored, ten conceded. Unbeaten in eight games, three wins in a row. 

The outcome? A top four position retained for the first time in a decade. Still early days of course, but what great days these are turning out to be. This team are a joy to watch across the field.

Biffa