Jones Explains Goal Celebration

Phil Jones insisted the triumph at Aston Villa wasn't all about his winner but admits he enjoyed ribbing coach Rene Meulensteen about the strike, his first in senior football.

The youngster played in midfield before Rio Ferdinand was replaced in the second half and got on the end of a Nani cross to show great composure in front of goal with 20 minutes gone.

After admitting during a recent ManUtd.com webchat that he wasn't sure how he'd celebrate, he decided to point to the bench after receiving some light-hearted stick from Meulensteen.

"I'm delighted to score but it wasn't about the goal," he stressed to MUTV. "It was about three points and I thought the lads did exceptionally well. We knew it was going to be a hard-fought game as Villa are a tough team to beat at home but we played terrifically well.

"After last week, when I stuck one in the back of my own net, I was delighted to score and get off the mark. I signalled to Rene as he was giving me a bit of stick for not scoring. It's just a coincidence that I scored today so I gave him a point of the finger!"

Sir Alex also had a chuckle about the celebrating, explaining: "We keep winding him up and keep saying: 'We paid £16million for you and we can't even get a shot off you!'. The staff have been giving him stick so he was very, very pleased."

Jones, meanwhile, was satisfied with the performance and another clean sheet ahead of the important trip to Basel in midweek.

"We probably should have killed the game off," he added. "We had chances in the first half and second half but we're happy with the clean sheet and the performance.

"I suppose it is in the back of your mind [that City had already won and extended the lead at the top to eight points]. But we're focused on what we've got to do and, when we cross that white line, we're only in control of what we can control. The gaffer said we'll take 10 1-0 wins if we win the league so that's what we're doing."