Manchester United 2 Aston Villa 1 - Report

Disappointment against Manchester United and at Old Trafford has been a familiar feeling for most of the past four decades.

Friday night’s defeat means Villa have only won one of their last 44 meetings with the Red Devils and only once away from home in this fixture since 1983.

This setback ranks among the more frustrating. Just as in Monday’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea, Villa had wrestled their way back into a match they trailed when Bertrand Traore cancelled out Anthony Martial’s opening just prior to the hour mark.

At that moment Dean Smith’s team had momentum but it was quickly wrestled away from them when Paul Pogba tumbled under the challenge of Douglas Luiz, referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot and Bruno Fernandes tucked away the penalty for a win which sent United level with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

For Villa this defeat ended a five-match unbeaten run and they sit sixth ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.

Yet while Smith’s men were beaten, they were far from outclassed and only denied a point by United keeper David de Gea, who kept out Matty Cash’s stoppage time drive.

Smith made just one change from the team which started at Stamford Bridge, with Tyrone Mings replacing Kortney Hause in the heart of defence after serving a one-match suspension.

Villa were once again without Ross Barkley, the on loan Chelsea midfielder missing his seventh straight match with a hamstring injury.

United made four changes from the team which started Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Wolves and it was one of the new faces, Fred, who created their first opening inside the first two minutes.

The Brazil international’s lofted ball over Villa’s defence found Fernandes in space and though his cross was blocked by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, the visitors struggled to clear their lines and it required a vital intervention from Anwar El Ghazi to deny Marcus Rashford a scoring chance 10 yards out.

United looked sharper in those opening exchanges. Fernandes pounced on a loose pass and fed Martial, who brought an acrobatic save out of Martinez.

Gradually, Villa began to find their feet and ask some questions of their own. Jack Grealish’s first real involvement in the match was to slip in right-back Cash, whose deep cross found John McGinn at the far post, the midfielder bringing a smart save out of De Gea with a volleyed effort.

Villa were starting to win the ball in United’s half of the pitch and Eric Bailly needed to be in the right place to turn a dangerous Cash cross behind with Ollie Watkins in close proximity.

It was the hosts, however, who continued to carry a slightly greater threat. Paul Pogba shot wide first time when he perhaps had time to take a touch, while Fernandes was inches away with a looping effort after being picked out by Shaw.

Five minutes before the break United lead. Pogba started the move, flicking the ball over McGinn, before Rashford sent Wan-Bissaka scampering away down the right wing.

Mings looked favourite to meet his eventual cross but the ball somehow evaded him, Martial arriving behind him to head past Martinez and become only the fourth player to score past Villa on their travels this season.

It felt like half-time came at a good time for the visitors and they started the second period with much more purpose.

Cash fired a cross-shot narrowly over the bar after being found in space by Traore, before Grealish stood up a cross for Watkins which brought a fine save from De Gea, pushing the striker’s header over the bar.

Villa skipper Grealish was now much more involved and a raking crossfield ball was taken down by Watkins, with El Ghazi then blasting a half volley just over the bar.

It was Grealish who was then instrumental in the leveller. McGinn took a quick free-kick out to Grealish on the left and though his low cross was missed by Luiz, the ball found its way through to Traore, who took a touch before firing a left-footed finish under De Gea.

Parity lasted only three minutes. Pogba controlled a throw-in before tumbling under the challenge of Luiz. Replays suggested the contact was minimal if any yet there was no intervention from VAR Paul Tierney, with Fernandes drilling the spot-kick into the bottom corner to give Martinez no chance.

It was the 27th penalty United had been awarded since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took charge just over two years ago.

Villa looked for a response and Grealish nearly provided one with a whipped cross which Wan-Bissaka, caught napping for Traore’s goal, somehow kept off the head of El Ghazi.

Chances were starting to arrive at both ends. Martinez saved from Martial, before El Ghazi drew a smart stop from De Gea.

Pogba then really should have increased United’s advantage only to shoot wide from Shaw’s cross, before Watkins glanced a Grealish cross just off target.

Into the final 15 minutes, Martinez came to Villa’s rescue in spectacular fashion when he tipped a dipping Fernandes effort onto the bar. Moments later Rashford hit a long-range effort which shaved the woodwork.

Smith introduced youngsters Jacob Ramsey and Keinan Davis off the bench in the closing stages. The latter’s first contribution was to head a Cash cross wide of the post.

It was Cash who had Villa’s last big chance in stoppage time. His 25-yard drive was well-struck but De Gea was equal to it. When Bailly then threw himself in the way of a Davis shot, the points were United's.

Teams

Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Luiz, Traore (Ramsey 79), Grealish, El Ghazi (Davis 84), Watkins Subs not used: Taylor, Hause, Elmohamady, Guilbert, Nakamba, Hourihane, Heaton (gk).

Man Utd (4-2-3-1): De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Maguire, Shaw, Fred (Tuanzebe 90+4), McTominay (Matic 64), Rashford, Fernandes (James 87), Pogba, Martial Subs not used: Mata, Greenwood, Lingard, Telles, De Beek, Henderson (gk).