Stoppage-time goals snatch Man Utd unlikely draw against Aston Villa

Patrick Dorgu secured Manchester United a scarcely believable 4-4 draw deep into stoppage time as under-fire Michael Carrick denied Aston Villa amid a backdrop of anger against the club’s ownership.

Old Trafford witnessed an astonishing helter-skelter encounter on Sunday afternoon as the embattled, and deeply flawed, Red Devils showed spirit against the odds as they had against Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday.

United again fell two goals behind as Alysson and Nicolas Jackson capitalised on wretched play inside four minutes as supporters called for the Glazers and United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to sell up.

Bruno Fernandes pulled one back from the spot, just like in the 3-2 Champions League comeback victory against Roma, and Youri Tielemans equalised against his former club just before half-time.

But renewed United hope was dented at the start of the second half, with John McGinn scoring a penalty gifted to Villa by Diogo Dalot – whose substitution would be brutally cheered – before Leon Goretzka added another.

They were the latest self-inflicted wounds in a season of gaffes by Carrick’s side but the players fought until the death, with substitute Joshua Zirkzee reducing the deficit in stoppage time before fellow substitute Dorgu sparked bedlam.

Quite whether it is enough to keep the United head coach in the job is another matter, though, with the side to spend the November international break in 18th place.

The change fans really want goes far beyond the man in the dugout, as highlighted by the green and gold balloons that filled the air around a banner that read ‘we don’t want a new stadium, we want new owners’.

The furious chants against the Glazers, Ratcliffe and director of football Jason Wilcox went up a notch after Unai Emery’s men capitalised on hodgepodge defending in the first minute.

The ball was played wide for Alysson and Dalot allowed him space to hit a first-time strike through Senne Lammens’ legs.

The mood darkened further in the fourth minute. United failed to deal with a free-kick and Alysson’s strike was spilled by Lammens, with Jackson sweeping the ball into an empty net.

“You’re not fit to wear the shirt” bellowed home fans as Villa teased Carrick about his job prospects, only for Tuesday’s matchwinner Matheus Cunha to draw a foul from Boubacar Kamara in the box.

Fernandes scored after the VAR ratified the on-field call, with the 16th-minute penalty sparking the best Premier League display from United since their solitary domestic win back in August.

Zion Suzuki brilliantly stopped a curling Cunha effort shortly after a mooted walkout failed to materialise, with Fernandes twice trying his luck as Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo threatened.

Amad continued to prove a nuisance and United’s hard work was rewarded just before half-time.

Tielemans’ low strike from just inside the box beat Suzuki, whose appeals that his view was impeded by Bryan Mbeumo were immaterial as the forward was onside.

But belief there could be a comeback like against Roma did not last long.

Dalot’s sloppy challenge on Alysson gave Villa a penalty that McGinn coolly slotted home three minutes into the second half.

United failed to steady the ship and in the 54th minute Leny Yoro’s attempt to deal with a free-kick sent the ball flying towards his own goal. Lammens tipped it onto the crossbar but Goretzka was able to eventually prod home.

The quickfire double rocked United as Cunha and Mbeumo had efforts in their attempts to drag themselves off the canvas.

A huge cheer greeted Dalot’s substitution and Old Trafford would empty as the clock wound down, only for those that stayed to be rewarded with a dramatic conclusion.

Mason Mount hit the crossbar and fellow sub Zirkzee pulled one back in stoppage time when turning home a Dorgu cross.

Those remaining roared on the team and the sixth minute of stoppage time brought bedlam. Dorgu rose to head home a Fernandes corner, with Suzuki’s appeals he was upended trying to meet the cross ignored.

Under-fire Carrick left applauding fans chanting his name at the end of a crazy game.