That concludes our commentary of the Premier League fixture between Manchester United and Aston Villa! We hope you’ve enjoyed it!
Manchester United are back in action in midweek when they host Villarreal in the Champions League, before welcoming Everton to Old Trafford in a week. Aston Villa play again next Sunday when they travel to face Spurs.
A late Hause winner seals the deal for Aston Villa – who manage a win at Old Trafford for the first time since 2009. The defender, only in the starting XI today due to Tuanzebe’s unavailability, was the only difference between the two teams today as his powerful header from six yards out with two minutes to go was enough to gather all three points. It was a frantic end to the match though as Hause thought he had given away the equaliser at the 91st minute after his handball inside the area gave United a late chance to level the score from the penalty spot – but Fernandes sent his spot-kick over the bar, much to the delight of the travelling support. Villa go into seventh spot, while United drop one to fourth.
90′ + 5′ FULL-TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 0-1 ASTON VILLA.
90′ + 4′ The fourth official indicates five minutes will be added to the end of the match for stoppages.
90′ + 3′ FERNANDES SENDS HIS PENALTY OVER THE CROSSBAR! Martinez had guessed the right way but the goalkeeper’s intervention isn’t required as the Manchester United number 18 steps up and sends his spot-kick high over the bar! It remains 1-0!
M. Cash
Yellow Card
90′ Cash is booked late for dissent as he disagrees with the referee’s penalty decision.
90′ PENALTY TO MANCHESTER UNITED! Hause goes from hero to zero in a matter of seconds as the defender clearly committed a handball inside the area to repel Fernandes’ powerful cross from the right. Late drama at Old Trafford as the hosts are given a chance to equalise in injury time!
Douglas Luiz
Assist
88′ Luiz has had some poor set-pieces today, but he’s come up big when it mattered – delivering the perfect assist for Villa’s opener.
K. Hause
Goal
88′ ASTON VILLA TAKE THE LEAD! 1-0 TO THE VISITORS! It’s a brilliant set-piece taken by Luiz, who curls the corner to the edge of the six-yard box for Hause, whose diving header under tight marking from Cavani nestles into the roof of the net!
C. Archer
J. Ramsey
86′ Ramsey is replaced by Archer with four minutes left to play.
86′ With under five minutes remaining it’s going to take something special to win the match. Villa have looked the better side in the second half – though with Manchester United’s individual quality – a winner is always a possibility.
84′ Manchester United are the highest scorers in the Premier League so far this season with 13 goals. With an expected goals total of eight, the Red Devils are also overperforming their xG more than any other side this season (5 goals more).
E. Cavani
S. McTominay
82′ McTominay is replaced with eight minutes remaining as Solskjaer looks to grab a late goal. Cavani is sent on in his place.
80′ Dalot catches Cash with a sliding challenge just ahead of the corner flag on the right giving Aston Villa a free-kick. McGinn is tasked with taking it, sending his whipped delivery into the near post where it’s cleared by Varane.
E. Buendía
D. Ings
78′ A first Aston Villa substitution of the match comes with 12 minutes remaining, as Ings is replaced by Buendia.
Fred
Yellow Card
77′ Fred brings McGinn down from behind in midfield right in front of the referee – leaving the match official no other option but to book him.
75′ Play is stopped again for an injury – this time it’s Targett who is feeling a bit of pain in his leg. He’s gone off to receive treatment as Aston Villa restart play but he won’t be out of the match for too long.
73′ Fernandes’ corner is met by Varane, who can only prod his header harmlessly towards goal. Martinez makes no mistake and rises highest to pick it out of the air.
71′ Fernandes has scored in all three of Premier League games against Aston Villa, with all three of his goals coming from the penalty spot. Only one player has scored more goals against an opponent with 100% of them being penalties in the competition – Troy Deeney against Man Utd (4)
69′ GREAT STRIKE GREAT SAVE! Watkins picks up the ball on the left flank before cutting inside and riding two challenges. Both Varane and McTominay are unable to dispossess the forward – who unleashes a thunderous strike on goal which De Gea parries expertly.
V. Lindelöf
H. Maguire
67′ Well – just as Shaw went down to the turf before being unable to run off his injury, it appears as though Maguire won’t be risked for the remainder of the match. Lindelof is his replacement.
J. McGinn
Yellow Card
66′ A clear kick-out from McGinn on Fernandes leaves the Aston Villa midfielder in hot water with the referee – earning him a yellow card.
65′ Greenwood looks to make the difference as he latches onto Fernandes’ incisive pass just outside the penalty area. The winger’s poor first touch takes him away from goal but he’s able to manage a shot – one that Martinez deals with well.
63′ Fernandes takes a free-kick from deep on the right flank into the penalty area searching for Maguire. Konsa appears to have both hands on the Manchester United captain as he’s dragged to the pitch, but the referee is happy to let play continue.
61′ POGBA SENDS IT HIGH! It’s a trademark first-time curler from Pogba, who looks to bend his effort into the top corner with spin and venom. The France international gets his angles slightly wrong though as he sends it over the crossbar narrowly!
60′ Luiz takes an Aston Villa corner but it’s not of the required standard as it barely gets off the ground before Fernandes is able to volley it away at the near post. With Mings, Konsa and Watkins all lurking in the penalty area – the set-piece taker has to do better.
58′ No side has had more direct attacks in the Premier League this season than Aston Villa (15). A direct attack is one that starts just inside a team’s own half, with at least 50% of movement towards the opposition goal that ends in a shot or touch in the opposition box.
56′ Dalot breaks into the penalty area and puts a cross to the back post, but it’s a very poor delivery hit with his weaker left foot that’s sent looping over the head of Ronaldo and out of the box on the other side.
55′ It appears to be a contact injury after the collision between Maguire and Ings as the centre-back steps off the field to receive a bit more treatment. He seems eager to get back into the match though – which will ease Solskjaer’s nerves.
53′ Now it’s Maguire who’s gone down on the pitch away from the ball. The medical staff immediately comes on to take a look at the captain, who is grabbing what appears to be his left shin.
51′ Ings was looking for a penalty after being bowled over by Maguire inside the 18-yard box but the linesman’s flag for offside gives Manchester United some respite.
49′ Aston Villa’s high press gets Manchester United in trouble after Pogba’s giveaway to McGinn in midfield, but the early cross into an empty penalty area for both Watkins and Ings puts the forwards offside.
47′ Luiz teases a great cross into the penalty area after a Cash throw-in, but Varane beats Mings in the air and clears it behind for a corner.
46′ Manchester United get the match restarted from the kick-off!
The early injury to Shaw will give Solskjaer one less change to work with in the second half, should the coach look to switch things up. With a wealth of talent at his disposal including Sancho, Lingard and the clinical Cavani, it feels just a matter of time until an opener is found. Aston Villa were successful in the first half with McGinn pulling the strings, however perhaps the introduction of a second playmaker could help break down the effective pairing of Maguire and Varane. With attacking options like Buendia and Traore available for selection – Smith will be able to test the defence with fresh legs late on.
An entertaining first half at Old Trafford comes to a close with both teams deadlocked at 0-0. Despite the hosts enjoying the larger share of possession, shots and total passes, it’s Aston Villa who have had the better chances to open the scoring. Cash really should have put the visitors ahead after 16 minutes, instead sending his shot over the crossbar from four yards out. Ronaldo has looked an isolated figure, really failing to involve himself in the play as Fernandes and Pogba have struggled to pick out the Portugal captain ahead of Konsa, Hause and Mings – who have played valiantly.
45′ + 3′ HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 0-0 ASTON VILLA.
45′ + 3′ IT ALMOST CREPT IN! The ensuing corner – taken by Fernandes – is met with a flick-on at the front post by Varane. It’s met at the back stick by an unaware Pogba, who can only instinctively throw himself at the ball, which sends it narrowly past the post!
45′ + 2′ It’s a Portuguese trio standing over the set-piece as Fernandes, Dalot and Ronaldo all size up the goal. It’s Ronaldo who takes the hit though – sending his delivery squarely into the wall.
45′ + 1′ The fourth official indicates four minutes will be added to the end of the first half for stoppages.
44′ Pogba is taken down just outside the penalty area, giving Manchester United a chance to take the lead as we enter added time.
42′ In Premier League history, no side has won more games against an opponent than Manchester United’s 37 victories against Aston Villa.
40′ CLOSE! The delivery from Luiz is taken to the far post for the arriving Konsa, who beats Wan-Bissaka for strength before powering his close-range header narrowly over the crossbar!
39′ Mcginn fakes the shot and allows Luiz to take the set-piece, which catches the end of the wall and flies out for a corner.
38′ Luiz wins a free kick cleverly, bringing the ball down before immediately turning to shield it – forcing Fernandes to go through the back of the Brazil international. It’s a real chance for Aston Villa, as the set-piece is within shooting range.
36′ Targett fires a good cross in from the left aimed towards the penalty spot, but nobody as of yet has been able to beat Maguire in the air as he eases the pressure with a clearing header.
Diogo Dalot
L. Shaw
34′ It appears as though Shaw hasn’t been able to run off the earlier injury as he’s gone down once again – forcing Solskjaer into a substitution. The man chosen to replace him is Dalot, who spent all of last season on-loan at Milan.
33′ Fernandes switches play to Wan-Bissaka, who finds McTominay with an incisive pass inside the penalty area but some good defending sees the ball roll behind for a goal-kick.
31′ Ings does well in his own half, winning the ball back from Pogba during a coordinated press with McGinn, before winning a free-kick that allows Martinez to push the side upfield.
L. Shaw
Yellow Card
29′ Cash is caught by Shaw in midfield – earning the Manchester United left-back the first card of the match.
28′ A long, searching ball is hit from deep on the left flank by Shaw looking for Ronaldo but Mings’ intervention prevents the cross from reaching the striker.
26′ Play is stopped momentarily for Shaw, who has gone down and asked for some treatment. The left-back takes a second to gather himself before heading off to the touchline, where he appears poised to come back on after a word with a member of the medical staff.
24′ United get away with one after Maguire’s poor backpass is met with a first-time pass from De Gea – giving it right to Watkins inside the 18-yard box. The goalkeeper manages to pull off a fantastic save at point-blank range before grabbing the ball and giving his team-mate an earful.
22′ Fernandes teases a dangerous cross into the penalty area from a central position but three watching defenders ensure that Ronaldo is unable to make contact with the delivery.
20′ Manchester United have won 18 of their last 21 home league games against Aston Villa (D2 L1), failing to score on just one occasion in that run.
18′ End-to-end action as Manchester United come straight back down the other way via Greenwood, who dribbles into the penalty area on the left before working enough space ahead of Mings to work a shot on-target. It’s a weak effort that Martinez deals with well, but the approach play is superb.
16′ OVER THE TOP FROM TARGETT! Spectacular build-up play from Aston Villa, who prise the Manchester United defence open with McGinn’s incisive pass that gets by Shaw. Cash gets on the end of the pass and fires it across for Targett – who can only send it over the bar from close range.
14′ A second poor pass out to the left in quick succession once again gifts possession to Manchester United, after Luiz’s sprayed delivery to the left in search of Targett sails over the left wing-back’s head.
12′ Villa look to hit quickly down the left after a successful Watkins header in midfield, but Hause’s misplaced pass to Targett allows De Gea to collect for a goal-kick.
10′ Manchester United work a short-corner routine between Shaw and Fernandes but its poor execution from the hosts as the return pass to the left-back puts him offside.
8′ Ings fires in a deep cross looking for Watkins at the far post but Maguire comes across expertly and nods away the danger.
7′ It’s Fernandes who goes for goal but the Aston Villa wall does its job – repelling the set-piece convincingly.
5′ Hause sticks too tight to Greenwood and brings him down just outside the 18-yard box. Manchester United are given a free-kick that both Fernandes and Ronaldo stand over.
3′ Shaw pulls a cross back to the edge of the area for Fernandes, who controls the delivery with his right before whacking a half-volley with his left – sending it harmlessly wide.
1′ Aston Villa get the match underway from the kick-off!
Aston Villa make a single – enforced – change from the XI that beat Everton 3-0 last weekend. Hause steps into the middle of the three-man defence replacing Tuanzebe, who is unavailable today as on-loan players are not allowed to face their parent club.
Manchester United name an unchanged XI from their last Premier League fixture – a 2-1 win over West Ham. De Gea gets the nod between the posts, behind a back four of Shaw, Maguire, Varane and Wan-Bissaka. Fred and McTominay anchor the midfield while Pogba and Greenwood take up positions on the flanks. The attack is a combination of Portugal internationals, as Fernandes is stationed behind Ronaldo.
ASTON VILLA SUBS: Ashley Young, Jed Steer, Ryan Bertrand, Marvelous Nakamba, Cameron Archer, Anwar El Ghazi, Emiliano Buendia, Lamare Bogarde, Carney Chukwuemeka.
ASTON VILLA XI (5-3-2): Emiliano Martinez; Matthew Cash, Ezri Konsa, Kortney Hause, Tyrone Mings, Matt Targett; Jacob Ramsey, Douglas Luiz, John McGinn; Danny Ings, Ollie Watkins.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Victor Lindelof, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani, Donny Van De Beek, Tom Heaton, Anthony Martian, Jadon Sancho, Diogo Dalot.
MANCHESTER UNITED XI (4-2-3-1): David De Gea; Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, Aaron Wan-Bissaka; Fred, Scott McTominay; Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Greenwood; Cristiano Ronaldo.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, let’s take a look at the team news – starting with our hosts!
Dean Smith brings his Aston Villa side to Old Trafford looking for a first victory at the Theatre of Dreams since late 2009 – when a 21st-minute Gabby Agbonlahor strike was enough to guarantee Villa the three points. An up and down start to the post-Jack Grealish era has the visitors in 10th at the start of play, equidistant from both the top three and bottom three.
A couple of disappointing recent results in cup competitions have detracted from an otherwise fantastic start to the season for Manchester United. Four wins and a draw in five league matches has Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in a three-way tie for first place, having scored more goals than any other side in the division.
Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the Premier League fixture between Manchester United and Aston Villa!
Bruno Fernandes
Penalty Miss