Champions League dream fades as Villa crash to late winner at Old Trafford
Manchester United 3 Aston Villa 2
Manchester United came through a big scare at Old Trafford this afternoon to come from 2-1 behind to beat Aston Villa 3-2 in a dramatic match and return to the top of the Premier League. When Gabriel Agbonlahor headed into the net on 57 minutes, it looked as if Villa were on course to record their first victory at Old Trafford since 1983 but intense pressure from United coupled with poor late defending from Villa means that it’s now nine games without a win for Martin O’Neill’s men.
Villa began the match with Nikey Shorey enjoying a rare start at left back and Luke Young reverting to his favoured right back position. Gabriel Agbonlahor came back into the Villa side to partner John Carew as Martin O’Neill stuck bravely with a 4-4-2 formation. Villa fans were making a lot of noise inside Old Trafford as the match kicked off and Villa attacked United from the kick off. Van Der Sar had to be alert to punch clear from a good delivery by Ashley Young on two minutes and a minute later, Shorey’s ball into the box was cleared behind by Evra for a Villa corner. Fletcher had to clear off the line from Carew’s header from the resulting corner.
Martin O’Neill has spoken in recent weeks about the need for Villa to cut out individual mistakes and wont have been happy with events on 12 minutes. Uncertainty between Milner and Friedel resulted in United winning an indirect free kick in a dangerous area following Milner’s back pass. Up stepped Ronaldo who curled the ball over Villa’s defence and into the far corner of the net. Friedel perhaps should have done better and moved over the side as his view was impaired by his wall. Milner earnt a silly booking for not retreating the whole 10 yards back. United might have scored just a minute later when Cuellar had to be strong to deny Ryan Giggs a goal-scoring opportunity.
But Villa refused to cave in and on 18 minutes Ashley Young hit a well struck free kick which needed a flying save from the United keeper to keep it out. Villa’s front two of Carew and Agbonlahor were causing problems for United’s makeshift backline and Agbonlahor did well to beat Neville on 24 minutes. His ball into the box was well held by Van der Sar ahead of Carew. Villa were deservily level on 29 minutes when a superb ball into the box by Gareth Barry was met by John Carew who pulled off the back of Gary Neville to head the ball into the corner of the net. The confidence which Villa showed in earlier away games seemed to flow back into their play and on 32 minutes, Ashley Young hit a good ball into the box and Carew did well to wriggle past a few United defenders and deliver a ball back into the danger zone. Ashley Young used his pace again a minute later but this time his cross was too long for carew.
Nani and Carrick were restricted to shots from long range as Villa refused to let United in near goal.
Villa began the second half by continuing to frustrate the home side and took the lead on 57 minutes. Carew casually flicked the ball into the area for Agbonlahor who headed the ball unchallenged past a helpless Van der Sar. The goal sent the Villa fans ecstatic as they tasted the possibility of a first win at Old Trafford in 25 years. But it was to be false hope. The goal finally woke United up and they began attacking the Villa goal with wave after wave. Young striker Macheda replaced Nani on 60 minutes as Sir Alex Fergison looked to give United more cuttin edge in attack. United appealed for a penalty on 66 minutes when Fletcher went down in the box but he clearly fell over and was told that by Villa skipper Gareth Barry who ordered the player to get up.
The Villa defence which up until that point had looked solid began to wobble badly. But with United going all out attack, gaps were appearing at the back for United with Agbonlahor’s pace still likely to cause them problems. O’Neill made a rare substition on 75 minutes by replacing James Milner with Nigel Reo-Coker. Giggs was starting to get plenty of the ball and his crosses were being frantically kicked away by the panicking Villa defence. Ashley Young was booked on 78 minutes as frustration began to show. The pressure paid off for United when they levelled the score on 80 minutes. That man Ronaldo was there again to send his shot past Fridel despite not hitting it that sweetly.
Old Trafford was now back in full voice and United began to stretch Villa every time they attacked. A Fletcher shot on 83 minutes was hit well and shortly after Gareth Barry was caught napping which almost let Ronaldo in but his effort was over the bar. Tevez was replaced by 18 year olf Danny Wellbeck on 87 minutes as United went all out for a vital winner. There were sighs of amazement from the Villa section of Old Trafford when it was announced that five minutes of added time would be played.
Petrov almost found Ashley Young clear on 91 minutes but it was Manchester United who grabbed all three points. 17 year old Federico Macheda turned and hit a great shot past Fridel into the net on 92 minutes. He was booked for his wild celebrations but fergie wont mind that. For him, it was a vital victory after two setbacks recently against arch rivals Liverpool and Fulham and puts United one point clear of Liverpool at the top of the Barclays Premier League with a game in hand. It was so harsh on Villa who deserved a point out of the game but were not able to defend well enough or see the game out.
Villa Ratings:
(1) Brad Friedel - 5 - Shaky all afternoon. Made one decent save with his fingertips but never looked comfortable.
(2) Luke Young - 6 - seemed to panic when United grabbed their second and at least partly at fault for United’s winner. More comfortable at right back though today overall.
(3) Nickey Shorey - 7 - came back into the side and produced the goods. Not afraid to burst forward and good defensively
(4) Carlos Cuellar - 7 - Frustrated Tevez for most of the afternoon
(5) Curtis Davies - 6 - Wobbled near the end after being a bit brighter. His confidence looks rock bottom.
(6) Stilyan Petrov - 7 - Always had a hard job today but did well at times and looked to get forward when possible
(7) Gareth Barry - 7 - Worked hard and delivered an excellent cross for Carew’s goal. A much better display from Villa’s captain
(8) Gabriel Agbonlahor - 8 - His pace unsettled United all afternoon
(9) John Carew - 9 - Villa’s man of the match. Scored one and created one. A constant threat
(10) James Milner - 7 - A much improved performance but made awful mistake for United’s opening goal.
(11) Ashley Young - 7 - Looked very dangerous particularly in the first half but needs to kick out silly bookings and keep his concentration for the whole 90 minutes
Sub
Nigel Reo-Coker 5 (For Milner) - Not so sure this changed the game or cost Villa. You could see Martin’s thinking in trying to settle for 2-1 but I always think it’s dangerous trying to defend at Old Trafford and Milner would have been useful on the break in the latter stages.
