Manchester United 2, Aston Villa 2
Manchester United missed the chance to go above Spurs into 5th after they were denied by Tyrone Mings’ equaliser for Aston Villa.
http://gty.im/1191263171Jack Grealish had opened the scoring before United struck back, forcing a Tom Heaton own goal and going ahead through Victor Lindelof’s header but they couldn’t hold on as Mings quickly equalised and Villa held on to force a third draw at home for United this term.
Grealish skipped inside Andreas Pereira and curled in a wonderful opening goal for Villa after collecting Anwar El Ghazi’s cross from the right after just 11 minutes.
Villa thought they had scored again after Wesley’s layoff to Trezeguet was finished by the sub – on for the injured El Ghazi – but there was an offside flag in the build-up after Conor Hourihane’s lob to Grealish who cut it back to the Brazilian.
Marcus Rashford rolled a deflected lay off by Juan Mata wide but Villa were cutting through United’s ramshackle defence at will.
Conor Hourihane’s free kick hit Juan Mata’s hand which was behind his back.
Trezeguet’s cross was almost converted by an unmarked Grealish as he slid in while Aaron Wan-Bissaka had a shot saved by Heaton.
United had more chances in the second half as the game opened up for both sides.
Fred’s cross from the right was flicked on by Wesley before Victor Lindelof stole in at the back post and headed United into the lead in the 62nd minute.
Villa were quickly level just 4 minutes later when Matt Targett’s cross was converted by Tyrone Mings with a low volley.
The big England defender declined to celebrate until his goal was confirmed by VAR in case he was offside.
United could have got ahead again after that but Martial’s chip cleared the crossbar and Fred headed a Daniel James cross into the arms of Heaton.
Harry Maguire had a header cleared off the line by Mings, and the Reds were all over a tiring Villa in the final minutes but couldn’t find the winner.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 2, Aston Villa 2
David De Gea: 6. Tipped over a rasper by Trezeguet.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 6. Spent a lot of time attacking but his crossing was average and he was bypassed for the Jack Grealish goal.
Victor Lindelof: 7. Robbed early on. Furious with his fellow defenders after Trezeguet’s goal for Villa was ruled out for offside by VAR. Scored in second half to put United ahead.
Harry Maguire: 6. Booked for rash foul. Pushed upfield at times.
Brandon Williams: 6. Another promising Premier League appearance for the young left back.
Andreas Pereira: 6. Sitting deeper in midfield but wrongfooted by Jack Grealish for his goal and distribution wayward. His cross was converted in a fashion for Marcus Rashford’s effort which went in off Tom Heaton.
Fred: 7. Crashed a shot over the bar early on and tried again in the second with a more wayward effort. Neat in possession and his second half cross was converted by Victor Lindelof after getting flicked on by Wesley.
Daniel James: 6. Not much chance to get a head of steam going, few chances to cross but little danger.
Juan Mata: 6. Clever tricks and flicks and an appeal for a penalty, but generally pedestrian and taken off.
Marcus Rashford: 6. Fortunate to force an own goal off Tom Heaton after his close range header came off the post and in off the goalkeeper’s back.
Anthony Martial: 7. Tested Tom Heaton despite inconsistent service but couldn’t find the perfect shooting position and inexplicably missed from close range 12 minutes from the end trying to chip Heaton.
Jesse Lingard (on for Juan Mata, 74): 6. No impact.
Luke Shaw (on for Brandon Williams, 79): No time to mark.
Mason Greenwood (on for Anthony Martial, 82): No time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester United 2, Aston Villa 2
Man Utd 0, Aston Villa 1: 11. Anwar El Ghazi’s cross was curled in by Jack Grealish from 12 yards out the left wing after he cut back inside on his right foot
Man Utd 1, Aston Villa 1: 42. Marcus Rashford’s header from 4 yards out came back off the post and in off the luckless Tom Heaton for an own goal following a pinpoint deep cross from the right by Andreas Pereira after a United short corner routine saw the ball passed back down the right flank to him.
Man Utd 2, Aston Villa 1: 62. Fred’s cross from the right was flicked on by Wesley before Victor Lindelof stole in at the back post and headed United into the lead in the 62nd minute.
Man Utd 2, Aston Villa 2: 66. Matt Targett’s dinked cross into the United area was volleyed home by Tyrone Mings. He doesn’t celebrate until VAR confirms no offside.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 2, Aston Villa 2
Man Utd: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Williams (Shaw 79), Pereira, Fred, James, Mata (Lingard 74), Rashford, Martial (Greenwood 82)
Man Utd Subs not used: Grant, Young, Garner, Tuanzebe
Booked: Maguire 7 (Hauling down Anwar El Ghazi), Fred 24 (foul on Jack Grealish), Williams 62 (Pulling shirt of Trezeguet); Shaw 89 (pull back on Jack Grealish)
Goals: Heaton og 42; Lindelof 62
Aston Villa: Heaton, Guilbert, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Luiz, Hourihane (Lansbury 81), El Ghazi (Trezeguet 17), Wesley, Grealish
Aston Villa Subs not used: Nyland, Nakamba, Engels, Kodjia, El Mohamady
Booking: Guilbert (foul on Brandon Wlliams 90+3)
Goals: Grealish 11; Mings 66
Referee: Craig Pawson
Attendance: 73,381