MANCHESTER UNITED will face Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fourth round after beating Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
United made a dream start, with Scott McTominay heading in early on from a superb cross from Fred.
Danny Ings thought he had responded for the Villans, but his leveller was disallowed by VAR after a lengthy delay.
And despite a feisty second half – and another Villa goal ruled out for offside – Ralf Rangnick’s side saw things out.
- Final score: Man Utd 1-0 Aston Villa
Follow ALL the latest with our live blog below…
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Gerr-ard luck loss
Steven Gerrard refuses to blame the dodgy VAR decision on his side crashing out of the FA CUp against Manchester United.
But the no-nonsense Liverpool legend cannot help having a dig at the confused system.
He said: “The officials took three and a half minutes to settle that one. They have looked at two or three things in it.
“When VAR is there and they make a decision you have to accept it. There is nothing you can do to change it.
“The easy way out is to blame luck and the officials, we won’t do that.”
VAR from perfect
Rangnick is too clever to get carried away thinking his side is the finished article.
They were luck y to win today and he admits it.
He said: “To say that this was a perfect game, nobody would believe that of course it was not.
“We still have quite a few things we can get better at but clean sheet was important today and we worked together.
“Still a lot of things to improve but it is easier to do that with a 1-0 win.”
Captain futuristic
After a lacklustre performance, saved by a Scott McTominay goal, United boss Ralf Rangnick tippde the Scot to be a future captain.
He said: “”He is an academy boy, his energy is amazing.
“He now also starts scoring goals and also with some leadership skills.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if in a couple of years he would be the captain of this team.”
Typical underwhelming United
Former Man City and Villa defender Micah Richards was scathing of Ralf Rangnick’s side.
The former England defender finds them thoroughly dull.
He said: “Typical Manchester United again.
“Underwhelming, not great but at least Scott McTominay popped up with a goal.
“They won today, so you have to take the positives but nowhere near good enough.”
Short on confidence?
Varane reckons his side is struggling for confidence right now, despite their 1-0 win and FA Cup progress.
He said: “When it was not possible to play higher up the pitch we were compact and did not let them play easily.
“We had to be aggressive and as a result it is good. We are happy.
“We need more confidence, we need to be together and I think we are in a good way.”
United squad united?
Varane is asked about the squad morale that is allegedly fractious.
But the summer signing dodges the question expertly.
He said: “We just have to be focused on our job.
“We have to fight, we have to fight for our fans. That is it.”
Raph VARane speaks
The United defender says Danny Ings’ goal was right to be ruled out – following a long VAR consultation – after Edinson Cavani was barged off the ball.
He said: “It was a long moment! I think it is the right decision.
“It is just a moment in the game and I think the spirit of the team was good.”
VARsical decision
Alan Shearer is not sure Danny Ings’ goal should have been ruled out for a block on Edinson Cavani.
The former striker said after United’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa: “I am not 100 per cent certain Cavani is getting back for the goal.
“Is it a clear and obvious error? I am not certain it is because I am not certain Cavani would get to the ball.”
Second best
Alan Shearer says what we are all thinking.
Toon great tells BBC: “Aston Villa created chances, they will look back on this game with regret. They should have scored.
“It was not a good performance from Manchester United.
“They were second best for large parts of that second half.”
Man United 1 Aston Villa 0
FULL TIME
Manchester United sneak into the Fourth Round of the FA Cup after being peppered by Aston Villa.
Steven Gerrard’s men crash out the cup after having two goals disallowed.
This United team is either slowly improving or chugging toward a disaster.
Man United 1 Aston Villa 0
95 Another man-of-the-match performance from Scott McTominay.
Lively Elanga wins his side another late corner and takes it short with Greenwood.
Villa snatch it back and hoof long.
But United earn a throw and return to running down the fading clock.
Man United 1 Aston Villa 0
91 Elanga gets right involved with a brilliant dash down the left and a clever low cross but nobody is there in red to score.
Villa escape a rare United attack.
Lingard does well and feeds Greenwood who pings another shot right down Martinez’s throat.
Man United 1 Aston Villa 0
88 Ezri Konsa is getting treatment on a busted nose or top lip that is bleeding.
Luke Shaw seemed to catch him with an arm but it was not deemed a serious foul.
The actions resumes with a big De Gea boot.
Man United 1 Aston Villa 0
86 Fernandes and Rashford are hooked for Elanga and Lingard.
Ramsey has left for Villa with 19-year-old Philogene-Bidace entering the fray.
Fernandes looks angry while Rashford is rank dejected.
Will he be hanging about under Ralf?
Man United 1 Aston Villa 0
83 Ings misses a header so United race up the other end.
The frustrated United crowd keep ordering their men to “shoooooot” but none of them are bold enough.
Villa switch formation to 4-3-3- in the effort to grab a late and deserved equaliser.
United make a double substitution.
Man United 1 Aston Villa 0
80 Fernandes and Fred swap passes before United win a corner off Ramsey.
A goal here will deflate Villa, after so many missed chances.
Fernandes whips the ball in and Mings powers a header away.
United grab it back but are ransacked before Villa blow the counter attack.
Man United 1 Aston Villa 0
74 Mason Greenwood passes another ‘shot’ into the arms of Villa keep Martinez.
The United striker gets another chance with a one-on-one but his firmer shot is well saved.
Rashford bizarrely refuses to lunge in for the rebound.
Man United 1 Aston Villa 0
71 Villa have another chance as Watkins curls one just wide with his left foot.
Villa have battered the home side and just not managed to score a legal goal.
Rangnick is about to sling outcast Donny Van De Beek a bone as Cavani gets hooked for him.
Can the Dutchman finally prove his worth to Old Trafford?
Man United 1 Aston Villa 0
Luke Shaw ends another Villa attack with a cinical foul and goes in the book.
Cries of “you fat b******” ring out from the visiting fans.
Villa waste the free-kick but United now have a couple of players on yellows.
Man United 1 Aston Villa 0
62 Villa on the front foot again, wave after wave of pressure but De Gea is solid.
Is Ralf Rangnick ice cool in the United technical area or is he winging this by the seat of his pants?
Villa are all over his side but just cannot score. United are scraping into the next round of the FA Cup, at this rate.
Man United 1 Aston Villa 0
60 Another Villa goal ruled out.
Buendia slips in Ings who dinks De Gea before Watkins taps in.
But Ings was offside when he was played in so the score remains 1-0.
Lidelof was injured during that and is getting treatment on the side of the pitch.
Man United 1 Aston Villa 0
58 Bit of argy bargy after McGinn crashes into Fred.
The Scot has the hump over the disallowed goal and poor Fred is the human stress ball getting the brunt of the anger.
The action is up and down like a basketball game now. Both sides creating chances and looking shaky at the back.
Man United 1 Aston Villa 0
The goal is chalked off for a foul on Cavani from Ramsey.
The long-haired striker was body checked by the young Villa midfield and barged to the deck before Ings headed in.
Such a long delay but now looks a fair decision.
Man United 1 Aston Villa 1
Was Ings offside?
The Villa fans hold their breath.
Does Watkins flick it on to Ings from an offside position?
Boos ring out over the delay.
Michael Oliver has been told to view on the monitor a possible block on Cavani from Ramsey.
Man United 1 Aston Villa 1
51 Villa equalise through Danny Ings after Man United fail to defend a simple free-kick dangled into the box.
Terrible defending.
Goal now being checked by VAR.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
