MANCHESTER UNITED have secured their first win under new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe – but they had to dig deep.
John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker put the visitors two up inside the first 30 minutes.
But Alejandro Garnacho’s delightful double levelled the score.
And Rasmus Hojlund grabbed the winner with his first Premier League goal of the season.
- RESULT: Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa
- Live stream/TV: Amazon Prime Video
- Man Utd XI: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Evans, Dalot; Mainoo, Eriksen; Fernandes, Rashford, Garnacho; Hojlund
- Villa XI: Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Lenglet, Digne; Luiz, Dendoncker, Bailey, Ramsey; McGinn; Watkins.
- Explainer: Who is Sir Jim Ratcliffe?
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Who’s next?
This is how the next four games look for Manchester United, they need to try and build some consistency, and if they can go on a good run, they should be in a good spot come the end of the season.
Forest will not be an easy opponent, and will be buoyed after their victory today, and then they face Spurs who are having a good season too.
Match stats
These are the match stats at full-time.
A 3-2 win for United was a fair reflection on the game when all said and done, and they came out fighting in the second half.
They will need to keep this clinical finishing up against Forest and Spurs in the upcoming games if they want to continue to rise up the table.
Garnacho channels his inner CR7
He grew up idolising Cristiano, but today he etched his name into Manchester United folklore after he grasped the game and dragged his team to the win.
He was man of the match, and absolutely exceptional out there today.
Both of his goals were well taken, and he showed maturity and quality in abundance.
This is one of the best days of my life”
Alejandro Garnacho
Hojlund gets his goal!
What a belated Christmas gift that was for Rasmus Hojlund, the winning goal in a thriller against Villa after being 2-0 down.
He was poor in the first half, with his first touch looking like he was wearing Timberland boots.
Nonetheless, he stepped up when his team needed a goal the most, and his sumptuous left footed finish into the corner saw him end his Premier League goal drought.
I am the happiest man alive right now”
Rasmus Hojlund
Hojlund is no longer waiting on that miracleCredit: Getty FULL-TIME! Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa
FT. The referee calls the game to a close, and that is an enormous three points and result for Erik ten Hag and Manchester United!
What a game!
Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa
90+9. Villa are unable to put anything together, and they haven’t really been able to for most of this second half.
Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa
90+7. United just trying to see this one out now, and it looks as though they are going to do so!
This is a huge three points for United if they can indeed get it.
Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa
90+4. Dan Gore and Hannibal are coming on for Man Utd.
They are replacing Christian Eriksen and Alejandro Garnacho.
Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa
90+2. Alejandro Garnacho goes down injured with cramp, but gets back up on his feet.
Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa
90. There are nine minutes of added time here.
Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa
88. Willy Kambwala comes on to replace Rasmus Hojlund.
He is hugely applauded thanks to his first goal.
Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa
85. Villa now find themselves needing a goal just to salvage a draw!
McGinn comes forward, but is dispossessed before the ball is cleared away by McTominay.
Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa
82. What a turnaround by Man Utd, and what a relief for Rasmus Hojlund!
They have been deserving of the victory based on this second half performance!
What a showing!GOALLLLLL! Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa
80. Antony dispossesses Lenglet and wins a corner, it is whipped into the middle by Bruno Fernandes and HOJLUND FINISHES IT OFF!
Andre Onana is up to join in the celebrations!
1026 minutes with no goal, and he finally gets off the mark!It’s a left footed volley from inside the area! Merry Christmas Rasmus Hojlund!
Man Utd 2-2 Aston Villa
78. Rashford goes down, and his nights work is now done as Antony comes on to replace him.
Kobbie Mainoo is replaced by Scott McTominay too.
Man Utd 2-2 Aston Villa
76. Diaby and Zaniolo are set to come on for Villa here.
They will replace Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey.
Man Utd 2-2 Aston Villa
72. Man Utd have been really on the front foot in the second half, and are fully deserving of the draw here.
“Viva Garnacho” rings around Old Trafford.
Bruno Fernandes is booked for losing his temper at Douglas Luiz.
Man Utd 2-2 Aston Villa
70. The corner comes to nothing, but United keep the ball and come on the attack again.
Bruno works the ball into the middle to Garnacho, WHO SMASHES IT HOME!
THEY HAVE LEVELLED THE SCORING HERE.
Man Utd 1-2 Aston Villa
68. Man Utd are coming forwards again here with Garnacho, and he wins a corner for the Red Devils.
Man Utd 1-2 Aston Villa
65. Hojlund gets through on goal and thinks he is shoved to ground by Diego Carlos.
That could be contentious for a VAR review, but the offside flag negates that regardless.
Man Utd 1-2 Aston Villa
63. Onana plays a great ball up the field for Garnacho, who bodies the defender and takes a shot that goes just wide of the target.
Man Utd 1-2 Aston Villa
61. Villa come straight back on the attack with Bailey, but his shot is well saved.
GOALLLLL! Man Utd 1-2 Aston Villa
58. Alejandro Garnacho gets his goal!
Great play from Rashford down the left side, and he crosses the ball to Garnacho to tap home!
Man Utd 0-2 Aston Villa
56. Fernandes takes a good strike at goal, but Martinez makes another good save.
United look much more dangerous in the second half than in the first.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
