SCOTT McTOMINAY climbed off the bench to score a late winner at Aston Villa as Manchester United made it three in a row.
Rasmus Hojlund had opened the scoring – firing in AGAIN to make it five goals from his last five games.
Douglas Luiz scored a deserved equaliser for Aston Villa, who enjoyed much of the play and chances, especially in the second half.
However, it was super sub McTominay who stole all three points, powering in a perfect Diogo Dalot cross to keep Manchester United in the Champions League race.
- Match result: Aston Villa 1-2 Manchester United
- Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Lenglet, Diego Carlos, Moreno, McGinn, Kamara, Luiz, Ramsey, Bailey, Watkins.
- Manchester United XI: Onana, Dalot, Maguire, Varane, Shaw, Mainoo, Casemiro, Bruno, Rashford, Hojlund, Garnacho.
Follow the action as it happened with our blog below…
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That’s all from Villa Park
After another exhilarating weekend of Premier League football, it has become clear that not only do we have a title race, we all have a charge for Champions League.
And with a dramatic victory at Villa, Manchester United are very much in the mix as the season enters its final third.
There’s still more to come with Crystal Palace and Chelsea set to do battle in the capital tomorrow night, and will be on hand to bring you all the action.
Until then, it’s good ebening from Unai Emery, and goodnight from me.
Emery: Aston Villa deserved more
A disappointed Unai Emery believes his side’s display did not deserve to end in defeat this afternoon.
However, the Spanish coach insists his team are performing above themselves, and they are ahead of schedule in what they are attempting to build at Villa Park.
We deserved more. We weren’t clinical today. Their goalkeeper made some very good saves and they were clinical. We are frustrated but we have to be positive. Manchester United are more of a contender to be where we are than us and we have a gap to them. We have to be strong in the mind and not lose our focus on how we are trying to build the team and be stronger. The performance today was how we are trying to build.
Unai Emery
Extra! Read all about it!
Before we sign off for the evening, let us relive the action with Neil Custis’ match report of Manchester United’s thrilling 2-1 victory at Aston Villa.
What a moment it was to finish an absolute thriller at The Villa which saw Rasmus Hojlund claim yet another goal with his sixth in seven games to open the scoring after 17 minutes. It was a cracking contest from the first whistle, a game full of passion and attacking intent on both sides. This was one clearly both sides were out to win.
Neil Custis
Villa running out of steam?
A relentless force in the title race before Christmas, Aston Villa are now fluffing their lines just to stay in the battle for the top four.
Having only lost three of their opening 18 Premier League games this season (W12 D3), Unai Emery’s team have now lost three of their last six (W2 D1).
The run also includes back-to-back league defeats at Villa Park (and three in all competitions), a home ground where they set a club record of 15 straight wins between March and December.
Ten Hag delighted with fighting spirit
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag revealed he was delighted with the response from his players after being pegged back by Aston Villa.
The Red Devils founds themselves under the cosh for long periods after taking the lead, and looked unlikely to prevail once Douglas Luiz had equalised midway through the second half.
But the visitors rallied and found a late winner when Scott McTominay came off the bench to head home four minutes from time.
The result means United close the gap on Villa above them to five points and keeps them in contention for Champions League football.
It is a massive win. We’ve got closer and that was the aim for today. The way we did it, I liked. I especially liked the first 20 minutes when we controlled the game. At 1-1 we had to fight back and we are really happy.
Erik ten Hag
Great Dane finding his groove
After going his first 14 Premier League games without scoring, Rasmus Hojlund has now netted in each of his last five.
And at 21 years and seven days, the Danish striker becomes the second-youngest player to achieve the feat, behind only Nicolas Anelka who did it for Arsenal in November 1998 (19y 239d).
Scottish super sub sinks Villa
With his late winner, Scott McTominay now has seven Premier League goals to his name this season, the most of any player for Manchester United.
Four of those seven have come when introducted as a substitute, the joint-most by any player in the division in 2023-24 along with Brighton’s Joao Pedro.
Full time view from Villa Park
Erik ten Hag had United fans scratching their heads when he replaced Marcus Rashford with Scott McTominay with 17 minutes remaining.
But any thoughts that it was a defensive move were swept away as the Scottish super-sub struck United’s winner four minutes from the end of an epic 90 minutes.
Kobbie Mainoo set up Diego Dalot wide on the right and the full-back swept in a stunning cross which McTominay pounced on to head powerfully beyond Emi Martinez.
It was the Scot’s latest smash and grab act and it pulled United to within five points of Villa with their fourth win on the spin in all competitions.
Villa will feel robbed as they dominated play after the break but Ten Hag’s switch paid off spectacularly.
Match stats from Villa Park
Aston Villa’s 23 shots were the most in a single Premier League game this season, but they could only convert one when Douglas Luiz diverted in Leon Bailey’s cross.
Full time – Aston Villa 1-2 Man Utd
The final whistle goes – and the gap between Aston Villa in fifth and Manchester United in sixth is down to five points.
It still sounds a tall order for the Red Devils, but it was five minutes away from being eight points and could have easily been 11.
Scott McTominay was the hero, off the bench again to plunder a late winner.
Aston Villa 1-2 Man Utd
90+5. One last push for Villa as United drop all 11 men behind the ball.
Tielemans can’t find room for the shot so Carlos takes over and loops a cross…
…straight at Onana, who drops to the turf with the ball in his hands.
United are almost there.
Aston Villa 1-2 Man Utd
90+3. Garnacho almost seals it on the break but, not for the first time today, an important toe-in by Carlos helps the ball into the hands of Martinez.
Aston Villa 1-2 Man Utd
90. Manchester United will have six minutes to see out if they are to register a big win. What do Villa have left?
Aston Villa 1-2 Man Utd – Aston Villa subsitutions
88. As soon as the ball struck the back of the Villa net, Unai Emery moved to make some final changes.
He’s thrown Nicolo Zaniolo and Lucas Digne for the final minutes with John McGinn and Alex Moreno making way.
Aston Villa 1-2 Man Utd
86. Scott McTominay doing Scott McTominay things!
The much-maligned midfielder has once again come off the bench in a move questioned by many, and popped up with a late goal that could prove vital in the race for Champions League football.
Kobbie Mainoo does brilliantly to hold up play down the right, and then lay the ball into the path of Diogo Dalot.
The Portuguese defender opts to whip his cross over first time, and it’s perfect for the arriving McTominay to power beyond Emiliano Martinez.
It triggers wild scenes of celebrations inside of the away section of Villa Park, and could – should – be enough for three points.
Great Scott!
Aston Villa 1-1 Man Utd
82. A lull in the stadium? Yes. A lull on the pitch? Most definitely. A lull on the touchline? You must be joking.
Unai Emery is going crazy down there, screaming, jumping and pulling the kind of shapes Mr Motivator would be proud of.
The Premier League is undoubtedly a better place with the Spaniard in it.
Aston Villa 1-1 Man Utd
80. Garnacho sets off another mazy run infield from the left.
We knows he’s to good for Cash, but he also accelerates past Tielemans to provide himself room to shoot.
It ends in disappointment though as he fails to get any power in his strike with the ball instead trundling through to his compatriot Martinez.
Aston Villa 1-1 Man Utd
78. As we approach the final ten, there’s the consensus that both sides have settled for the point on offer – which kind of makes a mockery of Erik ten Hag calling the contest a must-win.
Still, United have been really rocked by the need to replace the injured Luke Shaw at the break.
Aston Villa 1-1 Man Utd
76. Casemiro spots his chance to grab the glory as he takes down a loose ball from 30 yards from goal.
The touch is good, the push forward is better, the resulting shot? Meh, not so much.
The view from Villa Park
There was a surprise change at half-time for United as Erik ten Hag replaced Luke Shaw with Victor Lindelof at left back.
It can only be assumed Shaw has an injury because Leon Bailey went on to create United headaches down the left.
But when Villa threaten it’s down the right as Matty Cash flashes in a cross which is met by Ollie Watkins.
However the striker’s shot crashes off Onana’s chest from point blank range.
If you can’t be good be lucky!
Matty Cash is the third player to be booked when he brings down Rashford.
Villa are now well on top and Emery brings on striker Moussa Diaby for holding midfielder Boubacar Kamara.
The pay off is almost instant as Douglas Luiz strikes to draw Villa level after 67 minutes.
Leon Bailey’s corner is fired goalwards by Lenglet and although Onana saves the ball breaks back to Bailey.
He picks out Douglas Luiz and the Brazilian beats Onana from close range.
Game on!
Aston Villa 1-1 Man Utd – Aston Villa substitution
74. And Villa follow suit with a change of their own.
Like Rashford, Leon Bailey has been the pick of the attacking players on show, but his race is run and it’s time for Youri Tielemans.
Aston Villa 1-1 Man Utd – Man Utd substitution
73. Marcus Rashford has looked a real threat at times today, but he’s going to sit the final stages out.
Erik ten Hag decides to shore up proceedings with Scott McTominay.
Aston Villa 1-1 Man Utd – Diaby yellow card
71. Off the ball, Aston Villa substitute Moussa Diaby has been cautioned for bundling over Bruno Fernandes.
This game is anyone’s to win now.
Aston Villa 1-1 Man Utd
70. Garnacho goes close to restoring United’s lead!
A darting run down the left leaves Cash for dead, and when he cuts back inside he lets fly with a low effort that beats Martinez’s outstretched arm – but also beats the post.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
