MANCHESTER UNITED legend Dimitar Berbatov blasted their 0-0 draw at Aston Villa live on Sky Sports – claiming Jonny Evans shamed every other player.
Evans, 36, and Harry Maguire started ahead of Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez at centre-back as United tried to cure their leaky defending.
And although the rearguard was robust, the display was dull – leaving the Red Devils with just eight points from seven Premier League games.
Maguire had to be taken off injured at half-time, but Evans continue to tower over his team-mates.
Not only did the Northern Irishman keep Ollie Watkins quiet, he was just as secure when Villa super-sub Jhon Duran came on for the final half-hour to form a two-man home attack.
Nonetheless, ex-Tottenham striker Berbatov, who was at United from 2008-2012, was stunned by his old team’s all-round plight.
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The Bulgarian told Sky: “I mean I’m trying to find the right words here.
“Everybody on the pitch today should be ashamed because Jonny Evans, credit to him, he’s 36-37, is man of the match.
“Everybody younger than him should take notice and just, I don’t know, just do better.”
But United keeper Andre Onana had little of note to do, except for tipping over a Youri Tielemans thunderbolt.
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In contrast Bruno Fernandes hit the Villa bar with a free-kick, while home stopper Emi Martinez foiled Marcus Rashford twice and sub Antony.
Red Devils’ boss Erik ten Hag said: “I think the performance of United was very good.
“Defending and in possession we controlled the game.
“It was in the balance. We created chances but not loads. Also Villa didn’t create too many chances.
“This is our fourth clean sheet. This tells you we are in a good direction.
“Now also we improve defending counter attacks, and we improve controlling possession. But also we have to improve in the final third.”
Man Utd player ratings vs Villa: Evans rolls back the years with Garnacho let down
MANCHESTER UNITED eased the pressure slightly on boss Erik ten Hag with a hard-grafted stalemate at in-form Aston Villa.
United looked much more solid defensively after Ten Hag rung the changes – though the Red Devils still have just eight points from seven Prem games.
Here’s how SunSport’s Graeme Bryce rated 14th-placed United rated at Villa Park on Sunday.
ANDRE ONANA – 7
Guilty of sloppy distribution once or twice but his hands were safe enough and he did well to beat away a piledriver from Youri Tielemans to keep United on level terms.
NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 6
Managed to contain Jaden Philogene comfortably enough in the first 45 minutes but failed to appear for the second half and was replaced by Victor Lindelof.
HARRY MAGUIRE – 6
Booked for a high forearm challenge on Ollie Watkins but his afternoon ended at half-time after he appeared to jar his knee defending a corner.
JONNY EVANS – 9
Handled Ollie Watkins well in the first 45 and showed all his experience to deal with the twin threat of Watkins and Jhon Duran for the final half hour. Rolled back the years with a five-star display to earn his Man of the Match rating.
DIOGO DALOT – 7
Sat in and rarely got forward but snuffed out the threat of Leon Bailey and was tidy enough. Crucial block to deny Philogene a stoppage time winner.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – 7
Used all his experience to plug any gaps in United’s carefully constructed midfield. Dealt with the threat from Morgan Rogers well.
KOBBIE MAINOO – 7
Nothing flashy from the England midfielder who had his work cut out preventing Youri Tielemans carrying out his magic.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 6
Fired in a first-half shot which Emi Martinez dealt with comfortably but shot hopelessly wide a couple of times after the break. Sloppy finishing let him down.
BRUNO FERNANDES – 8
United’s skipper only played after his red card against Spurs was overturned on appeal.
Kept his cool here to avoid a third red card in three games – came closest for United with a free kick which crashed off the Villa crossbar.
MARCUS RASHFORD – 7
Taken off at half-time in Oporto and taken off after 64 minutes to save himself a second yellow card here!
Looked United’s likeliest match-winner after forcing an early save from Martinez before bringing the best out in the Argentine World Cup winner with a sizzling effort which the ‘keeper tipped over. Booked for a foul on Cash.
RASMUS HOJLUND – 6
Put himself about and was involved in the clash which led to Ezri Konsa limping off. But lacked service and was replaced by Zirkzee just beyond the hour mark. Below par.
SUBS
MATTHIJS DE LIGT for Maguire (46 minutes) – 5 – Conceded a few fouls in dangerous areas. Still finding his feet.
VICTOR LINDELOF for Mazraoui (46 mins) – 6 – First appearance since March but fitted in well as a stand-in right-back. Booked for a foul on Morgan Rogers.
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE for Hojlund (64 mins) – 5 – Miles off the pace, failed to make any impact.
ANTONY for Rashford (64 mins) – 6 – Brought out the best in Emi Martinez with a curler which was heading for the top bin until the keeper plucked it out of mid-air.
CASEMIRO for Mainoo (85 mins) – 6 – Helped see out the match for United.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
