BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 06: Erik ten Hag, Manager of Manchester United, reacts during the Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Manchester United FC at Villa Park on October 06, 2024 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Manchester United went five matches without victory after a goalless draw against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
Premier League
Result: Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
Date: 06 October 2024
Venue: Villa Park
Man United were boosted by the availability of Bruno Fernandes, whose red-card against Tottenham Hotspur, in a 3-1 defeat, was rescinded.
Fernandes joined Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund in attack for Erik ten Hag’s charges.
Villa were more on the front foot in the early exchanges but it was only after 20 minutes that they came close through Jaden Philogene, whose shot flashed just past the post.
Unai Emery’s men continued to shade the possession stakes and took the initiative to open up United but they could not find spaces in the last third.
The Red Devils did not offer much going forward and needed to improve in the second stanza, as the first stanza was without goals.
United had an immediate response from the interval, as three minutes in Rashford forced an acrobatic save from goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez with a dipping strike.
However, Villa were also up for it going forward, as seven minutes later Youri Tielemans also made shot-stopper Andre Onana to do some work with a strike that stretched the Cameroonian.
Man United gained momentum but Rashford was on the edge with a booking already and just after the hour-mark, the Dutch tactician took him off and brought on Antony.
Antony brought spark upfront for United as moments later Fernandes almost broke the deadlock with a well hit strike from range that came off the crossbar.
It was anybody’s game in the dying minutes and Philogene had a big chance for Emery’s men in added time after he went through on goal unmarked at the back post but his shot was crucially blocked by Diogo Dalot.
There was no winner in the end, as the sides settled for a point apiece as United extended their winless run in the league to three matches and five in all competitions.
United have collected points from their opening seven league games, which is the lowest since the 1989/90 season when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge.
.