Aston Villa 3-1 Manchester United Match Report
Manchester United dropped to a 3–1 defeat at Aston Villa, giving them their first defeat at Villa Park since 1999.Unai Emery won his first game in charge of Aston Villa after beating Manchester United at Villa Park on Sunday.
The head coach scored his first Premier League home win against the Red Devils since 1995 thanks to an excellent start in B6.
Leon Bailey opened up in the seventh minute, before Lucas Digne scored an impressive free-kick to double the lead soon after.
Luke Shaw’s shot saved just before half-time did little to trouble the hosts, who took all three points when Jacob Ramsey finished off Ollie Watkins’ pass minutes after the restart.
Emery, who was warmly welcomed as he came out of the tunnel, made two starting position changes in the team’s final game against Newcastle United, bringing in Dean and Ramsey.
And his changes brought almost immediate results, as Ramsey was instrumental in the opening goal in the seventh minute. Local hero Watkins picked up the ball after some good work, passed it to Bailey and saw the Jamaican shoot with a left foot to David de Gea in the far corner.
Less than four minutes later, Emery’s decision to bring Dean back to the team also paid off. After Shaw brought down Ramsey, the Frenchman took a step forward and took a free kick over the wall with De Gea’s desperation kicking wide.
Emi Martinez, guiding his midfield teammates, celebrated like no one else in the world and in the first half hour, which was his biggest commitment, Villa had no problems in defence.
However, United began to recover in the last third and two good saves were made by the Argentine with a shot from Alejandro Garnacha and a header from Cristiano Ronaldo.
Seconds before first-half overtime, Martinez was defeated when Shaw’s mid-court shot deflected Ramsey and flew into the half of Villa’s manless goal.
The home team started the second half with renewed intent in attack: Bailey fired hard at De Gea just eight seconds after the restart.
Villa’s attacking focus was soon rewarded when a more fantastic play by Watkins, who dribbled into the United area midway before pulling the ball back, saw Ramsey finish from close range with a simple finish.
After regaining the two-goal lead, Emery’s team continued to play fluidly and confidently in attack, limiting the visitors to promising moments at the other end.
Returning from a six-game absence, Boubacar Kamara, Ashley Young and Danny Ings were sent off with 12 minutes remaining, while Watkins, Emmi Buendia and Digne received a standing ovation.
The changes had the desired effect of ending the match without further incident, leaving a full stadium to serenade Villa and his new coach at the final whistle.
Martínez, Cash, Konsa, Digne (Young 79′), Mings, Buendía (Ings 79′), Bailey (McGinn 70′), Douglas Luiz, Ramsey, Dendoncker (Sanson 90′), Watkins (Kamara 78′)
Substitutes: Young, Ings, Kamara, Chambers, Olsen, Sanson, McGinn, Augustinsson, Bednarek
Manchester United:
Substitutes: Malacia, Elanga, Shoretire, Pellistri, Dúbravka, Maguire, Fred, Martial, McTominay
Scorers:
Leon Bailey (7′), Lucas Digne (11′), Jacob Ramsey (49′)
Manchester United:
Jacob Ramsey (45′ own goal)
Bookings:
Mings, Luiz, E. Martinez
Manchester United:
Shaw, Ronaldo, Dalot
Man of the Match: Jacob Ramsey
