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Bruno Fernandes’ only missed penalty since joining Manchester United 12 months ago was at Newcastle in October
Manchester United leveled on points with Premier League leaders Liverpool when a Bruno Fernandes penalty killed stubborn Aston Villa.
Fernandes scored his 11th goal in the league this season, and his fifth from the point, in the bottom corner to punish Douglas Luiz’s clip on Paul Pogba and give United an eighth win in 10 games.
Bertrand Traore’s quiet finish under David de Gea had deservedly gained Villa’s level, canceling Anthony Martial’s crouched header in the first half for the hosts.
But Fernandes’ penalty extended United’s control over Villa – they have now won 32 and lost just one of the last 44 league games between the teams – and leaves Liverpool on top only by virtue of goal difference.
Villa could be considered unfortunate for not leaving Old Trafford with at least one point from a thoroughly entertaining game, but they also needed several good saves from Emiliano Martinez to keep them at it.
After Fernandes’ shot put United back in front, Martinez gave a magnificent spike to a stinging 25-yard shot from the Portuguese off the crossbar and denied Martial a second.
Martinez’s counterpart David de Gea was just as busy, with a late save from Matty Cash’s long-range attack that preserved the points, shortly after Tyrone Mings had opened wide with a glorious opportunity to level. .
- Reaction to Manchester United v Aston Villa and Everton v West Ham
United showing that they are serious
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team has shown its ability to score points at Old Trafford in recent weeks, as evidenced by 1-0 home wins over West Bromwich Albion and Wolves.
But they have also shown their willingness to go toe-to-toe with teams who are happy to open the game and while this was not quite the penalty shootout in the 6-2 win over Leeds, it was just as pleasing to look at . .
A series of fluid movements in the first half produced opportunities before Martial’s opener, as the French forward saw a curling iron overturned by Martinez, while Fernandes and Wan-Bissaka narrowly strayed with similar efforts.
Anthony Martial’s only other goal in the Premier League this season was in a 3-2 win at Sheffield United
Martial stole between Mings and Ezri Konsa to nod the Red Devils ahead of handsome center Wan-Bissaka for his second league goal of the season on his return to Solskjaer’s starting lineup.
While Luiz was unlucky enough to be penalized for what could have been an accidental clip on Pogba, there was enough contact for him to pay off and Fernandes continued his excellent record from point.
United were nine points behind Liverpool after a 1-0 loss to Arsenal at Old Trafford on November 1, but they have regained that gap in just two months to launch an intriguing title run.
A minute’s silence before the game paid tribute to former boss Tommy Docherty, who prevented Liverpool from achieving the treble by leading United to an FA Cup victory over the Reds in 1977.
And while talk of foiling a second straight Liverpool title might be premature, moving alongside them at the Premier League summit will give Solskjaer’s side even more confidence as they await a trip to Anfield on January 17.
Awesome villa even in defeat
While Villa was ultimately outmatched by his hosts, his brave display was further proof of the progress Dean Smith’s team has made this season.
They held their ground in the first half, causing United a series of flank problems, with playmaker Jack Grealish goading and investigating to show why the hosts have long considered a move for the Villa captain.
But they were even more impressive in the early stages of the second period, as Grealish crossed for Watkins’s header that was stopped by De Gea before receiving a quick free kick and finding Traore to score the tying goal.
Luiz’s foul on Pogba came with Villa on the rise and although they then had to endure a storm, the visitors still came close to pinching a point when Mings beat his England teammate, center midfielder Harry Maguire, on a solo free kick to nod off.
With Ross Barkley’s return from a hamstring injury imminent, this performance should keep Villa upbeat even if the loss halted a five-game unbeaten streak and saw them slide to sixth place, behind Chelsea by difference. goals.
And while their lousy Old Trafford record continues – just one win in 34 visits since 1983, which came courtesy of a Gabriel Agbonlahor header in 2009 – they have still only conceded five times in eight away games this season.
Man of the match
Bruno FernandesBruno Fernandes
with an average of 7.57
- Man UtdManchester UnitedManchester UnitedAston VillaAston VillaAston Villa
Manchester United Avg Squad Number18 Player Name Bruno Fernandes Average Score
7.57
Squad Number 3 Player Name Bailly Average Rating
7.50
Squad number 1 Name of Gea player Average rating
7.40
Squad Number 6 Player Name Pogba Average Rating
7.31
Squad Number 5 Player Name Maguire Average Rating
7.10
Squad number 9 Player name Martial Average rating
7.01
Squad Number 29 Player Name Wan-Bissaka Average Rating
6.90
Squad Number 23 Player Name Shaw Average Rating
6.78
Squad number 10 Player name Rashford Average rating
6.71
Squad number 17 Player name Fred Average rating
6.42
Squad number 31 Player name Matático Average rating
6.09
Squad Number 39 Player Name McTominay Average Rating
5.93
Squad number 38 Player name Tuanzebe Average rating
5.71
Squad number 21 Player name James Average rating
5.67
Aston VillaAvgTeam Number10Player NameGrealishAverage Score
7.56
Squad number 26 Player name Martínez Average rating
7.21
Squad number 2 Player name Cash Average rating
6.69
Squad Number 7 Player Name McGinn Average Rating
6.58
Squad number 15 Player name Traoré Average rating
6.21
Squad number 21 Player name El Ghazi Average rating
6.17
Squad Number 4 Player Name Konsa Average Rating
6.15
Squad Number 5 Player Name Mings Average Rating
6.06
Squad number 6 Player name Douglas Luiz Average rating
6.04
Squad Number 11 Player Name Watkins Average Rating
6.03
Squad number 18 Player name Goal Average
6.02
Squad number 39 Player name Davis Average rating
5.56
Squad Number 41 Player Name Ramsey Average Rating
5.55
- Lineups Match Statistics Live Text
LineupsMan Utd
- 1by Gea29Wan-Bissaka3BaillyReserved at 55 minutes5MaguireReserved at 49 minutes23ShawBooked in 89 minutes17Fred Replaced byTuanzebeat 90 + 4 minutes 39McTominay Replaced by Maticat 65 minutesReserved at 90 minutes6Pogba18Bruno Fernandes Replaced byJamesat 87’minutes9Martial10Rashford
Substitutes
- 8Mata11Greenwood14Lingard21James26Henderson27Telles31Matic34van by Beek38Tuanzebe
Aston Villa
- 26Martínez2Cash4Konsa5Mings18Targett6Douglas Luiz7McGinn15TraoréReplaced byRamseyat 79’minutes10Grealish21El GhaziReplaced byDavisat 84’minutes11Watkins
Substitutes
- 1Heaton3Taylor14Hourihane19Nakamba24Guilbert27El Mohamady30Hause39Davis41Ramsey
Referee: Michael OliverMatch StatsHome TeamMan UtdAway TeamAston VillaPossessionHome49% Away51% ShotsHome19Away15 Shots on targetHome9Away5CornersHome5Away10FoulsHome22Away10Live TextPost update
End of the match, Manchester United 2, Aston Villa 1.
90 ‘+ 6’ Full time
Second half ends, Manchester United 2, Aston Villa 1.
90 ‘+ 6’Post update
Auction rejected. Keinan Davis (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the center of the box is blocked.
90 ‘+ 6’ Post upgrade
Auction rejected. Keinan Davis (Aston Villa) header from the center of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ollie Watkins with a cross.
90 ‘+ 4’Post update
Offside, Manchester United. Paul Pogba tried a through ball but Marcus Rashford was caught offside.
90 + 4 ‘Change
Change, Manchester United. Axel Tuanzebe replaces Fred.
90 ‘+ 3’Post update
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by David de Gea.
90 ‘+ 3’Post update
Shot stopped brushing the left square. Matthew Cash (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Jack Grealish.
90 ‘+ 2’Post update
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Daniel James.
90 ‘+ 2’Post update
Corner, Aston Villa. Corner committed by Eric Bailly.
90 ‘+ 1’Post update
Foul by Paul Pogba (Manchester United).
90 ‘+ 1’Post update
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90 ‘Reserve
Nemanja Matic (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90’Post update
Foul by Nemanja Matic (Manchester United).
90’Post update
Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
89 ‘Reserve
Luke Shaw (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
89’Post update
Foul by Luke Shaw (Manchester United).
89’Post update
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88’Post update
Daniel James (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
88’Post update
Foul by Matthew Cash (Aston Villa).
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