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Manchester United’s goal-shy attack betrays club’s heritage in Aston Villa draw
After 85 minutes Andre Onana appeared to be time-wasting as he took a goal-kick. “Attack, attack, attack,” chanted the travelling Manchester United fans and it was a moment that summed up the continuing, unsatisfactory tenure of Erik ten Hag.
In isolation an away draw with high-flying Aston Villa is a more than creditable result for a manager fighting to save his job. But in the context of United’s frustrating campaign so far was it – and the nature of it – really good enough?
Ten Hag went into the week, following the terrible 3-0 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur, knowing he probably had two games to convince the club’s hierarchy to not replace him during the forthcoming international breaks. He has won neither. But he has, also, lost neither with the fortunate 3-3 draw with Porto in the Europa League on Thursday followed by a far more encouraging and organised goal-less stalemate here.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe joined his sports adviser Sir Dave Brailsford, the host of executives he hired – Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox – and Sir Alex Ferguson and it felt like they were ‘Les Tricoteuses’ waiting for the guillotine to drop.
Will Ten Hag survive the chop? There will be meetings in the coming days involving the decision-makers and we know, also, that Ratcliffe likes a “process-driven” approach, ie provide the evidence to back up a decision.
That evidence does not look good for Ten Hag even if the prevailing wind, driven by the knowledge that United would prefer to keep him, seems to suggest he will carry on. For now.
Just look at the bare statistics: it is just one win in five and just three wins in 11 in all competitions. They are 14th in the Premier League and have just eight points after seven games. That is their worst total since 1989. They are already six points off the top four and are just five above the relegation zone.
But most damning of all, perhaps, is their goals total given this is United; given their tradition of scoring; given their commitment to attack; given Ferguson – who frankly looked a little bored in the directors’ box – was in attendance.
Goalless away at Villa, whatever the context, would have prompted Ferguson to roll the dice, to throw on more attackers. When United were flying that would have involved introducing players of the calibre of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Teddy Sheringham or, later, Carlos Tevez. Now Ten Hag turns to Joshua Zirkzee who – so far – simply does not look up to it while he had to take off Marcus Rashford before he was sent off with the forward fortunate not to go following a petulant trip on Leon Bailey just seconds after being booked.
In Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho they have talented players but not killers in front of goal. In injury time Garnacho broke free down the right, with Bruno Fernandes unmarked but his attempt to find him was simply woeful.
Zirkzee is not that killer either; neither is Rashford nor Amad Diallo and certainly not Antony. They remain what they are – a team dependent on individual moments. And so the closest they came was a fine free-kick from Fernandes that rebounded off the cross-bar with goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez beaten.
Look at more stats: United have failed to score in four of their last five games and have scored five in seven league matches. Only Southampton, with four, have scored fewer. It is United’s lowest total after seven games since 1972.
It is not just this season. Last season United scored 57 times in 38 league games. Manchester City’s total was 96; Arsenal’s was 91. Sixteenth-place Brentford only scored one goal fewer than United. And the previous campaign which was Ten Hag’s positive first in charge? United finished third but scored only 58 times.
There are more stats. Ferguson averaged 2.01 goals per game. Even if Ten Hag should not be measured against that only Ralf Rangick, of the six managers who have followed Ferguson, has a worse record than the Dutchman’s 1.45 goals a game.
Afterwards Ten Hag, understandably, tried to accentuate the positive and hailed the fact that this was United’s fourth clean sheet of the league campaign. But is that something to really boast about when you are winning so few games? He also conceded that United need to score more. But is his determination to defend hampering their chances? It would appear so.
In saying that United started with Harry Maguire and 36-year-old Jonny Evans – who was their best player – at the heart of their defence. On the bench? Amid a remarkable £350 million worth of substitutes were six big Ten Hag signings including Matthijs de Ligt – who only came on after Maguire was injured – and Lisandro Martínez who was unused.
Maybe, after all, they were fortunate not to lose. Villa manager Unai Emery admitted the result was fair but there were more excuses available to him and not least the number of injuries. There was also the draining – physically and emotionally – Champions League victory over Bayern Munich.
United were also in Europe and played 24 hours later and were away in Portugal so they will point to that and, in truth, this was the meeting of two tired teams. Early on Villa lost Ezri Konsa, to an apparent hamstring injury, and he is expected to pull out of England’s forthcoming Nations League ties.
But they almost won it in injury-time and the landscape would certainly have looked far clearer – and bleaker – for Ten Hag. The ball was allowed to run across the penalty area to Jadon Philogene and his shot appeared set to beat Onana, only for it strike Diogo Dalot on the back and deflect narrowly wide.
How significant will that moment prove to be? Ten Hag will certainly hope it is.
04:32 PM BST
Man Utd fans look away now...
8 - With eight points (W2 D2 L3), this is Manchester United's lowest tally in their opening seven matches of a league season since 1989-90 (7), when they went on to finish 13th under Alex Ferguson - his lowest league finish in charge of the club. Meagre. pic.twitter.com/RF3Z1iBrOo
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 6, 2024
04:29 PM BST
Erik ten Hag speaks to Sky Sports – ‘It’s a long-term process’
On the draw...
“I think it’s the fourth clean sheet this season. You see we had a very good organisation and togetherness. There was good character and good spirit as a team. Determined, resilient.”
On United’s defensive solidity...
“We almost didn’t concede a chance, when you defend like this and get some luck, in the end they had a big chance but it was almost the only chance I think.”
On United’s misfiring attack...
“We created some chances, also not so many chances. We hit the crossbar and also Rashford had chances. But the two teams were really balanced.”
On creating chances this season...
“We create loads of chances in our seven games but we have to step up. We have to take into consideration Hojlund is returning, he’s still coming up to full fitness. But others are stepping up. I was impressed from Rashford, also Garnacho is so good, and Antony at the end.”
On whether Rashford could have been shown a red card...
“Yes that was one of the reasons to take him off. If it was another foul probably he would be sent off. We can’t take another risk.”
On the lack of goals...
“We know in this moment we have a lack of goals, in that perspective it’s not a good start, we have to step up. That’s an area we have to improve. But we have four clean sheets. That’s good because we have to defend proper.”
Has he spoken to the club’s hierarchy?
“We always speak, every week we speak. We are all on board together, on one page, we know what we are working through it’s a long-term process. We have come through two very tough away games. This is a team, we showed the belief and faith we have.”
04:18 PM BST
Jonny Evans speaks to Sky Sports – ‘It’s still a privilege to play for this club’
On the result...
“We got a point against a good side away from home. The other night conceding three we wanted to be more defensive-minded to give ourselves a chance. We were looking for that one moment of quality, maybe on the counter and we nearly got it at the end.”
On how the hosts played...
“Fair play to Villa. They’re good players and you never feel comfortable. You’ve always got to be on your toes and ready.”
On winning man of the match as the oldest player on the pitch...
“I still feel like I’m playing the game I always have, I still feel like I have speed in the legs to get me out of the bad moments.”
On whether playing for Man Utd is as fun as it used to be...
“It’s still a privilege to play for this club. The pressures that come with it, it’s part of it. You see the fans at the end, the support they give the team. They have supported the players massively over the years.”
On what the draw means for Ten Hag...
“It was great for him [Erik ten Hag] to see that. The other night he got a bit emotional, you could see it on him, letting that game slip away. You could see everyone was running into the ground to get a half decent result.”
04:06 PM BST
That draw means...
...That this is Man Utd’s worst ever start to a Premier League season - they’re 14th with eight points from seven matches.
Not only that but they’ve failed to score in four of those seven matches, scoring a paltry five times in that time.
Those aren’t stats you associate with any Manchester United side.
04:00 PM BST
FULL-TIME: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
That was a hard watch. No quality in attack from either side and a 0-0 draw sums it up. We could have played another decade and I doubt there would have been a goal.
Hard one to gauge for Ten Hag. On the one hand, fans stayed behind and applauded him and his United team. Could you really sack a manager after he’s just earned an away point at a top-four team? But it was not pretty either. It was pretty awful as a spectacle. Sir Alex Ferguson was filmed in the director’s box asking what the time was....everyone waiting for the final whistle.
03:58 PM BST
93 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
A move that sums up the lack of quality in the final third this match will be remembered for. United break at pace and have Garnacho and Fernandes in the Villa half with only one defender to to keep them company. However, the Argentine somehow contrives to fail to find Fernandes, who would have been one-on-one had he done so...
Ref, please blow your whistle now!
03:56 PM BST
92 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Having said neither of these sides will be able to find the back of the net Villa very nearly to and do just that...the ball comes in from the left, Philogene is free at the back post and hits the shot first time. It’s not the worst effort but Dalot makes sure United stay level, his back defelecting the left-footed attempt.
03:54 PM BST
90 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
There will be six minutes of added time...going on the previous 90 that’s no way near enough for one of these sides to score a goal...
03:53 PM BST
85 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Yellow card for Lindelof, think that’s now five for United, with Villa fans doubtless arguing it should have been six with a second yellow for Rashford.
From the resulting free-kick on the left, in the final third (which takes an age to happen as the referee, Rob Jones, has an issue with his VAR comms set...) Fernandes heads clear and ultimately the chance goes begging.
03:46 PM BST
83 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Change for United as Mainoo makes way for Casemiro. Villa also mix things up as Maatsen comes on for Digne.
03:45 PM BST
80 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Just in case I haven’t emphasised this enough: this has been a really poor game.
03:43 PM BST
Super sub looking to make his mark
“Shoooot” shout the Villa fans when Duran gets on the ball. The Colombian striker carries real attitude around the pitch and is a handful for opponents and also team-mates. He was not happy with Morgan Rogers choosing a different option with a cross and told him so.
03:41 PM BST
75 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Corner for Villa. Can they make this one count? Once again the answer is ‘NO’. This game has lacked quality from the start, it’s been a tough watch as a result.
03:38 PM BST
75 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Shot from distance by Antony, it’s not the worst effort we’ve seen today, and Martinez makes a regulation save.
03:36 PM BST
73 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Villa seeing more of the ball at the moment, they being patient rather than penetrative, te United backline has defended well.
With their latest attack the hosts earn a free-kick about 30 yards out. Digne is the man to have a go for goal, but, as with so much of this match, it’s way off target.
03:34 PM BST
68 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
A move that sums up the game: Villa work the ball well on the left, playing in Watkins. The striker charges into the box and has numbers in the middle to cause chaos. Alas his cross is wild, going straight off. There has been a distinct lack of quality from both sides in the final third this afternoon.
03:30 PM BST
66 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Free-kick for United. It’s 30 yards out on the left, Fernandes is standing over it and he has a go. It’s a great effort that loops over the wall before smacking against the crossbar. That’s as close as we’ve come to a goal so far in a match that has struggled to get above the ‘solid but unspectacular’ stakes...
OFF THE BAR!
A brilliant effort from Bruno Fernandes ☄️ pic.twitter.com/GjmJk5fuEE— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 6, 2024
03:26 PM BST
61 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Change for Villa as Duran, the super sub who cannot stop scoring, comes on for Bailey.
Then a minute later Rashford’s match is done, having avoided a red he’s taken off for Antony. Hojlund also leaves the pitch, making way for Joshua Zirkzee.
The big man is coming on. Jhon Duran getting his kit on and will be on in a minute.
03:24 PM BST
61 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Oooooohh, Rashford brings down Bailey on the edge of the box...the crowd and the Villa players call for a second yellow and there must have been a few hearts in mouths for the visitors BUT he gets away with one as the ref, Robert Jones, just gives him a talking to...if he wasn’t already on a yellow (shown moments earlier) then he definitively would have been shown one there. Carragher on Sky commentary says that should have been red...
03:21 PM BST
59 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
It’s a fourth yellow card for United as Rashford is shown a card fro tripping up Cash in the final third - there was more than a hint of taking one from the team there, with the Villa man in a dangerous position.
03:19 PM BST
57 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Better from Villa who are seeing more of the ball these past five or so minutes. Rogers plays in Watkins in the inside-right channel and the England man tries an ambitious shot that goes over the bar.
03:18 PM BST
55 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Barkley and Cash combine well on the righthand side of the box, earning a corner for their efforts. From the set-piece they go short to Bailey, who finds Tielemans on the edge of the area. The Belgian has a pop, it’s a good effort that forces Onana into a good, but regulation, save.
03:15 PM BST
54 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Goals are being scored, just not at Villa Park. Madueke has equalised for Chelsea against Forest, it’s now 1-1 in west London.
03:14 PM BST
53 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Rogers drives at the United backline and even when confronted by a white wall continues, rather than play the ball into Watkins. As a result he loses the ball and the chance to create something comes to nought...Villa have looked lacklustre so far today, tiredness playing a factor?
03:13 PM BST
50 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Corner for Villa. They go short to Cash who decides, for some bonkers reason, to go for goal from an acute angle outside the box. Camera pans to the Villa bench and we witness a load of horrified faces. Again, fair to say that wasn’t one from the training ground...
03:10 PM BST
48 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Rashford forces Martinez into a great save. As he does so often, the Man Utd man cuts in from the left before firing in a fierce shot with his right boot, that the mischievous Argentine does well to tip over the bar.
Good start to the second 45 for the visitors.
03:08 PM BST
46 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
There’s a been a goal! But not in this match...Chris Wood has put Nottingham Forest 1-0 up at Chelsea...
03:07 PM BST
45 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
And there are indeed changes...De Ligt on for Maguire, but also Lindelof is on for Mazraoui. Not overly clear whether that second change is to do with injury or not.
Either way lets hope this half is much better than the first...
03:05 PM BST
More changes?
Both Matthijs de Ligt and Victor Lindelof are stripped and going through the paces on the pitch at half-time. Looks like Manchester United are making a double defensive change. Harry Maguire will be one of them after suffering injury just before half-time.
02:52 PM BST
Tough half to watch
That was a tough first half to watch. Not much fluency from either teams and just a few attacks of note. Will Ten Hag be happy with it? It is better than the rollercoaster of Thursday evening against Porto. It is not really happening for United up front. Maybe Joshua Zirkzee off the bench is one for Ten Hag to look at.
02:51 PM BST
HALF-TIME: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
It’s been a steady, solid display from both sides, and, as a result, very low on anything that could remotely be described as a ‘highlight’. That suits United more than Villa.
Worth remembering that both sides had big European matches in midweek, perhaps both suffering a continental hangover?
02:49 PM BST
46 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Maguire has been struggling the past few minutes and he’s coming off with the break a mere second away...he’s replaced by De Ligt.
02:46 PM BST
45 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
There will be three minutes of added time in what has been a lacklustre opening half. If you’re a neutral you’re probably thinking they’re three minutes too many...
02:46 PM BST
43 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
More bitty stuff from United in the final third. Torres and Tielemans lose the ball for Villa, Hojlund drives forward, but a heavy touch means the move comes to nothing with Fernandes furious he wasn’t played in through the middle.
02:43 PM BST
39 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
A third yellow card of the half for the visitors. This time it’s Mainoo who is told off by the ref. His crime was clattering into a 50-50 with Tielemans.
It’s been a decent enough half from United but will one of those cards come back to haunt them?
02:41 PM BST
All the greats, and Anderson...
With the current team 14th in the table, United fans are trotting out songs about their greats: Roy Keane, Andy Cole and....Anderson.
02:39 PM BST
36 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Danger for Harry Maguire as he’s show a yellow for dragging down Watkins near the box. From the resulting free-kick Digne decides to fire straight at goal and it’s an easy gather for Onana in the Untied goal, that wasn’t one from the training ground...
02:37 PM BST
35 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Digne plays in a delightful ball to the back post, where Bailey, for some reason, decides to hit it with his foot (it was a good five feet in the air...) rather than his head. There’s not attempt on goal as a result and this match is still waiting for its first moment of inspiration....
02:35 PM BST
Match yet to really get going
02:34 PM BST
31 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Corner for Villa after good work from Tielemans. Chance to put United under pressure here, and it’s one they don’t capitalise on as, criminally (as many a person prone to hyperbole would say...), they fail to get the ball beyond the front post.
02:32 PM BST
29 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
United are playing very narrow and sitting back at the moment, they are determined not to let Villa get through the middle. It’s working on a defensive level, but in attack they lack ideas and it’s been easy for the hosts to defend so far.
02:30 PM BST
27 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Good move from Villa with Barkley at the heart of it following Fernandes losing the ball. The former Luton man plays in Bailey inside the box before receiving it back. A heavy touch, however, sees the chance of a shot on goal dissappear into the ether...warning sign for the visitors and their skipper, though.
02:28 PM BST
25 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
It’s been a slow start from Villa and United are increasingly setting the tempo of this match. Having said, earlier, that United needed to inject a bit of fizz into proceedings, it’s now the hosts who need to inject a bit of pace into this encounter.
02:25 PM BST
22 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Barkley brings down Fernandes on the left. From the free-kick Maguire gets in a header on the edge of the box, there’s a hint of a hand but the referee, Robert Jones, is having none on it.
United have had 62 per cent of possession the past 15 minutes. They’ve done little with it, and as I type that Jamie Carragher on Sky commentary says ‘I think they have problems with their build-up play’...
02:21 PM BST
19 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Philogene runs at United in their half and decides to have a go, his shot from all of 30 yards flying past the right post.
02:20 PM BST
18 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
This match is yet to really get going, it’s being played in third gear, more shadow boxing than punishing punches...
02:18 PM BST
16 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Hojlund gets in behind the high line before Carlos does well and gives up a throw. From that set piece the hosts clear their lines. United have the pace to trouble the Villa high line, but whether they will is, as ever, another matter.
02:16 PM BST
14 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Free-kick for United, it’s just inside the Villa half, can they create something from this? The long and short of it is ‘NO’...
They go short before Eriksen punts one in the box and it’s easily defended by the hosts.
02:14 PM BST
Will Carsley have to deal his cards again?
England interim manager Lee Carsley will be looking at this Ezri Konsa injury closely. Konsa held the back of his left leg straight after he was caught by Rasmus Hojlund, with Diego Carlos coming on. Carsley named Konsa in his squad to face Greece and Finland in the next week.
02:12 PM BST
9 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Konsa is down for Villa, not sure what happened there, but it looks as though his match is done. Diego Carlos comes on as the replacement. That may have implications for England, will Maguire get back into the squad now?!
02:10 PM BST
7 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Great chance for Villa to go 1-0 up. It’s too easy for them, however, as Rogers drives at the United backline before playing Watkins in, the hosts’ striker passes it back to Rogers whose shot is wide...he had to at least get that on target.
What was worrying for Ten Hag and United was that there was no challenge put in, it was almost training ground-like from Villa.
02:08 PM BST
‘Play well, the boss is in town’
02:06 PM BST
5 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
First shot for United as Rashford cuts in from the left and unleashes a hit that Martinez saves well. You get the feeling the visitors need to start with a bit of fizz, a bit of energy, anything for change the narrative, if only for a few minutes...
02:05 PM BST
4 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Morgan Rogers runs at the United defence and earns a free-kick for his troubles. Not only that but Eriksen, the man who brought down the Villa man down, is shown a yellow card. Not the ideal start...Luckily for the visitors nothing comes of the resulting set-piece.
02:03 PM BST
2 mins: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Villa with the early possession, United are sitting back and nothing of note is created.
02:01 PM BST
1 min: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
They’re under way at Villa Park, the hosts are in their famous claret and blue, with the visitors wearing their away white...
01:58 PM BST
The teams are out on the pitch
And we’re moments away from kick-off.
Can Villa add the scalp of Man Utd to their midweek beating of Bayern?
Ten Hag and Co will certainly hope the answer to that is a big, fat, ‘NO’.
01:53 PM BST
Sir Jim is in the house
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has arrived. He has just walked into the director’s box here at Villa Park. He looks relaxed in a blue blazer, navy jumper and white jeans – although it’s not exactly a jovial United entourage. Sporting director Dan Ashworth is also there, as is technical director Jason Wilcox, all looking very serious.
01:46 PM BST
Quite a few chiefs at United
Talking of clarity and plans (or lack of) at Old Trafford, here’s a good read from Sam Wallace on how the new regime needs to quickly sort things out and show leadership.
READ: Manchester United need clarity from their crowd of decision makers
01:43 PM BST
An expensive bench can mean one of two things...
(i) The squad is packed full of superstars and the fact that big-money signings cannot get a starting spot means you’re in for a long afternoon (think Man City...). Or...(ii) The club have spent a lot of cash on a load of duds, illustrating the lack of a clear plan and any sort of clarity regarding recruitment...
The latter clearly applies to Manchester United. Their bench today plays host to six outfield players Ten Hag has brought to Old Trafford – Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee, Antony and Manuel Ugarte.
That’s a combined cost of £346 million...
01:35 PM BST
Here’s a tempting thought of m’colleague Dan Zeqiri...
Must be tempting to get the two of them up again Evans and Maguire.
— Daniel Zeqiri (@ZeqiriDan) October 6, 2024
01:30 PM BST
Erik ten Hag speaks to Sky Sports - ‘There’s always pressure’
On picking Maguire and Evans...
“Rotation, we have to bring them all in and [decide on] what is needed for this game, then we made the choice.”
On feeling any extra pressure...
“There is always pressure, no more [this match] than any other game. One hundred per cent Porto was important, Spurs important, every game is an important. We are clam and composed so is everyone.”
On how they are approaching the match...
“We have to improve as a team and the process.We are only focusing on the game and move forward.”
On Aston Villa...
“It’s a very good team, it’s a challenge, they play Champions League and beat Bayern Munich, you have to be good team [to do that].”
01:18 PM BST
A lot of the focus is on Man Utd
When is it not..?
But Aston Villa are flying at the moment. They’ve had their best start to a season since 2008-09, have beaten Bayern Munich in the Champions League (reviving memories of the ‘82 European Cup triumph) and, if anything, look better than they did last year when they were more than a match for any side.
I’d hazard a guess and suggest away at Villa Park isn’t a match any club would want when in dire need of both a result and performance.
01:07 PM BST
Ten Hag’s HUGE call
Erik Ten Hag has made a huge call with his team selection and it could define how this afternoon goes. Lisandro Martinez has been exceptional for Ten Hag when fit and in one of the biggest games of his United career, the Dutchman would be expected to pick him. It will be Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans at centre-back, with Christian Eriksen and Kobbie Mainoo protecting the back line. Ollie Watkins will look to run behind them.
01:06 PM BST
So, how’s Erik ten Hag feeling under all the pressure?
Well, going on these photos, the answer seems to be ‘rather well’...
12:58 PM BST
The two teams in old fashioned black and white
ASTON VILLA XI TO FACE MAN UTD: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Tielemans, Philogene, Rogers, Barkley, Bailey; Watkins. Subs: Gauci, Carlos, Durán, Buendía, Nedeljkovic, Maatsen, Bogarde, Swinkels, Young.
Matty Cash returns for for the hosts, with Ollie Watkins is once again preferred to super sub and man who cannot stop scoring Jhon Duran.
MAN UTD XI TO FACE ASTON VILLA: Onana; Mazraoui, Evans, Maguire, Dalot; Mainoo, Eriksen; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund. Subs: Bayindir, Lindelöf, De Ligt, Martínez, Zirkzee, Diallo, Casemiro, Antony, Ugarte.
Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans come in as a new centre-back pairing, Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt pay the price for the 3-0 defeat to Spurs last week. Kobbie Mainoo returns to the side with Casemiro dropping to the bench.
12:52 PM BST
So the big news is...
That Maguire and Evans start for Man Utd, with both Martinez and De Ligt dropped to the bench.
12:51 PM BST
Here’s Villa’s XI
👇 Our starting XI for this afternoon's clash with Manchester United.#AVLMUN || #UpTheVilla pic.twitter.com/DJWUmEENZ5
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 6, 2024
12:50 PM BST
Here’s the United XI
Your United squad for #AVLMUN 🫡#MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 6, 2024
11:06 AM BST
Harry Maguire: Man Utd must cope with pressure better
Harry Maguire has admitted Manchester United struggle to withstand pressure moments in games and says they must stop being so passive defensively.
United head into today’s game at in-form Aston Villa with manager Erik ten Hag fighting to save his job.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe refused to offer the Dutchman any sort of public assurance over his position on Friday by insisting the decision on what happens with the manager’s future rests with the Old Trafford hierarchy led by sporting director Dan Ashworth and chief executive Omar Berrada.
United’s 3-3 draw against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, when they threw away a 2-0 lead to trail in the game, was the 24th time since Ten Hag took charge the team have conceded at least three goals in a match, the worst record of any Premier League side during that period.
Quickfire implosions have been common under Ten Hag and Maguire – whose stoppage-time header rescued a point against Porto – believes United buckle too easily when opponents apply pressure.
Porto was the third time already this season that United have shipped three goals in a game, following the shambolic defeats by Liverpool and Spurs that have ramped up the scrutiny on Ten Hag.
“No, obviously it’s not good enough,” Maguire said of the number of times United concede at least three times in games. “For sure, we’ve got to do more. But as a footballer, it’s easy to look around and blame other people and blame your team-mate or blame the staff or the tactics.
“You’ve got to look at yourself. We’re the ones that go on the pitch. We’re the ones that have to defend. You’ve got to take responsibility. And each and every one of us has got to do better in these moments.
“When we’re under pressure, I feel like as a team over the last couple of years, I’d say [the] last year or so, every time we’ve been under pressure in games, we’ve ended up conceding and that can’t happen.
“We’ve got to be able to withstand that pressure. Have better principles within ourselves. And like I said, I think we’ve got to up the tempo when we’re defending our box a lot better.”
United won against the odds at Villa Park last season and Maguire hopes they can take encouragement from that this time around, with many expecting Unai Emery’s side to cause them real problems.
“We’ve got to find belief within ourselves,” Maguire said. “Take the belief from what we did last season at Villa Park. It was on fire last season there. Then we went there and got the victory that we needed last season.
“And we feel like we’re playing better than we were last season. The results haven’t been there. Obviously, the performance was really poor against Spurs. Apart from that, I feel like we should have more points on the board. But we don’t, so we need to do something about it starting with Sunday. It’s a tough game but what a great place to go, play football and try and get three points.”
