Aston Villa vs Manchester United. Premier League.
Villa ParkAttendance42,058.
Report and free match highlights as goals from Leon Bailey, Lucas Digne and Jacob Ramsey earned Aston Villa an historic home win over Manchester United in Unai Emery's first game in charge; Erik ten Hag's nine-game unbeaten run is over
Sunday 6 November 2022 21:39, UK
Unai Emery secured Aston Villa's first Premier League home win over Manchester United since 1995 as they defeated Erik ten Hag's team 3-1 at Villa Park.
Leon Bailey scored for Villa in the seventh minute and when Lucas Digne curled in a free-kick not long after there were wild scenes of celebration among the home support. Luke Shaw's deflected strike, which went in off Jacob Ramsey, just before the interval gave lacklustre United hope - but not for long.
Ramsey's fine finish from Ollie Watkins' cut-back soon halted the comeback and it was no more than Villa deserved. This historic win makes it back-to-back Premier League home wins for the first time either this season or last as they move up to 13th in the table.
For United, with Cristiano Ronaldo as captain, it was perhaps as disjointed as they have looked since the Manchester derby. The defeat ends their run of nine games unbeaten in all competitions and means they wasted the chance to close the gap on the top four.
There was a raucous atmosphere beforehand as the supporters greeted new boss Emery and the team responded with an explosive start that was too much for United. Ramsey was at the heart of it, playing in Bailey who fired the ball beyond David de Gea for the opener.
Ramsey then won a free-kick as Villa kept up the pressure and Digne struck it superbly into the top-right corner to send the Holte End into delirium. It was a credit to their intensity but also their tactical superiority as they pulled United around playing out from the back.
Ten Hag's team have been much improved but he would have been concerned by what he saw here in the absence of Bruno Fernandes through suspension. Donny van de Beek did not take his chance. Alejandro Garnacho was up and down on his first Premier League start.
The decision to hand Ronaldo the captaincy will also attract attention, although the veteran might have marked the occasion with a goal had his header not been well saved by Emiliano Martinez with his feet. United did manage to get a goal back before half-time though.
It was a fortunate one as the ball ricocheted off Ramsey following Shaw's hopeful shot but it altered the mood a little. It might even have been the lifeline that United needed. They wasted it, the remarkable Ramsey restoring the two-goal lead early in the second half.
Villa never relinquished their control again, Tyrone Mings controlling an increasingly-agitated Ronaldo comfortably enough by fair means or foul. This is a setback for Ten Hag's revolution at United. But Emery's revolution at Villa has truly begun.
"I was dreaming it, and I am so happy," said the new Villa head coach afterwards.
"We have players with energy, with good skills. I think we wanted to be organised, to be disciplined. Being together and with our game plan, I think the players did it. It was a special day here.
"My challenge here is to be consistent. Today, I think it was so important to beat Manchester United after so long. Now it is about keeping consistent. Our next challenge is to keep the regularity in those matches away."
Asked by Sky Sports about the performances of Bailey and Ramsey, Emery said: "Amazing. Amazing. But they are good players. It's the first step. We have to be demanding, with the players as well, but today is the first step. Trying to say to everybody, 'We can'."
"The start of the first half and start of the second half," Ten Hag told Sky Sports when asked where the game was decided. "In between we could have come back. Second part of the first half was really good, and we get the goal back. But it's not acceptable to concede a goal so quickly after half-time on the counter."
There was no way of knowing how Emery would set up for his first game in charge but Ten Hag did not regard that as an excuse for the defeat.
"Our players are experienced, you have to get the right organisation and not concede goals. It was totally unnecessary. You have to stay together, compact, win your battles and stay on the ball, and all of that we didn't do. It starts with following the rules. It is disappointing."
Aston Villa and Manchester United meet again on Thursday in the Carabao Cup third round, this time at Old Trafford and live on Sky Sports. Kick-off at 8pm. Villa then head to Brighton on Sunday November 13 at 2pm.
Man United head to Fulham on Sunday November 13 in the final Premier League match before the World Cup, live on Sky Sports. Kick-off is at 4.30pm.
