At times at a fractious and disgruntled Old Trafford, it was important to remind yourself that Manchester United were actually winning.
Ralf Rangnick’s team were chaotic, frantic and, at times, being overwhelmingly outplayed.
The home crowd, meanwhile, were agitated, irritated and fast losing patience with their ragged and directionless team. When Marcus Rashford, loved and admired for so many reasons in these parts, is getting it in the neck then something really must be up.
Scott McTominay (right) grins after opening the scoring for Manchester United at Old Trafford
The midfielder’s eighth-minute header was enough to decide the nervy win against Aston Villa
Danny Ings pounces to equalise for Aston Villa in the second half before seeing VAR intervene
On Monday night Rashford was not a popular footballer. When he failed to react to a loose ball in the penalty area with 20 minutes to go, whatever patience had been held in reserve for the 24-year-old finally ran out.
But United were winning, and they did indeed win. They scored their goal early through a neat Scott McTominay header and then somehow survived the rest of a game that was largely dictated by Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa.
Gerrard had marked his first appearance at Old Trafford as a manager by first staring down the Stretford End after emerging from the tunnel and then briefly standing in the wrong technical area.
But the former Liverpool captain’s team were ambitious and dangerous and could have levelled the game twice in nine second-half minutes, only for goals by Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins to be ruled out for offside. The second was a routine decision. The first – helped by the VAR system – was anything but.
So United have a place in round four of the FA Cup but their direction of travel under Rangnick remains anything but linear. The German coach arrived in Manchester at the end of November and immediately talked about how his new team must learn to control games. Rangnick has overseen seven matches since then and the truth – played out starkly here – is that United are no nearer that objective than they were when he started.
On Monday night Villa controlled the rhythm, tempo and pattern. They also had more of the ball. What they didn’t have was enough quality inside the United penalty area and they certainly didn’t have any luck.
Ollie Watkins (right) had the ball in the net shortly afterwards but the goal was also chalked off
Victor Lindelof (left) was caught out by Watkins and David de Gea produced several fine saves
Bruno Fernandes assesses his options on a night when the playmaker had little incisive impact
This was a super spectacle. It was full of incident and attacking intent. It was not short of big moments at both ends and maybe we should not be surprised that it was such a close affair. With Villa on the rise following Gerrard’s appointment, this is probably about United’s level right now.
They could have got a grip of things after McTominay’s goal in the eighth minute. A good team playing with confidence may well have done but currently United can say they are neither. Had the two offsides not gone their way early in the second half, anything could have happened here.
The second goal to be disallowed, in the 59th minute, was straight forward. Ings ran clear to feed Watkins who scored on the stretch from almost on the goal line. But Ings was offside by half a yard. If common sense still existed in football, the flag would have gone up as soon as he took possession. But it doesn’t so it didn’t, and by the time it did United defender Victor Lindelof had been required to collide painfully and dangerously with the goal-post. Ridiculous.
Nine minutes earlier everything had been a good deal more complicated.
When Ings bundled Watkins’ flick over the line, the goal initially looked good. But replays showed a number of possible infringements.
Was Ings offside? Did he handle the ball? Or did Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey impede Edinson Cavani as the original free-kick was delivered? All seemed vaguely possible yet none appeared conclusive.
FA Cup managerial newcomers Ralf Rangnick (left) and Steven Gerrard eye the action intently
Watkins is denied by an alert Lindelof with an early chance as dangerous Villa press for a goal
In the end and after much commotion, referee Michael Oliver gave a free-kick with the consensus being that Ramsey was called offside before making his challenge on Cavani, which he indeed was.
So none of that was simple but what was clear was that United were by now a mess. Villa were all over them and that theme continued as Luke Shaw and Fred were booked in quick succession for clumsy, desperate fouls on marauding opponents.
Fred’s evening had begun brightly. It was the Brazilian’s beautiful right-footed out-swinger that McTominay ran on to and headed home. Villa should have stopped the Scot’s run – midfielder Douglas Luiz could be seen pointing at him as he made his run from deep – but even so it was a nice goal.
For the rest of the first half, the game was even. That is as much as a compliment that can be paid to United. Villa made good chances as David de Gea saved from John McGinn and Emiliano Buendia while Watkins ran on to an error from Lindelof to cut back and smash a shot against the bar from an angle.
Diogo Dalot (left) was one of the United players booked following a challenge on Matt Targett
Referee Michael Oliver makes a careful survey of the pitchside monitor before denying Ings
But United looked dangerous, too. Cavani headed a whipped Rashford cross over while Shaw worked Emiliano Martinez with a stinging shot.
Villa at this stage looked capable and also vulnerable. But the second half was different. Villa dominated it and as they improved so United succumbed to the neurosis and lack of identity and confidence that is now so familiar.
Rashford was indeed poor. The England player has looked muddled for a while and must now surely be taken from the team. Bruno Fernandes – captain for the night – was not much better and with Cristiano Ronaldo absent with an injury, United were short on quality.
They won, though. Somehow.
Sportsmail’s Ben Miller provided live FA Cup third round coverage of Manchester United vs Aston Villa. Scroll down to see how the action unfolded…
Manchester United book a date with Middlesbrough here in the fourth round!
A final roar of relief resounds around Old Trafford after an unconvincing, at-times scrappy win courtesy of McTominay’s eighth-minute header.
Villa are entitled to feel aggrieved after Watkins hit the crossbar during the first half and Ings and Watkins saw strikes chalked off after the break. Luck deserted the visitors, although Rangnick may have more to worry about after narrowly triumphing in this battle of two FA Cup managerial newcomers.
Thanks for joining us tonight. You can, of course, follow all of the action from the fourth round with Sportsmail. We’ll also have reaction across the site tonight.
Villa have six minutes of added time in which to stay in the FA Cup. Gerrard frequently tried to torment Sir Alex Ferguson at this ground, and the rookie boss wouldn’t mind a Fergie Time goal.
There’s a break in play while Konsa receives treatment on a bloody nose, bravely returning to his feet despite the painful-looking injury.
Before the match resumes, it’s worth noting that Villa have made a couple of substitutions: Philogene-Bidace has replaced Ramsey and El Ghazi is on for Buendia. We’re in the 90th minute.
Manchester United are clinging on somewhat here, although the onslaught has eased from Villa. Fernandes and Rashford make way for Lingard and Elanga, the departed players looking grumpy as they settle on the bench.
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The Red Devils are around five minutes from booking a date with Middlesbrough here in the fourth round.
It’s a little late for tiresome jokes about Christmas cards, but United are certainly collecting bookings right now. Dalot is the latest to go into Oliver’s book for a clumsy challenge on Targett that leaves the Villa defender hobbling.
Van de Beek comes on for Cavani in Rangnick’s first change of the evening, then Greenwood sends a low shot straight at Martinez from inside the penalty area on the right.
Villa are playing glorious football at the moment. Cash has a powerful drive from long range palmed behind by De Gea at his left-hand post, then Shaw picks up a booking for impeding Ramsey after being nutmegged by him.
We’re midway through the second half and United need to stem the tide if they want to hold onto this lead.
Konta hurtles towards goal to the left of centre, enters the penalty area ahead of McTominay and producers a defender’s finish, arrowing a low shot that skids into the side-netting at the near post.
Fred picks up a booking after becoming the latest United player to commit a niggly foul.
Here’s the moment when Oliver might have decided to disallow Villa’s first chalked-off goal.
Villa have the ball in the net again as we reach the hour mark here, Ings scampering clear to the right of centre and chipping a neat pass into the path of Watkins in front of goal, who beats Lindelof to the ball with De Gea stranded and stabs in.
The offside flag goes up to less contentious effect this time, and Watkins screws up his face. Gerrard’s side are really pushing here – they’re dominant at the moment.
Villa fans are serenading Oliver with frustrated chants of ‘you’re not fit to referee.’
Regardless of the fact that they were rescued, United’s defending was flimsy there.
A subdued roar goes up as the goal is disallowed! That looked like it was to do with Ramsey blocking Cavani as McGinn’s cross went in.
Oliver is offering explanations to the Villa players, who naturally aren’t best pleased. This has been a spicy start to the second half.
As is so often the case with VAR checks, it’s hard to tell exactly what’s being inspected. This is a legnthy halt as the match ticks into the 53rd minute. Michael Oliver has headed over to the touchline. There’s a school of thought that this could involve scrutiny of a Ramsey block on Cavani.
Now Mings is having a word with the referee.
Shades of England vs Scotland at Euro 2020 as McGinn and Shaw have a scuffle over a re-awarded throw-in.
McGinn takes revenge by swinging a cross deep into the left-hand side of the penalty area from a free-kick on the opposite flank. Questionable United marking allows Konsa to nod the delivery back across goal, where the ever-dangerous Ings pounces to nudge the ball in at close range. It’s 1-1 for the moment, although a VAR check is taking place for a possible offside.
We’re underway again! United come out looking purposeful, perhaps inspired by a Rangnick rocket or two.
Greenwood, who’s looked lively down the flanks, races down the left and tries to locate Rashford with a cross, winning a corner which United cannot capitalise upon.
United have scored in five of their last six home games, but they’ve only scored more than once in two of those matches. That’s slightly ominous, given how threatening Villa were at times during the first half.
Villa have only failed to find the net in one of their last eight fixtures. That was Liverpool away, in fairness.
United reach the break ahead! There were plenty of encouraging moments for the hosts during that half – certainly more than they enjoyed during the entirety of the Wolves defeat – and Fred’s perceptive cross arguably made the difference, finding McTominay behind a dozing defence to bounce a close-range header beyond Martinez.
Villa, though, have had ample opportunities, going closest when Watkins tormented Lindelof and cracked the bar with a shot. Both sides will feel there is abundant room for improvement at the end of an entertaining first half.
United win a free-kick in a promising central position not far from the penalty area. Fernandes looks favourite to take it, so there’s a groan when Rashford wastes the opportunity.
McTominay then shows exceptional technique to meet a ball falling from a considerable height following a deflection. The goalscorer shapes perfectly, hitting a full-pelt volley that’s too close to Martinez. The goalkeeper catches.
With around seven minutes to go until the break, United offer a shot of their own from outside the penalty area. It’s a venomous one, too, as Shaw fizzes in a rising effort that Martinez can only tip over the crossbar, such is the pace of the strike and the quality of the England defender’s technique.
United fail to trouble Martinez with the ensuing corner from their right.
More eye-catching Villa attacking play in and around the penalty area sets up Ramsey for a low shot from the left of centre. It’s deflected behind in another anxious moment as United fans’ nerves continue to fray.
Dalot goes down and receives some treatment, then Luiz’s corner from the left comes to nothing, which is greeted by a roar from the home crowd. They’ll be glad for a breather from watching Villa push for a reply.
Now Villa really will feel they should be all-square. Lindelof gifts the ball to Watkins with a shoddy header that sends the striker free inside the penalty area on the left. He befuddles the Sweden defender with a sharp turn, then scoops a shot over De Gea and against the crossbar from close range.
Chances at both ends! Shot-happy Villa are thwarted by De Gea again, Buendia and Watkins playing a neat one-two on the move outside the penalty area before the goalkeeper denies the winger.
Cavani then surges into the penalty area on the right at the other end and sees his cross-shot parried by Martinez. This is an entertaining showdown, and Villa could easily be level.
That eighth-minute opener by McTominay was a welcome sight for the home fans following the drab performance they witnessed against Wolves in the Premier League here, when the visitors dominated the opening period and deservedly scored a late winner.
As we pass the halfway point of the first half, Villa aren’t looking as menacing as Wolves did. Rangnick won’t have been thrilled to watch De Gea shank a routine clearance out of play just now, mind.
McGinn wants to emulate McTominay by wheeling off to celebrate. The Scotland midfielder just tried his luck with a fierce shot from outside the penalty area in a central position, angling towards De Gea’s left-hand post before the goalkeeper acrobatically intervened.
Ings was offside but Villa continue to look dangerous. Twenty minutes played.
As we near the 15-minute mark here, Villa are rueing an agonising miss. Luis curled an incisive corner from Villa’s left towards the near post, where Mings flicked the ball on. Watkins was ready to pounce at close range at the far post, only for Lindelof to produce a deft clearance in the nick of time. Relief for the home fans and defence.
Hero of the hour McTominay is hobbling with what looks like a painful thigh after a collision.
That was an excellent United goal. Mason Greenwood showed tenacity and patience down the right, picking up a loose ball near the corner flag before cutting a low pass back towards Fred near the edge of the penalty area in close proximity. The midfielder pinged a superb cross beyond the Villa backline and onto the head of McTominay in front of goal in a central position, who nodded past the helpless Martinez. Eight minuts gone, 1-0!
McTominay scores!
Gerrard might have been encouraged by what he saw a moment or two ago, when the unlikely figure of Mings burst into a dangerous area on the left and zipped in a cross which De Gea gathered.
McTominay then had a shot from distance in a central position at the other end. Martinez tested his gloves by holding the effort.
Alan Shearer and Micah Richards savaged United’s 4-2-2-2 formation before kick-off. With that out the way, we’re off!
United keep the ball for the opening 90 seconds, then Fernandes sets off on a charge down the left, attempting to enter the penalty area. Konsa holds him off and sees the ball behind for a goal-kick.
And here’s how Rashford looked shortly before the action began.
Bruno Fernandes looks ready. Meanwhile, Gerrard’s had this to say to the BBC: ‘I’m sure I’ll come to quieter places in terms of welcomes and receptions. But it’s about the game, it’s not about me. It’s about how my team performs and we’ve prepared well.
‘We’re looking forward to it. Our record in the cup hasn’t been good enough and we’ve got an opportunity to make that better tonight. We’re not involved in European competition and we want to have a good cup run.’
Villa’s Old Trafford hero in September misses out tonight as Hause is replaced by the returning Tyrone Mings.
The England defender, who was suspended for the Premier League defeat at Brentford, is back as captain tonight.
Ollie Watkins is also back in the first XI in place of Bertrand Traore, who’s eschewed a Monday night in Manchester in favour of the Africa Cup of Nations with Burkina Faso.
Rangnick has outlined what United need to do to exorcise that underwhelming showing against Wolves.
‘We need a different, energetic level,’ he reckons. ‘We are fully aware of that; we have to try and put pressure on them. Don’t allow them to play their technical football.
‘Things have changed since Steven Gerrard arrived at Aston Villa, the style of play that they prefer since he has arrived is different.
‘They have a lot of technical players in the centre of midfield, they are a little bit focused on the centre of the pitch and we have to be aware of that and make the right decisions in order to be able to be successful.’
Villa fans might be feeling more optimistic after perusing those teamsheets, which do not include Cristiano Ronaldo or Harry Maguire in United’s squad.
The visitors had not beaten United since 2009 – a run of 18 games – before they won here on September 25 courtesy of Kortney Hause’s 88th-minute winner.
That was a lifetime ago in Premier League terms, though, with both sides led at the time by managers who were on the brink of departing. No doubt Gerrard would love a repeat of his predecessor’s result tonight.
Here we go, then…
Manchester United: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Greenwood, Fernandes; Cavani, Rashford.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Ramsey, Buendia, Ings, Watkins.
How are you feeling about those teams, United and Villa fans? Kick-off is under an hour away.
Ralf Rangnick wants his side to be ‘proactive and aggressive’ tonight as they look to recover from that defeat to Wolves here last time out. He’s also spoken about his FA Cup memories despite being a rookie in this competition.
‘When I was a young student at Stuttgart University, I spent a year in England, in Brighton, as a guest student at Sussex University,’ the United gaffer told the club’s website.
‘I played at the same time as a player for a small Sunday League team, Southwick, and their farewell gift when I left back for Germany at the end of that year was a ticket for the Cup final at Wembley: West Ham against Arsenal.
‘I think it was 1980 or 1981. I very much relish that experience still if I think about the atmosphere there. There were 30,000 West Ham and 30,000 Arsenal supporters, they had prepared individual songs for each individual player. ‘There’s only one Liam Brady,’ I remember, for example.
‘So, they had a special song for each player; each player, when this song was sung by supporters, was just standing in that corner where the supporters were. It was a very special atmosphere and it was obviously the old Wembley Stadium.
‘It would be great for us to experience that atmosphere in May, or whenever the Cup final is being played. But we’re fully aware that it’s still a way to go, quite a long way to go, and we could have had easier draws than Aston Villa.
‘The good thing is we’re playing at home in front of our 75,000 fans and everyone in the team, the players, the staff, we want to show that the relapse that we showed against Wolves, both tactically and energetically – we were way too passive, not proactive at all, this is exactly the kind of football that I hate, that I don’t want to see.
‘I expect a completely different face of the team, a completely different performance.’
Thanks for joining Sportsmail’s coverage of this heavyweight FA Cup third round showdown. Will Cristiano Ronaldo play tonight? This fan will be hoping so. In any case, Villa are clearly dangerous opponents for United in Ralf Rangnick’s first match as a boss in this competition. Steven Gerrard, his Villa counterpart in this competition, is also managing for the first time in this competition, although the Liverpool legend added to his revered reputation with heroic FA Cup performances on several occasions.
Sportsmail Reporter
Host commentator