United still refuse to crack

YOU’LL win nothing with kids.

Alan Hansen’s dismissive put-down in 1995 still resonates with everyone at Manchester United, not least because it preceded a title-winning season executed with style from Alex Ferguson’s Fledglings.

Hansen believed United didn’t have the experience to challenge for the title over 15 years ago following a 3-1 defeat at Villa Park and although similar questions will be asked of this latest Ferguson side, their never-say-die spirit will ensure they’ll fight Chelsea all the way to the title this season.

Just when Ferguson’s men looked to have suffered their first defeat at Villa Park since that sunny day in August all those years ago, it was Ferguson’s next generation that sparked an all-too-familiar comeback.

Ashley Young and Marc Albrighton thought they had contributed to a rare Villa victory over United, with the sands of time slipping through Ferguson’s fingers.

Think again.

Federico Macheda, who seems to make a habit of scoring crucial goals against Villa, grabbed United’s first on 80 minutes before Nemanja Vidic salvaged a point with five minutes to go.

Late drama and United? You bet. The only surprising thing was the lack of a winner deep into injury time. While the superb Albrighton and the exciting Barry Bannan showed Villa a glimpse of the future, it was the same old story in the end – United somehow found a way.

A rueful Gerard Houllier said: “In the second half we had enough chances to win it. But even at 2-0 you cannot write Manchester United off. There’s a bitter taste for me.

“Their first goal was fantastic and after that, the confidence was on their side. We had a very young side and we were nervous at times.

“Once they scored the first goal I knew they would throw everything at us. We should have won it but in the end, we could have even lost it.”

Villa Park will always have a special place in the hearts of Manchester United fans. The scene of their epic 1999 FA Cup semi-final win over Arsenal as well as the place where, generally, they tasted victory in the league over the years, spirits were high before kick-off.

But when Wes Brown was correctly adjudged to have brought down Young in the box on 71 minutes, the Villa man dispatched the penalty before Albrighton seemed to have wrapped it up with 15 minutes to go.

United, as they often do, had other ideas.

Spurred on by the barking Ferguson on the touchline, they once again snatched something from the jaws of defeat.

It’s a commendable trait and one that has embodied everything about Ferguson’s side over the years.

The Scot, mindful of the fact his side have now drawn seven of their opening 13 games this season, said: “We were all over the place at times in the second half. I can’t explain it.

“It was a great game and credit to Aston Villa. It was a very difficult day for us. You have to give credit to them as they never let us settle.

“We waited too long for the intensity to come to our game. I am worried about the nature of how we lost our earlier points but this time, we’re pleased with a point.”

Once the delirium of the draw has died down, United will realise they are not the force they know they can be.

Chelsea remain efficient and in control of their own destiny – you get the feeling Carlo Ancelotti’s side would not have let a 2-0 lead slip against Ferguson’s men.

While Wayne Rooney was hardly in imperious form before his sabbatical in Oregon, his return cannot come too soon for Ferguson.

Too often at Villa Park his side lacked potency in attack, with Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez seemingly unable to strike up a partnership.

Only once the pair had been withdrawn did United really threaten, as the goal from Hernandez’s replacement Macheda proved.

“Wayne has had a good week and trained very hard,” Ferguson added.

“He has had lots of sessions and we have achieved what we wanted to achieve with him.’’

The visiting supporters sung ‘we’ll do what we want’ during the first half and at times, United had it all their own way.

Only Berbatov will know how he spurned an opportunity to open the deadlock from close range on 19 minutes while Brown flicked the ball wide minutes later when he was unmarked inside the area.

But, aside from the late rally in the final 10 minutes, the second half belonged to Villa.

Brown’s clumsy tackle on Young in the box was punished and Young stepped up to slot home the penalty before Albrighton – excellent all day – added another from close range. But United will never die.

The 3-1 defeat at Villa Park 15 years ago led many to write them off as title also-rans. They went on to confound the critics and win the league that season with a spirit and determination that is still in evidence today.