Man Utd and Ten Hag takes point and something to build on into international break
ALL HANDS: Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag issues instructions to Bruno Fernandes during Sunday's goalless draw at Villa Park. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.
MANCHESTER United ground out a drab, instantly forgettable goalless draw at Villa Park that will suit their beleaguered manager down to the ground as he battles to preserve his job.
Barring a major shock, Erik ten Hag can now expect to still be in charge of the club after the upcoming international break and, if Bruno Fernandes’ second half free-kick had not struck the woodwork, he could have been celebrating an impressive win.
But such are the problems facing ten Hag and his team currently, even a draw against Unai Emery’s in-form side represented a relative success.
With owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe prominent in the directors’ box, along with Sir Alex Ferguson, his football executives and right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford, the group looked like something of an executioners’ row as they shuffled in before the game.
There was certainly a view that, after throwing away a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 in Porto in midweek, a bad defeat for United at Villa Park could result in his dismissal.
Now, the Dutchman will survive to fight another day.
It was a game that featured some odd defensive selections from the under-pressure United manager, and one that was further tested by injuries. But his decision to drop Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt following the midweek collapse at Porto, paid off.
It helped that Villa looked a shadow of the team that recorded a memorable Champions League victory over Bayern Munich in midweek, the toll of the European commitments having taken more out of the hosts than their visitors, apparently.
It all added up to a disappointing contest but, in the current climate, that will have suited ten Hag to perfection.
The sight of Harry Maguire and Johnny Evans starting at the heart of United’s defence might have filled Villa supporters with high hopes but, with their visitors’ shape and organisation far better than of late, they struggled to create chances.
Morgan Rogers, linking well with Ollie Watkins on occasion, fired an early chance wide after Marcus Rashford had pounced on an early error by Matty Cash and tested Emiliano Martinez at the other end.
The injured Maguire, and Noussair Mazraoui, were taken off at half-time by ten Hag and the second half offered a few more noteworthy chances.
Fernandes came closest to breaking the deadlock, hitting a beautifully-struck free-kick against the bar from over 20 yards after 68 minutes.
And Rashford forced an early second half save out of Martinez, who tipped over his fierce shot, only for the England striker to be subbed after he picked up a yellow card and was fortunate not to pick up a red soon after.
Youri Tielemans forced Andre Onana into his first meaningful save on 56 minutes, and Watkins sent a vicious blast well over before super sub Jhon Duran was sent on although not even the prolific substitute could break the deadlock.
The last chance of the game, three minutes into added time, fell to Villa youngster Jade Philogene whose shot was well blocked by Diogo Dalot.
E Martinez 6; Cash 5, Konsa (Carlos 11, 7), Torres 6, Digne 5 (Maatsen 85); Tielemans 7, Barkley 5; Philogene 6, Rogers 7, Bailey 5 (Duran 62, 5); Watkins 6.
: Gauci, BuendĂa, Nedeljkovic, Bogarde, Swinkels, Young.
Onana 6; Mazraoui 6 (Lindelof 46, 6), Evans 9, Maguire 7 (de Ligt 46, 5), Dalot 7; Mainoo 6 (Casemiro 85), Eriksen 5; Garnacho 5, Fernandes 6, Rashford 7 (Antony 64, 5); Hojlund 5 (Zirkzee 64, 5).
Bayindir, L MartĂnez, Diallo, Ugarte.
: R Jones 6
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