Aston Villa started the game off in in perfect fashion, taking the lead in just seven minutes when Leon Bailey (25) was played through on goal by Jacob Ramsey (21) before drilling a low effort across David de Gea (31) and into the bottom corner.
Less than five minutes later Villa doubled their lead through Lucas Digne (29). The Frenchman netted a free-kick from the edge of the area, to shock a United side that had struggled to get going.
It wasn’t until the half hour mark that United went close to pulling a goal back as Alejandro Garnacho (18) worked some space for himself before drilling a shot across goal but Emiliano Martínez (30) was equal to it. The Red Devils then managed to grab a goal back just before halftime as Luke Shaw’s (27) shot from the edge of the area deflected off Ramsey and beyond Martínez.
The Villans once again came flying out the traps and came close to adding a third goal as Bailey skipped past a man before firing an effort towards goal only to be denied by de Gea. United did not heed the warning though and Villa restored their two goal lead shortly after, as Ramsey drilled an unstoppable effort into the top corner after receiving the ball from Ollie Watkins (26).
Despite being two goals down, Erik ten Hag’s side struggled to create anything to pose a possible comeback and instead Villa saw the game out comfortably, to secure a much needed three points that sees them climb to 14th, while United missed the opportunity to move into the top four, and remain 5th.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa)
