Manchester United 0-1 Aston Villa
Ashley Young set up Gabriel Agbonlahor to score the winning goal at Old Trafford
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By Tom Powell. |  |
Saturday, 12, Dec 2009 07:32
By Matt Hallam.
Gabriel Agbonlahor's first-half header gave Aston Villa victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The victory is Villa's first win at Old Trafford since 1983 and sees Martin O'Neill's side move to above Arsenal in the Premier League to third place.
It was a wasted opportunity for United though as Sir Alex Ferguson's side failed to capitalise on Chelsea's draw with Everton earlier in the day.
United were boosted before kick off with the news that Nemanja Vidic and Wes Brown were fit to start the game whilst Chelsea's draw with Everton meant they could draw level with the league leaders with a victory at Old Trafford.
However they found themselves behind after 20 minutes when Agbonlahor headed past Tomasz Kusczcak at the near post.
United dominated possession in the second-half but failed to test Brad Friedel despite the introduction of Michael Owen and Dimitar Berbatov in the second-half as Villa held out to secure a historic victory.
The champions took charge of the game from the start, dominating possession with quick and sharp passing and testing Villa's defence early on when Ryan Giggs released Wayne Rooney on the left whose cross was cut out by Stephen Warnock with Antonio Valencia in a dangerous position at the back post.
Old Trafford was stunned after 20 minutes though when Villa took the lead with their first attack. Ashley Young worked a yard of space on the left and sent a cross into the box where Agbonlahor escaped the attentions of Brown and headed the ball past Kuszczak at the near post.
United reacted well with Patrice Evra sending in a dangerous low cross which Valencia couldn't get the vital touch too before Rooney hit the underside of the bar with a shot from just inside the penalty area.
Villa continued to look dangerous on the counter attack and made United's defence look nervous with Brown and Fletcher making last ditch clearances.
Giggs came close to equalising before half-time when he met Fletcher's cross from the right and hit a shot towards goal. Brad Friedel could only parry the ball back to Giggs, but United's captain could only find the side netting with his second attempt.
Owen replaced Giggs for the second-half and was soon involved in United's attack as he sent a low ball across the box which evaded Rooney and Ji-Sung Park.
Berbatov and Darron Gibson came on after the hour mark but Villa were still posing a threat to United with Emile Heskey beating the offside trap and sending a shot across goal from a tight angle.
Berbatov sooned had an excellent chance to equalise when Michael Carrick pulled the ball back to him in the area. The Bulgarian failed to make significant contact with the ball though, allowing Villa's defence to clear before Vidic's downward header was cleared off the line by Stuart Downing.
Villa's players continued to retreat as full time approached and it took a superb save from Brad Friedel to deny Berbatov as he shot low towards the bottom corner and secure Villa's first win at Old Trafford for 27 years.