THEATRE OF GERRARD’S SCREAMS
Stevie suffers as United pinch a lucky win
THROUGH to the next round but far from convincing yet again.
Manchester United and interim boss Ralf Rangnick needed to put on a commanding display after their lamentable 1-0 defeat at home by Wolves a week earlier.
Instead, United fans were treated to more of the same – their team out-thought and outplayed – but on this occasion they somehow managed to hang on for the win.
For a manager whose watch word is control, United have had precious little of it since the German succeeded Ole Gunnar Solskjaer six weeks ago.
Just 39 per cent possession here, against Steven Gerrard’s technically superior and more ebullient side, confirmed that lack of control Rangnick was brought in to address.
United were wasteful, disjointed and inhibited. But they somehow managed to eke out the win, courtesy of Scott McTominay’s early header and a generous decision from VAR.
Their prize is a fourth round meeting at home to Middlesbrough but Villa can count themselves unlucky they are not the ones hosting Chris Wilder’s side given their total dominance here.
Gaffer Rangnick said: “We showed a reaction after the Wolves game, that is what everyone expected from us.
“We knew it would be very difficult and took the wrong decisions at times but when we changed to a diamond in midfield we had more control.
“We fought well as a team when it was important.”
And he poured praise on goal hero McTominay and said: “An academy boy, his energy is amazing, but now he’s starting to score and show leadership skills. I wouldn’t be surprised
Stretford End unfurled a banner with the word ‘Standards’ with the faces of Bryan Robson, Roy Keane and Eric Cantona, a timely reminder to the current crop their underperforming ways will not be tolerated.
United began as if they had heeded that message, starting with urgency and purpose, which yielded the opener, although their dominance was short-lived. They scored in the eighth minute, Fred curling in a menacing cross that was met by McTominay, whose pinpoint glancing header Emiliano Martinez could not keep out.
Villa had two chances to level inside 15 minutes, Ollie Watkins failing to divert the ball in at the far post, then Danny Ings just a toe away from getting on the end of a ball
across the face of the United goal from Emiliano Buendia.
John McGinn tested David de Gea moments later, unleashing a fierce 20-yard which required the United keeper to palm away.
Martinez produced a fine reflex save just before the half-hour mark to deny Edinson Cavani, whose angled shot had taken a deflection.
Miscontrol from Lindelof on the half hour allowed Watkins a route to a ball he should never have been allowed to win, the United defender receiving a let-off when the Villa striker’s effort thudded against the underside of the bar.
Villa continued to push with Jacob Ramey’s goalbound effort taking a deflection off McTominay and trundling just wide.
The away side were deserving of a goal and it duly came in the 51st minute through Ings, only for it to be disallowed for offside after a lengthy VAR check, which needed ref Michael Oliver to review it.
Villa had the ball in the United net again five minutes later, this time through Watkins, but provider Ings was correctly judged offside.
Matty Cash forced another fine save from de Gea, who once again came to his side’s rescue.
Gerrard said: “Nearly is not good enough for me.”