Manchester United 1-0 Aston Villa: McTominay puts fortunate Red Devils into FA Cup fourth round

By Sports Desk January 10, 2022

Scott McTominay's early header gave Manchester United a fortunate 1-0 win over Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup.

McTominay scored his second goal of the season after only seven minutes at Old Trafford on Monday and that was enough to set up a fourth-round tie at home to Middlesbrough.

Villa were the better side, but it was a frustrating night for boss Steven Gerrard in the Liverpool legend's first trip to United as a manager, with Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings having second-half goals disallowed.

Gerrard's side had plenty of chances to at least force extra time in a breathless encounter, but United responded with a victory amid talk of unrest in the camp following a defeat against Wolves.

McTominay got the Red Devils off to a great start, nodding Fred's superb whipped cross from the right beyond Emiliano Martínez

Villa took that early blow on the chin and David de Gea made a fine save to keep out John McGinn's rasping drive, before Watkins rattled the crossbar after producing a lovely piece of skill to beat Victor Lindelof following a poor mistake from the Sweden defender.

Jacob Ramsey's shot deflected narrowly wide as Villa continued to apply the pressure, but they needed a Matty Cash block to keep out Bruno Fernandes' goal-bound strike and a sharp Martinez save from Luke Shaw's long-drive thunderbolt to avoid going two goals behind in an entertaining first half.

Ings thought he had equalised from inside the six-yard box five minutes into the second half, but referee Michael Oliver ruled the goal out for a foul by Ramsey on Edinson Cavani.

There was more frustration for Villa soon after when Watkins applied the finish but Ings had strayed just offside before he raced clear and failed to beat De Gea.

The busy De Gea then palmed Cash's well-struck effort around the post before getting a fingertip on Watkins' strike and although United fans voiced their fury when Marcus Rashford failed to react as the ball went loose following Martinez's save from Mason Greenwood, they were able to celebrate reaching round four.

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    Vincent Kompany lamented Bayern Munich's profligacy and urged his team to learn from their mistakes after their 1-0 loss to Aston Villa.

    Jhon Duran's superb finish at Villa Park saw the hosts claim all three points in Wednesday's Champions League encounter.

    It was just the second meeting between Villa and Bayern, with the first having come back in the 1982 European Cup final, which the English team won 1-0.

    Bayern had their chances, though, having 17 shots, getting seven on target and mustering 1.42 expected goals (xG), with Emiliano Martinez making a string of fine stops late on.

    "We missed some big chances and they scored the chance. We've got to take the learnings from this," said Kompany after suffering his first defeat as Bayern head coach.

    "When we have the ball, we're dangerous, but they're a strong team, this isn't an easy place. It wasn't a bad performance.

    "If you don't take your chances, it can happen.

    "We had big chances, we didn't score them. We gave away a moment and in that moment obviously Villa scored a goal.

    "I understand the occasion it was for the opponent and it was a special night for them."

    Villa became the second English side to win their first two Champions League games (since 1992-93), after Leicester City in 2016-17.

    Bayern, meanwhile, saw their 41-game unbeaten run in the group/league stage of UEFA's elite club competition (the longest such run in the tournament's history) come to an end.

    "When we have the ball, we're dangerous, but [Villa] are a strong team, this isn't an easy place. It wasn't a bad performance," Kompany added.

    "We conceded very few chances. If we focus on our own work, we will win a lot of games still." 

    Bayern visit Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

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    Villa won 1-0 on Wednesday to make it two victories from two games in the Champions League, as they claimed their second triumph over Bayern from as many meetings, with their previous success against them having come by the same scoreline in the 1982 European Cup final.

    The German giants dominated possession and accrued 1.42 expected goals (xG) to Villa's 0.4, but the only stat that mattered at Villa Park was the scoreline.

    Substitute Jhon Duran was the hero as he scooped a brilliant finish over Manuel Neuer from outside the box in the 79th minute, with Martinez subsequently pulling off a string of fine stops to deny Bayern an equaliser.

    "It's unreal. It's a night that we will remember for a long time. It's a statement," said Villa's World Cup-winning goalkeeper.

    "[The noise] was hurting my ears. This is a club that's moving forward. I love playing here. I love the fans."

    Duran, who reportedly came close to leaving Villa in the summer, has started the season brilliantly, and now has a Champions League goal to go with his four in the Premier League.

    "He's an excellent substitute," Martinez said of the Colombian, whose five goals have all come from the bench.

    "The first time he touched the ball, he chipped Neuer – one of the most beautiful goals in history."

    Unai Emery, meanwhile, said Duran's goal was a pre-planned tactic.

    "In the analysis we did, we were speaking a lot about the usual position of Neuer, which is high," Emery said of Villa's pre-match conversations.

    "He [Duran] had in his mind this possibility about Neuer.

    "He is young, he has huge potential. As a player, I have to let him play, put him on the field, because his talent is there, his capacity to help us.

    "We are working with him. Most important is his attitude. He's available to play 90, 60, 30 minutes. He's been focusing each minute he's playing.

    "It's fantastic for him and the team."

    Emery also had warm words for Martinez, adding: "Martinez did an amazing job, amazing saves."

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    Christos Tzolis scored the only goal as Club Brugge edged out Sturm Graz 1-0 for their first win in this season's Champions League.

    The Greece international delivered the decisive blow in the 23rd minute at 28 Black Arena on Wednesday.

    Both sides were seeking their first point in the competition, having recorded defeats on matchday one against Borussia Dortmund and Brest respectively.

    Brugge broke through midway through the first half, as Tzolis controlled before firing in off the post from the edge of the penalty area.

    The visitors went close to doubling their lead after the break, but Sturm Graz goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen came to the hosts' rescue with a series of fine saves.

    Urged on by the home fans, Christian Ilzer's side went in search of an equaliser, but it did not arrive as Brugge held out for the points.

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    Sturm Graz have now suffered four successive Champions League defeats for the third time in their history.

    Meanwhile, the Austrian side have now lost their last four European matches against Belgian opposition without scoring.

    By contrast, Brugge maintained their perfect record of three straight wins against Austrian opponents, while they have now kept four clean sheets in five Champions League away games - as many as in their previous 22.

    Tzolis' strike came from one of three shots on target, becoming the first Brugge player to register that amount in a single Champions League game since Hans Vanaken did so against Paris Saint-Germain in September 2021.

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