Not since Sir Alex Ferguson’s kids crumbled in 1996 has Manchester United lost to the second City’s leading team at Villa Park – in the Premier League at least. The 3-1 loss, followed Alan Hansen’s now infamous chide, is long past, with United emerging undefeated 17 occasions in a row during the intervening years.
Indeed, there is nothing in the form of these two teams that suggests anything bar another win on the road for Ferguson’s team this Saturday, with United enjoying a spell of good results, and Villa resting just a place above the relegation zone.
Still, United’s inability to keep a clean sheet will retain Ferguson’s concern despite his side’s outstanding recent record at Villa Park, although the Midlanders have scored just five goals all season at the 115-year-old stadium. Paul Lambert’s evolution at Villa Park is taking some time to bed in, with just nine points this season, leaving only Reading, Southampton and Queens Park Rangers to prop up the Birmingham side.
Relegation will be far from Lambert’s mind, but it is now more than 16 years since Villa last won a trophy and American Randy Learner’s spell in control of the club has yielded little promise, let alone silverware. It is a recent past that has cast a cloud over one of the Football League’s founding members. Indeed, it is now history rather than the present that is the currency on which Villa primarily trades.
“They have a great history,” said Ferguson on Friday.
“It’s probably correct to say that they haven’t matched their expectations over the years. The year we won the league [in 1993] they had a good team. You wonder when managers change whether that has bigger effect than the playing standard of the team. They’ve had quite a few managers – quite a collection over the years.”
Years of failure, and United’s outstanding record at Villa Park, leaves Sir Alex unmoved – accepting complacency from his side in the Saturday tea time kick off.
“Although we have a great record at Villa Park we never take them for granted,” adds Sir Alex.
“We’ve always had to perform there. It’s been a good ground for us as a team, though, and I’ve always enjoyed it. It’s one of the old traditional grounds. There’s always a good atmosphere and the support is always fantastic. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going as it’s got us into a good position.”
United laboured to three points in Braga on Wednesday night, following the deceptive 2-1 victory over Arsenal last weekend. That was victory gained, but a match which left Ferguson feeling angry about United’s profligacy. Not for the first time this season the 70-year-old Scot reminded his players that never again should United lose the league title on goal difference.
Fortunate, then, that Ferguson has a quartet of strikers in fine form. While Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney grab the headlines, Javier Hernández has scored half-a-dozen goals in recent games. Danny Welbeck, lauded for his role last season and with England during the summer, has seemingly dropped to fourth choice.
The striking riches has Ferguson demanding United scores 100 league goals in the campaign. Cynics, it could be said, will point to the Reds’ defensive record and add that Ferguson’s side will need to do just that if United is to secure a 20th domestic league title come next May.
“It’s a healthy combination we’ve got,” said Ferguson.
“Robin has come to us at the right time, no doubt about that. He’s got us 11 goals so far. The way young Chicha has started this season, I’m certain he’ll get to 20 goals plus. The summer’s rest has helped him enormously and he’s looking fresh and aggressive in his running. Wazza will get there too, he’ll get 20 goals plus I’m sure.
“We have 15 goalscorers this year and it’s definitely helping us at the moment. I look back to that season in 2000, when we were three goal short of 100 in the Premier League. The last game was at Villa Park, when we had the opportunity to get to 100 but didn’t quite make it. It would be nice to think we could do that.”
However, Ferguson will have to do without several injured players on Saturday, including Nani who will miss 10 days with a hamstring strain. Jonny Evans has a minor groin problem, with Chris Smalling ready to play a second game in four days, while captain Nemaja Vidić will not feature before the New Year. Midfielder Shinki Kagawa misses the next month, and Phil Jones returns to full training next week.
“Nemanja is a long way off, we can forget about him until after Christmas,” admitted Ferguson.
“Jones trains with the first team on Monday with the football side, which is good, and he should be available maybe 10 days after that so things are looking better that way. We’re hoping Evans will be okay for Saturday. He’s a doubt, although not a serious one. Nani is out with a tight hamstring and that will be around 10 days but he should be okay. It’s not torn, just tight.”
Meanwhile, the host’s Karim El Ahmadi returns after suspension, but defender Eric Lichaj is banned. Defender Joe Bennett is struggling with a knee injury so Enda Stevens could, while striker Darren Bent is still out.
Whatever the injuries and suspensions the fixture is likely to prove a difficult test for a Villa side yet to find any real form this season.
“I know the task of it and the team know the task of it, but on any given day you just don’t know what can happen,” said manager Lambert.
“To beat someone like United you need a bit of luck. We also have to believe that we can win. The belief in the football team at the minute is there. We are going to have to play well against them that’s for sure.”
Playing well, let alone winning, is a feat Villa has achieve ever so rarely this season.
Match Details
Aston Villa v Manchester United – Premier League, Villa Park – Saturday 10 November 2012, 5.30pm
Possible teams
Villa (4-4-2): Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Stevens; Ireland, El Ahmadi, Bannan, Weimann; Agbonlahor, Benteke. Subs from: Given, Stevens, Lichaj, Albrighton, Delph, Holman, Bowery, Westwood, Herd.
United (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Scholes, Carrick; Valencia, Rooney, Young; van Persie. Subs from: Lindegaard, Wootton, Büttner, Giggs, Powell, Anderson, Cleverley, Fletcher, Nani, Hernández, Welbeck.
Officials
Referee: K Friend
Assistants: J Flynn, S Burt
Fourth Official: M Halsey
Form
Villa: DLDLWW
United: WWWLWW
Head to Head
Last 10: Villa 1, United 6, Draw 3
Overall: Villa 49, United 91, Draw 38
Stats
- Ciaran Clark was dominant in breaking up play for Villa against Sunderland last weekend, making 30 interceptions, the most by a player in a single game all season according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index;
- Ashley Westwood displayed a fantastic work rate in covering 7.1 miles in the game, the most by a Villa player in a single game this season;
- Defenders Mathew Lowton and Ron Viaar have been standout performers lately, winning 22 and 20 tackles respectively this season;
- In Bent’s absence Gabriel Agbonlahor finally ended his run of 28 league games with a goal by scoring last weekend’s winner against Sunderland;
- Meanwhile, for United van Persie has scored eight goals from 15 shots on target in the Premier League this season, compared to Carlos Tevez’ four goals from 21 shots on target, and Darren Bent’s two goals from nine shots on target;
- van Persie striker partner Rooney covered 7.03 miles against Arsenal last weekend, the most by a United player in a single game this season;
- Michael Carrick has made the sixth most successful passes in the Premier League this season, finding a team-mate 301 times according to the Index.
Prediction
0-3
Wins at St James, Anfield and Stamford Bridge means this should be piss
Should be a romp… but these are the games where Fergus has a little tinker and can balls things up, hopefully he’ll leave things alone.
Way too much firepower for this lot, 3-1 United.
I don’t care who scores as long we grab 3 pts and I don’t care if we are Robin-Reliant
:))
Agbonlahor’s pace always gives us problems and with the possibility of Carrick starting next to Rio, we will be very vulnerable.
itll be the same team as usual, villa should be shite enough that rooney doesnt have to do all that midfield shite though
No excuses… straightforwad win.
I hope Ashley Young doesn’t go all sentimental on Villa and turn shit lol.
just go and win it reds
De Gea / Rafael, Ferdinand, Smalling, Evra / Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Young / Rooney / RVP
Subs
Anderson, Lindegaard, Hernandez, Welbeck, Cleverley, Fletcher, Buttner
OFFICIAL MUFC XI:
de Gea
Rafael
Ferdinand
Smalling
Evra
Valencia
Carrick
Scholes
Young
Rooney
van Persie
do villa have any legs in midfield
should be good enough to win it – midfield pairing of Scholes / Carrick always susceptible to high octane pressing but the assembled might of united’s attack (aka VP) should carry the day. Might not be as emphatic as we’re hoping, i reckon.
Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Stevens, Westwood, Bannan, Ireland, Weimann, Agbonlahor, Benteke
villa have players ive never heard of
Villa look quite sharp on the counter.
Have a feeling we’ll concede first here.
pretty slack start
Why the fuck are we constantly letting steven ireland run straight through the middle and just sauntering back.
obviously scholes is gonna have to come off, and not via red card
I think you know the answer to that.
can we do something other than give valencia the ball
We’ve got Fletch, Ando, and Cleverley on the bench, so that’s our full set of midfield options.
That’s more or less all we’ve done for the past 3 seasons. It’s ridiculous how lopsided we are in attack.
It’s amazing how right-footed both of our wingers are.
This game is perfect for Nani.
cringeworthy watching valencia come inside
another piss poor half from utd- we’re playing one of the poorest teams in the prem and we’ve produced almost nothing in 40 minutes.
Fatal bouts of shitness at crucial moments are preventing this from being a good game
Good goal that
Smalling doesn’t do enough
Deserved that, played like a bunch of cunts
And we go behind again
ffs smalling had 3 goes at him no one in the middle and de gea let’s it go straight over him.
Dreadful
That goal summed up our fist half performance. Lacklustre, half arsed, sluggish and generally shite.
Fair play, we are fucking woeful. The quality is piss poor.
It was no foul, Smalling got fucking served. Valencia might as well go home, he can take Young with him. Carrick is in softshite mode so he can fuck off to.
No tempo and our creative play is dire, and that’s being kind.
May as well bring on Cleverley and Anderson as Carrick and Scholes look half asleep.
Think utd thought they’d win this way too easily and haven’t bothered trying.
But Bri, it was a foul on Smalling if the Ferdinand one was earlier
No point in moaning about it though, we’ve been shite
I’m not sure Sid mate, Rio was the aggressor (Which in my books was a fair shoulder barge)but to the letter of the law was in the wrong. To me Smalling looked like he tried to barge the guy and wasn’t strong enough and bounced off him. Like you say, hardly worth mentioning because we are wank.
valencias consistency is fantastic
What’s wrong with Nani, injured?
Tight hamstring, aye
We need more ideas than simple balls out wide to Val and Young because Villa are doing a good job at snuffing it out
Chico on, Rooney on the left
Thankfully Youngs gone off.
shit in midfield, stick rooney there, shit on the wing, stick rooney there
I like the old school benches Villa have
there wasnt even any in there to plough a cross to, but he still does, fucking valencia
Too fucking easy
This is too easy
Rio… what the fuck?
brilliant scholes
Yep, put Clev and Ando on in the middle of the pitch, try to recreate some of that attacking energy we had at the start of last season. I’ve a feeling we’re not going to manage to win this now being 2-0 down, there’s only so many times we can get away with that, and we’re doing it every game now, it’s fucking abject.
totally agree I’ll be amazed if we come back this time
Rooney’s not even playing well.
If cuntstain doesn’t put some energy on in the middle we’ll concede the third. Honestly we’re shit. Fergie no longer gets the hair-dryer out apparently and it shows.
I think Carrick just got a bit of his sock dirty, he’ll be fuming.
The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits…..
There is no midfield, they’re just running right through unopposed
But it’s the forwards who are being really shit, they’re utterly idealess, and keep giving it away
I’m suprised how utterly clueless our attack is. Even RVP is having a bad day
Why is cumbucket waiting to make the changes? it’s obviously not working.
Chico you little demon get the cunt in
thank fuck for chichi
Hernandez should be a starter IMO.
yup
Scholes has been rubbish, but that’s what he can do.
Come on now, Villa will start getting nervous
That was a soft goal
A point is a must here, we can’t lose 3 in 11
HERNANDEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
fuckinell Hernandez!!!
CHICOOOO
Fucking Hernandez, you beauty. The lad from the first season is back.
you beauty
I fucking love this fella, if played will score a fucking hat full!
this is getting ridiculous
He’s limited but fucking hell can he finish
never doubted we’d come back from 2 down
That was a lucky deflection, but at least Hernandez always gets himself in the right area and has a go.
But that’s what he does, worked for Gary Lineker.
Can we get Rio off, it’s painful.
Great save. Rio in noddy land.
There is too much space out wide in midfield, they’re just running straight onto our defence
Carrick, Val, Carrick, Val
Have a shot! Play a through ball or something, ideas FFS
There are more goals here…
Letting in too many bells from the wings,letting them run through the midfield and both our centerbacks have been poor. We are definitely going to concede atleast one more time. Need to get one soon
Fucking hell!! what luck!
RVP is pure class.
brilliant by ORVP
twice hitting the cross bar. come on!
Come on RVP, keep it going, you’ll get one.
Come on Ando, get the winner son.
Come on United. Hold out and go for the winner.
FUCKING YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jesus christ
man united
fucking hell
Hernandez>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Welbeck.
That lad’s scored a shed load the past few games.
ha Hernandez again. Now thats how you win your place back
Hold out FFS!!!!!!!!
Stunning ball in, Van Persie
That’s fucking character
That’s Fergie through and through
Gone behind 11 times now, pretty sure 8 or 9 of them are wins
unbelievable character to keep doing that
get the ball and keep it for ffs
Fuck me.
I need to go for a lay down.
Another epic win
I’m in a daze
De Gea came good with those punches at the end
Made a good save earlier, that header from close range
was like that 3-2 v villa in the cup when ruud rounded schmeichel, but not as good
LKHF
faffing
I love him, I bloody love him.
Fuck it, I love you all.
We keep winning, even though we’ve been relatively poor.
We are going to absolutely destroy a few teams if we find some proper form.
Don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone that we’re going to have to do it with a poor midfield and a dodgy defence. Thank god that on a day when Rooney was poor and RVP was quiet we had Hernandez turn up.
Weird how last season we had the best wingers in the league and now there’s no reason to start any of them over a striker. May as well start with Chich/Rooney/RVP.
Hernandez has scored in each of the last 5 games he’s played in (vs. Braga x2, Chelsea x2, Villa) – 7 (8) goals in those games
Alfonso Bedoya @ 7:45: “Scholes has been rubbish, but that’s what he can do.”
Not often enough nowadays. Plus, he’s really slow – just like Michael Carrick. Playing that pair together no longer works.
At half-time I thought SAF should have brought on Chicharito for Young (who I simply do NOT rate) and Cleverley for Scholes. Unfortunately, the phone line wasn’t working so Fergy only got the first half of the message. Fortunately, the line was repaired and he figured out what I was calling about.
This was the beginning of five “easy” matches in a row – Villa, Norwich, QPR, West Ham, and Reading before the M/C derby on December 8th. That should be 15 points and a significant boost to the goal difference. The way that TheLads are playing – everything is a cliff-hanger – it looks like UTD might get the 15 points but improving the goal-difference looks a bit beyond them.
Missed the game FFS.
Ha ha
Top of the league and top of the Champions League group with wins away at some really tough grounds, and all the good teams played except City. Not bad going.
As a United fan living in birmingham, that gave me immense pleasure,
To see sweet pea put that 3rd goal away, and send the vile villa fans home shattered and depressed,
Oh great days.
I fell asleep (game started 130am my time) and when i woke up we were 2 goals down.
Stayed awake and we won 3-2. Shows you what sleeping on the job does….