Man United vs. Aston Villa result, reaction & highlights: Ronaldo-less Red Devils survive VAR scare in FA Cup

Steven Gerrard’s first trip to Old Trafford as a manager ended in an agonizing defeat, as his impressive Aston Villa side fell 1-0 to Manchester United in the FA Cup 3rd Round. 

In the opposite dugout to Gerrard, Ralf Rangnick responded to recent pressure by switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation and bringing Bruno Fernandes back into the team. 

The Portuguese star was upstaged by Scott McTominay, though, as the holding midfielder connected with a cross from partner Fred to seal United’s victory. 

MORE: FA Cup 4th Round draw results

A United team without Cristiano Ronaldo held on despite intense pressure from the visitors, who were controversially denied an equalizer by VAR in the second half. 

Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings threatened throughout, but it’s the Red Devils who go marching on to a 4th Round home tie against Middlesbrough, continuing the search for FA Cup No.13 and a first trophy since 2017. 

Final score

Man United 1-0 Aston Villa

McTominay (8)

Manager reaction

Ralf Rangnick, speaking to the BBC: “I think we showed a reaction after the Wolves game, that is what everyone expected from us.

“In the first half I thought we did well. It could have been 3-2 or 4-3 to us at half-time.

“In the second half we were on the counter attack and we could have made more of those situations. We took the wrong decisions at times but when we changed to a diamond in midfield we had more control.

“[McTominay] is an academy boy, his energy is amazing. He now also starts scoring goals and also with some leadership skills. I wouldn’t be surprised if in a couple of years he would be the captain of this team.”

“We had a look [at the VAR decision] in the dugout and when I saw the situation for me it was clear – the player who blocked Edinson Cavani was offside in the very moment when the ball came in.”

Steven Gerrard: “How long have you got? The officials took three and a half minutes to settle [the VAR decision]. They have looked at two or three things in it.

“When VAR is there and they make a decision you have to accept it. There is nothing you can do to change it. The easy way out is to blame luck and the officials, we won’t do that.

“Very tough. We are out of the FA Cup and coming into this job I saw this competition as an opportunity to have a good run in it.

“We dominated for large parts but we were not ruthless enough. I’ve seen enough tonight in terms of the performance to know that I can get to where I want to get to but we need to learn and learn quickly.

“We need to be more ruthless moving forward, defending crosses we need to be tighter. We cannot be having people with free headers in our six-yard box.”

Man United vs. Aston Villa as-it-happened

FULL-TIME: It’s over! Man United through to the 4th Round. That was a spirited display from Gerrard’s men, who deserved more from the night. 

95th min: More fan-pleasing play from Elanga, as he wins a corner to eat up precious seconds. 

94th min: El Ghazi sees his name in lights but fires high. Villa running out of ideas, and time. 

92nd min: Lingard with a cheeky piece of skill at the corner flag to get by two opponents, and then Greenwood tamely shoots into the hands of Martinez. 

91st min: Elanga gets the crowd on their feet with a ball across the area, but none of his teammates are there to slot it in. 

90th min: Six minutes of added time! 

88th min: Konsa is down with blood on his face, after being caught by Shaw when challenging for a corner. Oliver deems it accidental, though. 

85th min: A few boos can be heard as a double substitution is made by Rangnick. Fernandes is taken off to chants of “Bruno” alongside Rashford. Jesse Lingard and Anthony Elanga are on. Meanwhile for Villa, Jaden Philogene-Bidace replaces Ramsey. 

84th min: The Old Trafford faithful crying for several players to shoot, but none oblige. The Red Devils have calmed the game down, at least. 

81st min: Luiz plays an aerial ball towards Ings on the run, and again Lindelof fails to deal with the danger. Ings can’t make the most of it, though, and Villa’s frustrating search goes on. 

79th min: Gerrard makes his first substitution. Anwar El Ghazi on for Buendia, who has impressed here. 

74th min: Big chance for Greenwood! The 20-year-old has acres of space down the right, but in a two-on-one situation, he decides to shoot instead of squaring it to Rashford, who is strangely on his heels and misses out on a spillage from the goalkeeper. 

72nd min: This is not a drill – Donny van de Beek is on! Cavani makes way for the Dutchman. 

71st min: Watkins wide again! He curls it around McTominay, but not within the post. 

70th min: United racking up the bookings now – Dalot is the next man in the referee’s notebook. 

68th min: Another yellow for the hosts, as Shaw takes one for the team to deny Ramsey on the counter. Cash then throws himself to the floor in the penalty area, but he’s not getting a decision there. 

67th min: Matty Cash with a super strike from the right, saved by De Gea. 

65th min:  Fred picks up a yellow card for a foul on Luiz. 

62nd min: Watkins and Buendia connect again in the penalty area. Villa again piling on the pressure here. 

61st min: United temporarily a man down while Lindelof leaves the field through injury. He looks like he should be able to continue, though Alex Telles has warmed up. 

59th min: Watkins has the ball in the net but Ings is offside in the build-up! Buendia beautifully plays in Ings, who just strayed off, and his chipped effort was turned in by Watkins. 

57th min: “You’re not fit to referee,” the away fans chant. 

55th min: Old Trafford is rocking now. The home fans have been revitalized by that decision, as Rashford breaks at the other end. Elsewhere, Fred goes down under a hefty challenge from McGinn. Tempers are flaring! 

NO GOAL – 54th min: Oliver chalks off the goal for that block! We’re back to United holding a 1-0 lead. 

53rd min: Drama! Referee Oliver is now heading to the pitchside monitor to look at a possible block on Cavani, rather than the offside. 

53rd min: Big delay while the goal is checked by VAR for a possible offside. Watkins may have got the faintest touch before the ball reaches Ings. 

GOAL – 50th min: Ings brings Villa level! McGinn’s high, lofted free-kick is headed into the six-yard box by Ezri Konsa, and Ings bundles it in. 

49th min: United has started the half the better of the two teams. Rashford and Greenwood look on it. 

KICK-OFF: Villa get us back underway for the second half. A reminder that there are no replays in the FA Cup 3rd Round this season, so a winner will be decided today. 

HALF-TIME: Man United 1-0 Aston Villa. Plenty of entertainment, and the host fortunate to go in to the break ahead. 

48th min: Rashford again breaks well down his flank, but his tantalizing ball across the area is cleared. 

45th min: Rashford looks offside on the right, but it isn’t called, and he tees up Cavani. The former PSG star sends it to Fernandes, who fires an outside-the-boot effort over. 

44th min: McTominay catches a volley very well, but Martinez gratefully saves. The Scottish midfielder certainly has the taste for goals, and the technique on that effort was flawless. 

43rd min: Some sloppy play all round for the last few minutes. Mix-ups in midfield leading to acres of space to run into, but attackers unable to make the most if it. 

38th min: Fernandes has an effort blocked at the other end, before a brilliant Luke Shaw long-range strike, tipped over by Martinez. 

37th min: Buendia is a joy to watch at his best, with his nimble feet – alongside the harrying of Watkins – causing McFred and the central defenders plenty of problems. 

35th min: Luiz finally gets to take his corner, and it reaches Ings, but the English striker can’t make his flick-on count. It looks a matter of when, not if, Gerrard’s men get on the scoresheet. 

33rd min: United finally has some breathing room after Villa’s swarm – but it’s come at a cost. Dalot is injured, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka ready to replace him. 

31st min: Villa all over United now. Another chance goes narrowly wide – this time a deflected Ramsey shot. 

29th min: Watkins hits the bar! A long clearance forward from Villa is met by a clumsy Lindelof touch, who gives it straight to Watkins. The striker turns Lindelof and gets his shot off but it hits the underside of the woodwork. The visitors threatening. 

28th min: At the other end, Fernandes on the break tees up Cavani, whose close-range effort is saved by Emi Martinez. 

27th min: A strong piece of possession play from Villa ends in a Buendia effort on target, saved low by David De Gea. 

24th min: Greenwood’s first menacing dribble into a dangerous area ends with a wayward shot over the bar, but the Red Devils gaining some much-needed composure in the build-up play. 

19th min: Watkins is ready to pounce on any opportunity, winning the ball high up a couple times already. That leads to a stinging John McGinn shot on this occasion. United’s defense is there for the taking. 

15th min: As Diogo Dalot and Rashford both have exciting forays forward in an end-to-end game so far, catch up on the opening goal from McTominay here: 

13th min: Another chance goes begging! Emi Buendia with a wonderful dribble right through the heart of United’s back-line, but his cross-come-shot misses both the goal and Ings. 

11th min: Chance for Villa. Douglas Luiz puts a corner in for an intelligent flick-on from Tyrone Mings, but Watkins can’t finish the opportunity at the back post. Jacob Ramsey is booked soon after as United try to break. 

GOAL – 8th min: It’s the ‘McFred’ connection! After the first corner of the game seemed to have been wasted, it eventually goes out to Fred on the right, who whips a brilliant ball onto the head of McTominay. 1-0 to United. 

6th min: McTominay has a long-range shot saved. United crowd are feeling a promising start. Rashford is on the left and Greenwood on the right of a 4-2-3-1.

3rd min: Both sides attacking with purpose. Rashford can’t make the most of a break into the area at one end, and Watkins similarly at the other. Fernandes key to United’s play, as expected. 

KICK-OFF: We’re underway! Fernandes begins proceedings, and Gerrard is on the wrong end of plenty of chants from the United fans. 

2:55pm: Kick-off imminent. Michael Oliver is the referee for today’s game. 

2:48pm: Finally, the German downplayed reports of a rift in the locker room: “We don’t have any time or energy to listen to rumors. The players know I have an open-door policy. With a squad of 26, you always have a few unhappy players who want to play more.” 

2:47pm: Asked whether United can be a success while constantly switching formations, Rangnick responded: “No. In the long-term it would be good to have one formation, one style of play. It took Jurgen Klopp a couple of months. Right now my job is to work with the players I have inherited here. It’s about small steps.”

2:45pm: Rangnick told the BBC he has already hit his first major objective: “Before I arrived, it was obvious the team shipped too many goals. This was the first approach, to stop conceding – we have achieved that.” 

2:40pm: The Villa manager also confirmed the club are still active in the transfer market, and spoke about the partnership between Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins: “They’re two fantastic players. Danny is getting back to his best. Ollie is now our most consistent player.”

2:39pm: Gerrard is eyeing a big FA Cup run: “We’ve got to. We’re not involved in any European competition. The draw wasn’t as kind as we’d have liked. We’re doing to have to be at it.”

2:35pm: Alan Shearer believes tonight is hugely important for Rangnick, telling the BBC: “It hasn’t been anywhere near good enough from a lot of the players. The system the manager has played hasn’t worked. It’s got to start tonight.”

2:22pm: Dean Henderson was another man expected to be starting for the Red Devils, but according to the MEN, has been left out while he angles for a loan move away in the January transfer window.

2:18pm: Rangnick also says Jadon Sancho was “supposed to be in the squad,” but a hamstring issue has kept the English winger out of contention. 

2:12pm: Ronaldo’s absence is down to a minor injury, rather than the No.7 being rested or dropped: 

2:00pm: How will Rangnick set his side out? The German could slot Fernandes into the center of a 4-2-3-1, or alternatively continue with his 4-2-2-2 formation. Even with the latter, there’ll be questions over whether Marcus Rashford or Mason Greenwood is alongside Edinson Cavani up top. 

2:57pm: And here is Villa’s strong XI, as expected:

2:56pm: United’s full team is here:

1:55pm: Ronaldo misses out! The Portuguese superstar has not even been named on the bench, with compatriot Bruno Fernandes returning to the starting XI as captain.

1:42pm: One man who definitely won’t be on the field tonight is Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian has, however, today completed his Villa medical and is all set to make his debut this coming weekend. 

1:40pm: We’re now 15 minutes away from confirmed team news. Will Cristiano Ronaldo be rested ahead of another league meeting with Villa on Saturday? 

1:34pm: United is looking to end a five-season trophy drought, with its last piece of silverware being the 2016/17 UEFA Europa League under Jose Mourinho. The Red Devils’ most recent FA Cup triumph came a season earlier, under Louis van Gaal. 

1:29pm: Gerrard, who won the FA Cup twice as a Liverpool player, has spoken of the FA Cup’s appeal in his pre-match press conference: “It’s a real tradition, it’s a special competition for everyone who’s English and British because we know it very well. But I think every foreigner who comes into the country, when you’re having conversations with them, the FA Cup always comes up. So, it’s got a name for itself worldwide as well.”

1:22pm: Last time these clubs met at Old Trafford, Villa came away with three points in the Premier League. Bruno Fernandes skied a late penalty in a 1-0 defeat back in September. 

1:11pm: Rangnick has called on Man United to play with a “different energetic level” to that which the side showed against Wolves. He has also picked out central midfield as Aston Villa’s key strength. 

1:02pm: Gerrard’s last appearance as a player against Man United was probably his most painful – the infamous red card at Anfield, just 38 seconds after he was substituted on. 

12:55pm:  Welcome to Sporting News’ live coverage of Man United vs. Aston Villa. As with last season, there are no replays in the FA Cup 3rd Round — so the tie must be decided tonight, with extra-time and penalties if necessary.

(All times Eastern)

MORE: Bruno Fernandes denies transfer rumors

How to watch Man United vs. Aston Villa

• Date: Monday, Jan. 10
• Time: 2:55 p.m. ET
• Streaming: ESPN+ (subscribers only)

Monday’s FA Cup match between Manchester United and Aston Villa from Old Trafford will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN’s streaming service ESPN+ in the USA.

Man United vs. Aston Villa lineups

Man United starting lineup (4-2-3-1):  De Gea (GK) — Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Shaw — Fred, McTominay — Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford – Cavani.

Aston Villa starting lineup (4-3-3):  Martinez (GK) — Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett — Ramsey, Luiz, McGinn — Buendia, Watkins, Ings.

MORE: Why Coutinho’s move to Aston Villa makes sense

Man United vs. Aston Villa betting lines & odds

Odds courtesy of DraftKings

• Moneyline:  Man United -140 / Draw +295 / Aston Villa +400
• Spread (Asian Handicap): Man United -0.5 (+100) / Aston Villa +0.5 (-110)
• O/U 2.5 total goals:  Over -120 / Under +100
• Both teams to score: Yes -130 / No +100