Man United drop two points against Villa after Mings equaliser

It was a frustrating afternoon for Man United at Old Trafford as they lost further ground on the top four after only getting a draw versus Aston Villa. 

The game was very open and Fred and Wesley threatened for each team in the first ten minutes before Aston Villa hit the front after 12 minutes. Villa attacked down the far side through El-Ghazi, Grealish picked up the cross and turned inside before using Andreas Pereira as a marker to curl one into the far corner. It was a great strike and he once again showed what England are missing by not selecting him. El-Ghazi had to go off injured shortly after the goal as he tweaked something while crossing, but Villa continued to dominate. 

Martial had a pop for Solskjaer's men before McGinn thought he had made it 0-2 after 30 minutes, but Jack Grealish was offside in the build up. The referee held the whistle despite the linesman putting his flag up and United inexplicably stopped. It was a schoolboy error and United got away with it. 

Villa continued to attack and looked the more dangerous while United were struggling to clear the ball in defence. However, three minutes before the break, it went 1-1 after a short corner saw Pereira's superb cross headed by Rashford at the far post. The header struck the woodwork and then went in off Tom Heaton and it was credited as a Heaton own goal. The half ended with Trezeguet almost breaking the crossbar with a thunderbolt from 30 yards. 

The second half was as exciting as the first and United began well. Fred missed the target with a chance Heaton had to make a save in the 57th minute to deny Martial. However, it should have been 0-2 in the 63rd minute after Grealish missed a sitter. McGinn fed Trezeguet and the sub's pass was deflected straight to Grealish who hit wide from inside the six yard box when it should have been a goal. 

Seconds later, Tom Heaton knocked an Aaron Wan-Bissaka strike for a corner and then United took the lead from the resulting set piece. It was taken short and Fred's cross was flicked on by Villa's Wesley straight to Lindelof at the far post and the Swede made no mistake. It was a big blow for Dean Smith's men, but they fought back just two minutes later. Once again a corner was taken short and Targett's pass was volleyed home brilliantly by Mings. The VAR had to confirm there was no offside and Man Utd had to do it all over again. 

They had to be careful though as Villa were dangerous on the counter and Grealish had an opportunity just after the equaliser and then Pereira hit over the bar at the other end. The home team finished the game strongly looking for a winner and they nearly found it 12 minutes from time when Anthony Martial inexplicably missed from three yards out after Fred went down looking for a penalty. 

Fred then had a tame header at Heaton seven minutes from time while Henry Lansbury blazed over for Villa in stoppage time. Despite United pressing in the final few minutes, Villa were able to deal with everything that was thrown at them and they deserved their point. They remain in 15th while Man Utd climb one place to 10th, but they will be very disappointed to have dropped points in the league once again. They cannot buy a win and it will not be easier next week at city rivals Man City. United's problems continue.