Morgan Rogers’ brace saw Aston Villa keep their Premier League title challenge on course with a 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Villa Park.
Rogers curled a 57th-minute winner into the top right corner from Ollie Watkins’ lay-off flick of Youri Tielemans’ low cross to keep Villa within the title battle.
Rogers had previously curled Villa ahead with a 45th-minute opener from John McGinn’s cross, which was cancelled out in the third minute of first-half injury time by Matheus Cunha’s tightly-angled finish for United.
Speaking to Sky Sports post-match, Rogers explained that the victory is significant given their recent poor record against Utd, as he acknowledged the difference between playing with and without fans – having played on loan at Lincoln City in the behind-closed doors 2020-21 season.
“It’s massive. Every game is important, against no bigger team than United. They are a tough team to play against and we have not had a good record against them recently so we wanted to put it right and we are just really happy with the three points.
“The fans make football. Playing with no fans and playing with fans is two completely different sports. It is so enjoyable playing here. We have the crowd behind us and you can see it in our performances. Each and every one of them come here every game and make it a great place to play.”
Villa’s win meant that they remained third in the table but back to within three points of league leaders, Arsenal, whilst Utd remained seventh.
With Arsenal and Manchester City having won their games yesterday (20 December), Villa began this game under pressure to keep pace with their title rivals.
That pressure almost told just three minutes in as a sloppy defensive switch off saw the ball deflected towards Utd’s Cunha, but the Brazilian curled just wide of the bottom right corner.
Cunha’s near-miss sparked life into Villa who carved out their first opportunity in the seventh minute through Amadou Onana’s diagonal pass to McGinn, whose shot was blocked by Senne Lammens then put behind by Ayden Heaven.
Ian Maatsen almost broke the early deadlock from the subsequent corner with a low shot towards the far right corner, yet Rogers flicked the shot wide off his left heel much to his teammate’s frustration.
The game steadily became more end-to-end during which Utd forward, Benjamin Sesko saw two shots wasted in the space of two minutes, as his first shot was saved by Emiliano Martinez before he poked his second attempt wide.
Villa though wasted their own chances as Rogers’ 33rd-minute shot found Lammens’ arms, before Tielemans curled over the right corner just minutes later.
The first half soon began to peter out aside from a hamstring concern for Utd’s Bruno Fernandes, until McGinn played a forward cross to Rogers which the 23-year-old collected in a dribble on the left, and calmly curled into the far-top right corner to put Villa in front.
Utd however kept up their pressure which told in the third minute of additional time as Cunha picked up Patrick Dorgu’s interceptional touch of Matty Cash’s side-pass, and calmly bent his shot into the far-bottom right corner to restore parity at half time.
Fernandes’ injury however proved too serious for him to continue after half time and he was replaced by Lisandro Martinez, as United began the second half on the front foot and the Argentine substitute rifled over in the 56th minute.
Villa however punished the Red Devils’ wasted chances a minute later as McGinn played a diagonal cross to Tielemans, whose cross was laid off by Ollie Watkins for Rogers to curl Villa back in front with his second strike into the top right corner.
Utd attempted an immediate response on the hour mark but Dorgu saw quick-fire shots denied by Martinez then Cash, before the Danish wing-back saw his 67th-minute cross nodded wide of the near-top right corner by Cunha.
Sesko meanwhile was replaced in a double substitution in the 73rd minute as Jack Fletcher – son of ex Man Utd midfielder, Darren Fletcher – made his senior debut, whilst Joshua Zirkzee replaced Manuel Ugarte in midfield although the substitutes soon swapped positions.
Utd boss – Ruben Amorim soon dished out another senior debut as Shea Lacey replaced Leroy Yoro in the 84th minute as the visitors continued to chase an equaliser, yet Villa almost wrapped up victory a minute after Lacey’s introduction but Rogers’ shot was blocked.
Villa eventually saw out the win to keep themselves within three points of the Premier League summit and claim their tenth win in all competitions.
What’s Next?
Villa head to fourth-placed Chelsea on Saturday 27 December at 5:30pm GMT in the second of three tricky fixtures to conclude their 2025, which is followed by a trip to Arsenal on Tuesday 30 December at 8:15pm.
Man Utd host Newcastle on Boxing Day in a 8pm kick-off at Old Trafford, before they host relegation-battling Wolves on Tuesday 30 December at 8:15pm.
Teams
Aston Villa: Emiliano Martinez, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Victor Lindelöf, Ian Maatsen (Digne 75′), Boubacar Kamara (Bogarde 88′), Amadou Onana (Buendia 84′), John McGinn (Guessand 84′), Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins (Malen 75′)
Substitutes: Marco Bizot, Lamare Bogarde, Emiliano Buendia, Lucas Digne, Andres Garcia, George Hemmings, Donyell Malen, Leon Routh, Evann Guessand
Man Utd: Senne Lammens, Leroy Yoro (Lacey 84′), Ayden Heaven, Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot, Manuel Ugarte (Zirkzee 73′), Bruno Fernandes (Martinez 46′), Patrick Dorgu, Matheus Cunha, Mason Mount, Benjamin Sesko (Fletcher 73′)
Substitutes: Altay Bayindir, Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fredricson, Tom Heaton, Shea Lacey, Tyrell Malacia, Bendito Mantato, Lisandro Martinez, Joshua Zirkzee
Referee – Michael Oliver
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