Stuart James
It was the sort of game the Manchester United of old would have won. Yet those famed acts of escapology, such as the one United pulled off at Villa Park two years ago when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side fought back from being 2-0 down to win 3-2, are conspicuous by their absence. United have failed to win any of the seven matches in which they have gone behind this season. Not even playing with an extra man for the final 25 minutes made a difference here.
What a contrast to the 2012‑13 title-winning team who had collected 15 points from losing positions by the time they triumphed at Villa Park in the middle of November and also repeated the trick three times in Europe. Those powers of recovery became part of the club’s DNA during the Ferguson era and whatever the reasons behind it – unshakeable belief, good fortune, star quality or maybe the fear of God that the Scot put into his players – United need to rediscover the happy knack.
This season United have earned only three points when trying to come from behind – against Swansea City, Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion, Chelsea, Manchester City and now Villa. The less said about the other match when they were playing catch-up – the 4-0 defeat at MK Dons in the Capital One Cup – the better.
In the past a United equaliser early in the second half would have sent shudders down the spines of opponents and fuelled a sense of inevitability on the pitch and in the stands, about the onslaught that would follow. Not here. Radamel Falcao’s close-range header galvanised Aston Villa as much as it did United. Even with a numerical advantage following Gabriel Agbonlahor’s extremely harsh dismissal, United were unable to cut through their opponents.
So much of United’s possession was pedestrian and laboured, there was little in the way of pace or penetration and it was alarming – albeit absolutely spot-on – to hear Louis van Gaal bemoaning a lack of creativity in a starting XI that included Robin van Persie, Falcao, Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young, with Ángel Di María coming off the bench.
The suspicion remains that Van Gaal is still unsure of the best way to set his team up and deploy all that attacking talent.
Falcao’s goal – only his second for United – should do him the power of good, and Young made a couple of decent raids down the left flank, including his fine cross for the Colombian’s bullet-header. Mata was peripheral while Valencia and Van Persie were withdrawn.
Rooney played a couple of superb, raking diagonal passes and one glorious through-ball that was clipped first time on the half-volley for Van Persie to run on to in the second half.
Yet it is hard to escape the feeling that United lose more than they gain by playing the third-highest goalscorer in the club’s history so deep that at times he is picking up the ball from central defenders.
While the England captain described the two points dropped as a “missed opportunity”, Van Gaal went further and said it was the sort of result that may cost United the title when they look back and reflect at the end of the season.
Seven points behind Chelsea and Manchester City having played a game more than José Mourinho’s team, United have left themselves no margin for error over the festive period when they host Newcastle before tricky trips to White Hart Lane and the Britannia Stadium.
For all Van Gaal’s frustration and United’s shortcomings, Villa deserve credit for a spirited performance.
Traditionally obliging opponents for United – Villa have failed to beat them at home in the league in 19 years – Paul Lambert’s side were resolute in defence, worked tirelessly in midfield and offered a sporadic threat on the counterattack. Jores Okore was outstanding at the back while Christian Benteke led the line superbly and scored a fine goal to put Villa ahead.
The only downside for Villa was Agbonlahor’s straight red card for a foul on Young – a desperately poor decision by Lee Mason, the referee, and one that will surely be overturned on appeal. Lambert revealed that Young had told the Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan that he was the guilty party.
“I hear this argument: excessive force and all that. The two of them went for a fair challenge,” the Villa manager said. “When their lad [Young] says he fouled Gabby, that’s where it falls down.”
Man of the match Jores Okore (Aston Villa)