Here is Paul Doyle’s report from Villa Park. Thanks for joining me. Bye!
Next up for United: Leicester on Tuesday, and Liverpool on Thursday – both at home. Win those, and City would kick off against Newcastle on Friday with a four-point margin. They still only need one win from their last three games, but they’re taking their time getting it done.
Villa’s only real aim for the rest of the season is to clamber back into the top half; they face Everton on Thursday, then go to Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon. Strong end-of-season vibes, there.
“In case I’m ever in Birmingham again, I just want to say that I’m not related to Chris Kavanagh,” emails Justin Kavanagh. What about Graham Kavanagh? Or 90s pop pretender Kavana?
West Ham v Everton is coming up next – join John Brewin for that one:
Chelsea are about to win the WSL title – they’re 5-0 up against Reading. Bristol City are heading down and, in amusingly on-brand news, Manchester City have missed two penalties.
“Cavani gives hope to us oldsters that we shouldn’t be put out to pasture just yet,” says Mary Waltz, still covering every blade of MBM grass. “What a lovely, precise header.”
That’s 31 points United have picked up from losing positions this season; without those points, they would be on 39 – level with Newcastle. Avoid defeat at Molineux on the final day, and they will also complete an unbeaten season away from home.
Full time: Aston Villa 1-3 Manchester United
The quintessential United away win, then: they fell behind in the first half, but got level with Bruno Fernandes’ penalty. Mason Greenwood’s finish gave them the lead, and Edinson Cavani finished the job late on.
93 mins: We’re going through the motions here, if I’m honest. United will go 12 points clear of West Ham, so Champions League football next season will be officially sealed unless the Hammers beat Everton.
90 mins: Six minutes of injury time as the game turns spectacularly away from Villa. Henderson pulled his foot away, and Watkins wouldn’t have kept the ball in play, so it wasn’t a penalty for me. It wasn’t a particularly egregious dive either, with replays not clarifying if there was contact – that’s a bold call from the referee.
Red card! Ollie Watkins is sent off
This is a strange one. Watkins, booked for a foul on Maguire in the first half, runs through on goal and flicks the ball away from Henderson. It looks like Chris Kavanagh has given a penalty – but instead, he hands Watkins a second booking for simulation!
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GOAL! Aston Villa 1-3 Manchester United (Cavani 87')
This is so clever from Edinson Cavani, who lingers out wide as Luke Shaw’s shot is charged down. When Fred finds Rashford on the other flank, he makes his move – surging towards the near post and flicking his header past Martinez. Game over!
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86 mins: Matic is on for Fernandes, whose penalty got United on level terms before Greenwood’s goal. Cavani’s shot is blocked by Matty Cash, the striker appealing for a handball. Not given, but it won’t matter ...
84 mins: Targett’s shot can’t find a path through a thicket of United defenders. Villa are effectively playing with four forwards, so it’s no surprise to see Nemanja Matic summoned from the United bench.
82 mins: Keinan Davis, operating alongside Wesley up top with Watkins drifting to the left, finds space inside the United area. Rather than go for goal he tries to pick out Watkins, who is closed down.
81 mins: Traoré jinks this way and that before drilling a low cross that Bailly scrambles away. A United counter is snuffed out by John McGinn, putting in a tireless, almost Waltzian shift in midfield.
80 mins: With Davis and Wesley waiting for the cross, John McGinn instead picks out Traoré, whose downward header is never troubling Henderson.
77 mins: Harry Maguire trots back on, but very quickly drops back to the turf, rolling his left sock down and wincing. Eric Bailly comes on in his place. For Villa, Keinan Davis and Wesley are on, replacing El Ghazi and Barkley, who wasn’t at his incisive best today.
75 mins: Maguire, a defensive ever-present in the league this season, is ushered to the touchline and looks a doubt to continue. In the meantime, Barkley hooks his free kick high and wide of goal.
West Ham v Everton is coming up next: John Brewin has events at the London Stadium covered.
72 mins: Some less impressive defensive work from Cavani, losing the ball and tripping El Ghazi, who collided with Maguire as he went over. The United captain will need treatment after taking a hefty blow.
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“What’s the most times a team has been 45 minutes away from winning the Premier League?” wonders Phil Grey. It does feel like Groundhog Day for Manchester City after yesterday’s shenanigans.
68 mins: Wan-Bissaka races across to stop the ball going out for a corner, but succeeds only in passing it straight to Matt Targett. His cross is nodded back across goal – but Cavani uses his aerial instincts well, moving to the far post to head it away!
67 mins: Maguire is booked for holding on to Watkins – who was booked in the first half for a clumsy foul on Maguire. The free-kick is swung in, and flicked away by Lindelof ...
66 mins: Jacob Ramsey comes on in place of the hapless Douglas Luiz, whose brain-fade allowed United to start turning the game around.
64 mins: Edinson Cavani is coming on, replacing goalscorer Greenwood. Having seen a replay of the possible handball, Greenwood was spinning on the edge of the area, the ball fired at him by Douglas Luiz. It would have been incredibly harsh to give that.
60 mins: Villa aren’t out of this yet! El Ghazi gets in behind and causes a flurry of panic with his ball back across goal. It’s worked back to Targett, and Maguire throws his head in the way of the cross, but Traoré’s shot still forces a save from Henderson. From the corner, there’s a big Villa shout for handball against Greenwood, but no dice, despite a lengthy VAR check as play continues.
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59 mins: Tensions boil over between Konsa and Rashford after a penalty-box battle, the Villa defender having to be hauled away before losing his rag altogether. From the corner, Maguire heads wide.
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A rapid turnaround from United, and credit to Mason Greenwood for taking the chance so clinically – but Mings was uncharacteristically weak with his challenge, and Martinez might feel disappointed by getting beaten at his near post.
Aston Villa 1-2 Manchester United (Greenwood 56')
And now they lead! Wan-Dissaka drifts in from the right and slips a pass to Greenwood, who turns Mings with unacceptable ease before firing a low shot beyond Martinez!
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55 mins: Traoré gets into space down the right, but dallies for too long and United get numbers back. United currently on course for another point earned from behind ...
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United (Fernandes pen 52')
Bruno Fernandes steps up. Panenka, anyone? No, a stutter-step run-up, and a cool finish to Martinez’s left. The City champagne is back on ice!
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Penalty to Manchester United!
United counter, and Pogba holds the ball up in the area. Douglas Luiz does well to shepherd him away from goal, then inexplicably lunges in with no chance of getting the ball. That’s a penalty.
49 mins: McGinn plays a through ball to Barkley, who looks a yard offside. He cuts it back to El Ghazi, whose shot tests Henderson at his near post ...
47 mins: Fernandes rolls the ball to Pogba, whose shot from the edge of the area balloons behind off Mings. United corner, punched clear by Martinez before Pogba’s cross is cut out by the rock-solid Ezri Konsa.
46 mins: Shaw looks aggrieved after getting whistled trying to win the ball high up the pitch. Another reminder: United are the league’s leading second-half scorers.
The second half is go!
Villa get it started. Reminder: if the hosts hold on and win, Manchester City are champions – and a draw means United’s faint hopes would be purely mathematical. Long way to go, of course.
Here’s our report from Wolves 2-1 Brighton, for your consideration.
“Waltzy’s had a great season,” says Matt Dony, game recognising game. “She’s a top, top contributor. I’m sure she’s saved something in the tank for this brutal run-in.”
“It would be typical of this underwhelming season if United follow City’s defeat yesterday with one of their own, thereby handing City the title in rather downbeat circumstances,” writes Rick Harris.
Half time! Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester United
It’s a fine effort, steered firmly towards the bottom corner, but Henderson gets down well to keep it out. And that’s half time! City are 45 minutes from the title, but you feel Villa may need another to hold off United’s customary fightback.
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46 mins: United play it out and Watkins tries to pinch the ball from Maguire, clattering the defender over like an over-excited puppy. He’s booked, but Villa resume their high press and Watkins has a chance to shoot ...
45 mins: One added minute, and Villa pour forward, Matty Cash injecting some urgency. Traoré’s cross doesn’t connect, drifting behind for a goal kick.
44 mins: Konsa is playing on after getting some physio treatment and emptying an entire bottle of water over his head. It does look a little warm at Villa Park, to be fair.
42 mins: The impressive Konsa nods Wan-Bissaka’s cross away with Fernandes lurking – if a little mismatched, height-wise. Konsa lands awkwardly and stays down holding his knee, which is a concern.
41 mins: United come again, Fernandes looking for options on the right-hand corner of the Villa area, then driving to the byline and crossing at pace. Martinez parries it out, and Konsa has to move smartly to make a two-touch clearance a yard from his own goal.
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39 mins: Fernandes tees up Rashford, whose shot from 20 yards is well-struck, but straightforward enough for Martínez.
37 mins: Having been rocked back by the opening goal, United are building some momentum again. They’ve won 28 points from losing positions this season, which is frankly a bit ridiculous.
“I would love to think that I have something to save for my beloved Everton,” says Mary Waltz (see 14.10).” I fear that that much like the Toffees’ season, I may be running out of bullets. I will attempt to rise above mid table mediocrity, I hope my boys do the same.”
34 mins: Shaw gets upfield and sweeps a low cross across goal, but nobody is there to get on the end of it. Moments later, Fernandes tries to lob Martínez from 40 yards out, and is not particularly close.
33 mins: Villa free kick, which Targett slips wide to El Ghazi. His low cross is cut out by Fernandes, back helping out in defence. The hosts certainly have a spring in their step now.
30 mins: El Ghazi looks for Watkins at the far post, but a be-capped Dean Henderson collects. That chance came from more excellent work from McGinn. Villa fans may know better, but he rarely seems to have an off-day in that midfield engine room.
26 mins: Almost an immediate-ish response from the visitors, as Rashford’s low cross is cleared away by Tyrone Mings.
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It had been an even first 25 minutes, but United appeared to have several more gears to click through. Traoré’s superb opener came against the run of the play, and it means Manchester City will win the title unless United fight back. They’ve done so about 1,500 times already this season, so don’t rule it out.
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GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester United (Traoré 24')
McGinn nicks the ball from McTominay and Douglas Luiz finds Traoré on the edge of the box. The winger tries what looks an ill-advised back flick, but Lindelof doesn’t deal with it and offers Traoré a chance from a tricky angle. He takes it, firing past Henderson and into the top corner!
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22 mins: With the United front four pressing high up the field, Villa are going long – and McGinn’s through ball almost connects with El Ghazi. McGinn, tenacious as ever, wins the ball back in midfield ...
19 mins: United are operating in a fluid shape, with Pogba drifting in from the left, and Greenwood swapping positions with Rashford. Greenwood’s low shot almost falls at Rashford’s feet, but Matt Targett does just enough to squirrel the ball away.
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16 mins: After a spell of midfield strolling, Villa get another corner which Lindelof flicks away. By the way, here’s the last time the title was decided by events at Villa Park.
12 mins: Another Villa corner, as Bertrand Traoré’s snap shot is deflected over the bar. Maguire directs the Slab onto it, and the danger is cleared.
10 mins: They do so effectively, and Matt Targett wins a corner. It’s worked backwards to the left-back, whose cross drifts out of play.
9 mins: Fred sends a low shot straight at Martínez, before Villa try to get a little time on the ball.
“Do you reckon those Zebra shirts have been washed from Thursday night or just pulled back out of the laundry basket?” asks Rick Harris. A quick spritz with Febreze would probably do the trick.
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6 mins: It’s been a strong start from the visitors. Luke Shaw cuts in from the left and stings Martínez’s palms, before Pogba’s cross is fielded by the busy Villa keeper. At the other end, El Ghazi sends a speculator low and wide.
4 mins: Rashford’s shot loops up off Ezri Konza, presenting a half-chance to Greenwood whose shot from a tight angle is repelled by Emi Martínez.
“I’d welcome opinions from your esteemed MBM contributors (both of them if they have time and inclination) on whether Mary Waltz will be rotating her MBM input today, perhaps saving her strongest contribution for West Ham v Everton later?” asks Graham Moger.
It’s been a long season, and we’ve got to keep everyone fresh – especially with the Euros looming.
Kick-off
Both teams take a collective knee, before Manchester United get the ball rolling.
The teams are heading out onto the pitch. United are in their zebra kit, which actually looks pretty fresh with plain black shorts. Here we go!
And Ole Gunnar Solskjær:
"We'll deal with Tuesday and Thursday later on."
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 9, 2021
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer speaks to Sky Sports ahead of today's game against Aston Villa.
Watch live on Sky Sports PL 📺 pic.twitter.com/xlyAUj5dsc
Some pre-match chat from Dean Smith:
Dean Smith speaks to Sky Sports ahead of Aston Villa's game against Manchester United.
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 9, 2021
Watch live on Sky Sports PL 📺 pic.twitter.com/mB2UTvyU5z
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Wolves win! A great moment for Morgan Gibbs-White, who fires home a last-minute winner, five minutes after skying his shot with the goal gaping. It’s what we like to see, and it’s earned Wolves their first ever top-flight win over Brighton! After the final whistle, Neal Maupay was sent off for a tirade aimed at referee Jon Moss.
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“I imagine the Tuesday fixture with Leicester will be when Ole’s B-squad will be deployed,” says Mary Waltz. It certainly looks that way; I’m not sure that will really help Leicester, who seem to raise their game against stronger opposition.
The Women’s Super League title is up for grabs today, with Chelsea aiming to hold off Manchester City. Manchester United host Everton, while Villa visit Arsenal and may need a favour from Brighton to stop Bristol City climbing above them in the race to beat the drop. Follow along with John Ashdown:
Here’s Jonathan Wilson on last Sunday’s protests at Old Trafford and where we go from here in the post-Super League era.
Wolves are level! It’s Adama Traoré with the equaliser at home to Brighton, finishing sweetly after an intricate one-two with Fabio Silva. Elsewhere it’s the final day of League One, where all that’s still up for grabs is the final play-off spot. Portsmouth started the day in sixth but are losing at home to Accrington; as it stands, Oxford will join Blackpool, Sunderland and Lincoln in the play-offs.
Some quotes from Solskjær, care of the Manchester United website: “We’ve been handed a very bad hand ... the intensity of the Premier League is so, so high and the quality is so high. We’ve just got to make sure we tick one off [game] at a time. But the players are ready for it, I’m ready for it.
“It’s a challenge we’ll take head on. It’s not like we’ll just throw the toys out of the pram and feel sorry for ourselves. That’s not the way we are. But I had to express how unhappy I am with how they can risk injuries for the players. I’ve got to look after them.”
In Sunday’s early kick-off, Lewis Dunk has put Brighton 1-0 up at Molineux before getting sent off for a professional foul. Half an hour or so to go there, and it’s live on BBC One. As Paul Doyle mentioned here, Brighton are a curious bogey team for Wolves, who have never beaten them in a top-flight game.
In the end, there’s no drastic reshuffle from Solskjær with four changes from Thursday’s game in Rome. Dean Henderson replaces David de Gea in goal, Victor Lindelöf comes back into the defence, while Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford replace Donny van de Beek and Edinson Cavani.
Villa go with the same XI that won at Goodison, despite a looming fixture pile-up of their own. Dean Smith’s side end the season with four games in 10 days, starting on Thursday with the return meeting with Everton.
Team news
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Douglas Luiz, McGinn; Traoré, Barkley, El Ghazi; Watkins.
Subs: Heaton, Wesley, Nakamba, Elmohamady, Hause, Davis, Ramsey, Philogene-Bidace, Chukwuemeka.
Man Utd (4-2-3-1): Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelöf, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes, Pogba; Rashford.
Subs: De Gea, Bailly, Cavani, Mata, Alex Telles, Matic, Williams, van de Beek, Tuanzebe.
Preamble
Manchester United like playing at Villa Park. The last game they lost at Aston Villa was in the 1999 Worthington Cup, when Ole Gunnar Solskjær was in the United team. You have to travel back another four years for their last league defeat here, an opening-day embarrassment that led Alan Hansen to opine “you can’t win anything with kids”.
Solskjær might be tempted to test that theory today as United begin a run of three league games in five days. The manager is expected to at least rotate his team with home games against Leicester and Liverpool looming. Villa’s win at Goodison Park has arrested their end-of-season drift, and the hosts might fancy their chances of ending what is now a historic top-flight drought in a single fixture.
Defeat for United this afternoon would secure the title for Manchester City, while even a draw will leave the Reds needing snookers. In reality, United’s primary concerns are securing second place and keeping assorted hamstrings operational with a European final on the horizon. Another victory here would open a 12-point gap on fifth place, and make Champions League qualification a formality.
Of course, had you told Fergie back in 1995 that one day, almost 26 years in the future, United would field even a slightly weakened team at the risk of letting City win the title, he’d have fired up the hairdryer quicker than you can say European Super League. Modern football, bloody hell. Kick-off: 2.05pm, BST.
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