Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men overcame the challenge posed by an in-form Aston Villa side to come out on top of their first visitors to Old Trafford since the turn of the year in a 2-1 scoreline.
Bruno Fernandes ensured his side took all three points from Friday’s showdown as the United talisman converted his spot-kick with ease to hand a hard-earned win to the Red Devils.
MATCH PROCEEDINGS
On the back of their 1-0 win over Wolves in their final game of 2020, Manchester United lined up at Old Trafford for the Villa fixture with a keen eye on moving to the joint top spot alongside Liverpool in the Premier League standings.
Both teams were gunning to take the lead early on in the match but Solskjaer’s side held an advantageous hold over Jack Grealish and Co. in the opening third.
The visitors were cautious in their defensive abilities when facing a quality Manchester United frontline on the road and Emi Martinez had to bail out Dean Smith’s men a couple of times with a show of great goalkeeping.
As Bruno Fernandes’ curling effort on goal just went wide, a brilliant display of midfield activity from Paul Pogba help set up United’s opening goal, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s pinpoint delivery finding Anthony Martial, whose header was accurate enough to secure the hosts’ lead going into the second half.
In the closing 45 minutes, however, Villa took control of the game early on largely thanks to Jack Grealish, and after the England international had set up Ollie Watkins to no avail, Grealish’s cross for Traore found Dean Smith’s side their much-deserved equaliser.
Merely minutes later after Villa’s goal, Paul Pogba was brought down in the box by Douglas Luiz, and in the aftermath of a lengthy VAR check, United had a chance to reclaim the lead from the resulting spot-kick, with Fernandes doing the necessary to ensure the same.
Martial had a chance to double his tally for the evening when the Frenchman had a thumping strike only to force a majestic save from Martinez in goal.
Unity, spirit and togetherness ❤
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🏆 #PL pic.twitter.com/owAIDpMX4F— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 1, 2021
Matty Cash’s final thrust for a Villa equaliser was parried away by David de Gea and the sounding out of the final whistle very soon brought curtains down on a brilliant opening clash of the new year for Ole Gunnar Solskajer and Co.
