Man Utd 4 – 4 Aston Villa

Manchester United scored twice in stoppage-time to salvage an incredible 4-4 draw with Aston Villa at Old Trafford that still leaves them in the relegation zone.

Under-pressure boss Michael Carrick saw his side go 2-0 down inside four minutes but they fought back to level before half-time only to disintegrate defensively again early in the second half. Many had departed when they launched their latest improbable comeback.

Joshua Zirkzee swept in what looked like a consolation goal in the 92nd minute and when Zion Suzuki flapped at one final corner, Patrick Dorgu headed into the net to stun Villa. United still have not won a Premier League game since August but it was Unai Emery fuming.

Villa were rampant at the start, Alysson beating Senne Lammens on the angle inside a minute before the same player’s shot proved too hot for the goalkeeper to handle and presented Nicolas Jackson with the chance to put United two down after four minutes.

That was the earliest that United had been two down in a Premier League game but Old Trafford only had to look to Tuesday – and their 3-2 victory over Roma – to recognise that being two behind need not be fatal to their hopes. Momentum did turn in their favour.

Matheus Cunha drew a penalty when Boubacar Kamara lunged in and Bruno Fernandes converted. Suzuki’s goal was peppered thereafter, the chants from the Stretford End against the ownership briefly subsiding as United pushed for a deserved equaliser.

Youri Tielemans found it against his former club before the interval and United looked narrow favourites at the break. But another calamitous start to a half undermined them, Diogo Dalot bringing down Alysson for John McGinn to score from the penalty spot.

When Leny Yoro headed towards his own goal soon after and Lammens could only push it against the post, Jackson miskicked before Leon Goretzka forced the ball home to restore Villa’s two-goal advantage. United’s lamentable defending is a massive issue.

At that stage, there could be no confidence that a defence that has now conceded more goals than any other in Europe’s major leagues in all competitions would not let in a fifth but, instead of it petering out, Zirkzee and Dorgu came off the bench to do the unthinkable.

The point still lifts Villa into the top half of the table but feels like two dropped. As for United – this chaotic, confusing United – they are in the relegation zone after 10 games. A club at odds with its fans, running on fumes, but still capable of two comebacks in one game.

Emery: I am angry

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking in the press conference:

“Angry, of course. To accept to lose in the last minutes two goals, it is difficult.

“I am angry for the situation, not with the players. We lost the opportunity to have two points more.”

Asked about how Aston Villa allowed Manchester United to come back:

“They did the same here against Roma with the supporters pushing, they were playing with heart. The last moments when we were close to finishing the match, with Dorgu left side, we couldn’t defend him good.”

Asked if he thinks Manchester United are better than the Premier League table suggests:

“Yes, definitely. The Premier League is very difficult. You must be so, so demanding but they have the capacity, powerful players to overcome this situation.

“Of course, there are other teams performing fantastic. Last year, Tottenham and West Ham, important teams (were down there). The year before United when they played the final of the Europa League.

“It is very demanding. You must compete, be strong, give them confidence to play with their quality. A lot of things. But of course normally Manchester United are going to improve.”

Keane: At least United showed fight

Former Man Utd captain Roy Keane speaking on Sky Sports:

“There have been question marks over this team showing a bit of fight, a bit of desire. And as bad as the game was from a football point of view they kept going until the end.

“They kept going, so you have to give them a little bit of praise.

“But in terms of the bigger picture it’s that rollercoaster of watching United. Some bits were so, so bad. Defensively, the start to the first half, the start to the second half, but they found a way to get a point when they looked dead and buried. Ultimately nowhere near good enough to try to get towards the middle of the table.

“They’re probably lacking a bit of confidence but if you’re giving up four goals at home, you make it so hard for yourself. When they were on a good run of results last year, the goalkeeper was doing very well, making a lot of big saves, he’s not doing that. Bruno was on fire, he’s not at his very best at the moment.

“There are some basic footballing reasons… but to be in the bottom three, playing for Man Utd, is rightly so – and should be – hurting them.”

The key moments from Old Trafford

1 – GOAL! Alysson beat Lammens on the angle inside a minute

4 – GOAL! Lammens spilt Alysson’s shot and Jackson finished

16 – GOAL! Fernandes converted a penalty kick won by Cunha

44 – GOAL! Tielemans beat Suzuki to finally find the equaliser

48 – GOAL! Dalot brought down Alysson and McGinn converted

53 – GOAL! Goretzka scored after Yoro headed at his own goal

90+2 – GOAL! Zirkzee swept home to offer late hope for United

90+6 – GOAL! Dorgu headed in after Suzuki flapped at a corner

What the result means and next fixtures…

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