Unconvincing United leave it late
You could be forgiven for wondering if any team will dare to
grasp hold of this season's Premier League title race after
Manchester United blew their latest chance to confirm they are
ready to challenge for the big prize once again in this bizarrely
thrilling game at Villa Park.
The facts confirm that United's unbeaten record has been
stretched to 26 games after this improbable point against a Villa
side who believed a famous victory would be theirs after an Ashley
Young penalty and Marc Albrighton's close-range finish gave them a
comfortable advantage with just 14 minutes to play.
Yet despite the late goals from substitute Federico Macheda and
captain Nemanja Vidic that earned a point for United, the reality
must be that Ferguson's men are a million miles away from
championship-winning form and yet they are not alone in that
camp.
With title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City failing to
convince and leaders Chelsea struggling to stamp their authority on
the chasing pack in their last three games, United had their chance
to put down a marker for the rest against a Villa side stripped of
a host of established star names.
Instead, they produced 81 minutes of the most inept football a
United side has mustered in Alex Ferguson's 24 year reign as Old
Trafford chief, with Dimitar Berbatov appearing to have slipped
back into the lacklustre mode that he seemed ready to shed after
his stunning start to the season.
The Bulgarian barely put a foot right at Villa Park after he
missed a glorious first half chance and then had to look on as
United sprang into life once he had been removed from the action by
Ferguson, who admitted his side were lucky to escape.
"We could have lost six goals in the second half as we were all
over the place," fumed a red faced Ferguson. "Villa have hit the
post on a couple of occasions and we couldn't really keep up with
the pace they played at, which was very disappointing.
"I give our opponents great credit for tackling and biting into
us, but we have to say it is a major concern if it takes 81 minutes
for a Manchester United team get a shot on goal. To be 2-0 down
with 10 minutes to go, we have to be satisfied with a point, but
the intensity and desire to win this game took far too long to
come. That is something we have to look at."
A substitute's bench featuring the likes of Darron Gibson, Chris
Smalling and Gabriel Obertan was hardly likely to strike fear into
a Villa side who grew in confidence as this game progressed and
appeared set to emerge as fully deserved winners as they
established their two goal buffer.
That advantage was more than justified as Houllier's men
dominated much of the second half and hit the frame of the United
goal on two occasions as James Collins and Gabby Agbonlahor came
within inches of opening goals. Villa missed a host of chances to
punish a United side who seemed all too willing to accept
defeat.
The continued absence of Wayne Rooney had never been more keenly
felt with Berbatov and Hernandez offering little in the forward
line, with both frustrated strikers picking up petty yellow cards
as their angst built at a rapid rate.
However, they were not the only United players who struggled to
stamp their authority. Rio Ferdinand often looked shaky at the
back, while Michael Carrick and Park Ji-Sung gave the ball away far
too often. Aside from his assist for Vidic's leveller, Nani was
also out of sorts, but that should not take away from a Villa
display that warmed the heart.
United had not registered a solitary shot on target before Villa
took a deserved lead as Wes Brown was penalised for foul in the box
on Young, with the youthful winger hauling himself off the floor to
delightfully fire in front from the penalty spot.
When Albrighton doubled their advantage after a flowing counter
attack four minutes later, it seemed as if Villa's bright new era
under Houllier was about to lift off and yet United suddenly
clicked into gear as they offered an attacking threat for the first
time in the game.
Macheda's thumping finish after 81 minutes confirmed he may be
more worthy of a place in this United line-up instead of the
lamentable Berbatov, while Vidic's headed leveller served to leave
Houllier in a confused state as he met the world's media.
"Taking into account the number of kids we have in this team, we
would have taken a draw with Manchester United before this game and
yet we are so disappointed not to get all three points after
getting into such a strong position," admitted the Villa
manager.
"I just wish we could have held out for five more minutes before
they got their first goal, but it wasn't to be. You have to hand it
to United because they kept fighting and that is why they are
always challenging for trophies."
For a second weekend running, United got out of jail with a late
goal and you have to wonder how long they can continue to flirt
with misfortune before they eventually fall to their knees.
Unbeaten they may still be, convincing they are not.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Marc Albrighton - The Villa
youngster capped an energetic display with a fine goal that looked
to have given his side all three points. He looks to be a real star
in the making.
FACE IN THE CROWD: England manager Fabio
Capello was an interested onlooker hours before he named his squad
to take on France at Wembley next Wednesday.
BERBATOV DECLINE: Where has the striker who
started the season in such sparkling fashion disappeared to?
United's Bulgarian maverick was at his frustrating worst at Villa
Park and he needs to snap out of his latest dip in form
quickly.
ROONEY UPDATE: Ferguson confirmed that Rooney
should be back in contention for a starting spot soon after his
week training alone in America. "Wayne has had a good week away and
things seem to have gone very well for him," added the United boss.
"We got what we wanted out of sending him to America."
UNITED VERDICT: They may be in the midst of
their longest unbeaten run in 11 years, but United looked anything
but invincible for much of this game. Ferguson has to hope that
Wayne Rooney's return sparks their season into life.