| Manchester United failed to produce any late heroics this time as
Gabriel Agbonlahor's first-half goal earned Aston Villa their first
Old Trafford win since 1983. Sir Alex Ferguson described Federico
Macheda's sensational injury-time effort in the corresponding fixture
last term as the defining moment of United's season.
It is too early for Agbonlahor's header to be described in the
same way, but on a day when United were in action after Chelsea
had stumbled unexpectedly on home soil, it was a poor result for
the hosts.
Although Villa headed north without a win for so long, they did
have the confidence of victories against both Chelsea and Liverpool
this season to fall back on.
Martin O'Neill's teams tend to be regarded as solid and durable
rather than exciting.
But Stewart Downing's recovery from long-term injury has released
James Milner into central midfield and, as Fabio Capello and Sir
Alex Ferguson have noted, he can be useful going forward.
And while Villa themselves might not have enjoyed the best of times
against United of late, Agbonlahor has not done too badly.
The England striker had scored in the past three seasons against
the Red Devils, so he was completing a rather impressive four-timer
when he nodded home Ashley Young's right-wing cross.
Agbonlahor had already shown impressive strength to hold off Wes
Brown, then spotted his opportunity after rolling a pass to Young,
darting into the space where he expected the cross to come.
Brown might be criticised for not sticking to his man. But Tomasz
Kuszczak was equally culpable, edging four yards off his line and
then stopping as he realised he had no chance of cutting it out.
The cross duly came and, with Kuszczak in no man's land, Agbonlahor
steered his header into the net. |
