John Townley's Aston Villa player ratings after Unai Emery's side are defeated by Manchester United at Old Trafford
Benjamin Sesko scored Man United's third
Benjamin Sesko scored Man United's third(Image: Getty Images)
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Aston Villa suffered their third consecutive league defeat, going down 3-1 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Casemiro opened the scoring early in the second half, Ross Barkley equalised with his first goal since November, but Matheus Cunha restored United’s lead in the 71st minute. Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to give United a two-goal cushion late on.
Villa have now only won two of their last 38 league matches at United, having travelled to Manchester looking to complete the league double over the Red Devils for the first time in 71 years.
Villa quickly settled at Old Trafford but didn’t create a clear-cut goalscoring opportunity in the first half. Instead, it was United who posed a greater threat in possession, holding 54 per cent of the ball before the break.
Cunha made the first chance of the game, beating Lamare Bogarde for pace down the left flank to open up space and deliver a cross into a dangerous area, which Emi Martinez couldn’t collect.
After Lucas Digne put the ball behind for a corner, right-back Bogarde then cleared the ball wide for another United set-piece minutes later, dealing with Diogo Dalot’s cross from the right.
The following corner, in the 22nd minute, led to Martinez being called into action for the first time in the half, as he pushed Amad Diallo’s header wide of his right-hand post.
It wasn’t until the 38th minute that Villa were threatened again - and they should have been punished - when Bruno Fernandes picked out Dalot down the right wing, only for him to blaze over the bar after getting the wrong side of Lucas Digne.
Villa fell behind soon after the restart, as Morgan Rogers gave the ball away cheaply, before Bryan Mbeumo won a corner after Martinez made a strong save to beat his effort away.
The following corner saw Fernandes whip his delivery into the front post, where Casemiro was waiting to flick the ball over Martinez and into the far corner.
John McGinn started his first match since undergoing minor knee surgery in January and was replaced after an hour by Leon Bailey, while Tammy Abraham came on for Ollie Watkins.
Villa responded well to falling behind and quickly restored parity, with Barkley scoring on his first league start for 435 days, having also bagged against Leicester City in January 2025.
After Lammens saved an attempt from Onana, United failed to clear the danger from the resulting corner, leading to Barkley slamming the ball past the Belgian goalkeeper to level the game. VAR checked the goal for a possible offside against Onana, but the goal stood.
Abraham was presented with a chance to turn the game on its head in the 68th minute, as Bailey picked him out inside the box, but he couldn’t sort his feet out in time.
Bailey was enjoying space on the right as the game opened up, but he gave the ball away cheaply in the final third, attempting a pass to Rogers that proved the wrong decision.
Emery, furious at Bailey for losing the ball, was even more angry when United scored from the counter-attack, as Cunha was played in behind Konsa before tucking the ball beyond Martinez.
United then took the game away from Villa when Sesko added a third for the hosts in the 81st minute.
Player ratings
Emi Martinez Martinez was first called into action in the 22nd minute, springing to his right to palm Amad's header away from goal. The Argentine saved Mbeumo's fierce strike but was beaten by Casemiro from the following set-piece. He shipped a second when Cunha curled into the far corner and then a third late on. 5
Lamare Bogarde Bogarde started successive matches as Matty Cash wasn't ready to return this afternoon. He had the difficult task of keeping Cunha quiet but was assured in possession and looked comfortable in the first half. He started to struggle when the game opened up in the second half. 5
Ezri Konsa Cunha raced past Konsa far too easily for United's second goal of the afternoon. 5
Tyrone Mings Mings returned to the starting XI after Pau Torres was preferred to him in the first leg against Lille earlier this week. He defended excellently in the first half, heading away danger and being physical with Mbeumo. Villa, however, looked vulnerable after the break. 5
Lucas Digne Digne started once again after impressing against Lille on Thursday. He fell asleep at the back post when Fernandes clipped the ball over to Dalot, although the Portuguese missed a big chance to open the scoring. 5
Amadou Onana Onana's physicality matched up well against Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo. His desire to win the ball in the box led to the corner from which Villa eventually scored. 6
Ross Barkley Barkley made his first league start for 435 days, since Villa's 2-1 win over Leicester City in January 2025 - a game in which he opened the scoring. He marked the occasion with another goal, firing past Lammens to equalise.. He was composed on the ball and complemented Onana well in the double pivot. 7
Emi Buendia Buendia was aggressive in duels, but Villa needed more quality from him when he picked the ball up in dangerous areas. 4
John McGinn After returning to action on Thursday in France, McGinn was thrown into the starting XI at Old Trafford. He lasted 60 minutes given the limited football he's played in recent weeks. 5
Morgan Rogers Rogers was hardly involved in the first half. Early in the second, he lost the ball, which led to United breaking the deadlock from a set-piece. He became more lively afterward, with Villa enjoying more territory in the final third. 5
Ollie Watkins Up against Harry Maguire, Watkins did not have it all his own way. He got frustrated in the 42nd minute after being flagged offside, kicking the ball toward goal after the referee blew the whistle, earning a yellow card. 4
SUBS
Tammy Abraham (for Watkins, 60') Abraham occupied the United defenders but should have done better when Bailey played the ball to him at the back post. Perhaps it was a lack of minutes, as he wasn’t sharp enough. 5
Leon Bailey (for McGinn, 60') Emery went apoplectic at Bailey for losing the ball, which led to United's second goal. It was a shame, as he had created a big chance for Abraham just minutes earlier. 4
Douglas Luiz (for Barkley, 82'): N/A
Ian Maatsen (for Digne, 82') N/A
Andres Garcia (for Buendia, 86'): N/A
Subs not used: Bizot, Lindelof, Torres, Elliott.
GOALS
Man United: Casemiro (53'), Cunha (71'), Sesko (81')
Aston Villa: Barkley (64')