Premier League - Vibrant Villa deny United

Eurosport - Sun, 23 Nov 12:08:00 2008

Aston Villa and Manchester United shared an entertaining goalless draw at Villa Park, as United failed to score in the Premier League for the first time since November last year.

Cristiano Ronaldo - 0

The result kept Sir Alex Ferguson's team in third, eight points adrift of pacesetters Chelsea and Liverpool.

Villa manager Martin O'Neill saw his side climb above Arsenal and into the coveted top four, just a point behind United.

The first half was an open affair, with both sides at ease in possession and space all over the pitch. But clear-cut chances were conspicuous by their absence and the teams were reduced primarily to long-range efforts.

On 13 minutes, Cristiano Ronaldo drove in from the left and unleashed a fierce drive from 30 yards. But Brad Friedel was alert to the danger and produced a fine diving stop to deny the Portuguese midfielder.

Ronaldo was up against Nigel Reo-Coker on the left flank, and the makeshift Villa full-back put in an energetic display to somewhat stifle the FIFPro World Player of the Year.

Reo-Coker even found time to get forward himself, letting fly with a speculative effort from 35 yards. Edwin van der Sar gathered comfortably.

On the half-hour mark James Milner burst down the right and almost found Gabriel Agbonlahor with a curling cross, but Rio Ferdinand nipped in front of the striker to clear the danger.

United's best chance of the half fell to Park Ji-Sung five minutes before the interval, but the South Korean international was denied by a superb saving tackle from Ashley Young after being played in by Wayne Rooney.

Seconds later Rooney whipped over a dangerous cross from the right, and Park came agonisingly close to providing a decisive touch at the far post.

The first chance of the second half fell to Villa, when Young's cross-cum-shot forced Van der Sar to tip over the bar.

Just short of the hour mark Villa had appeals for penalty turned down when Agbonlahor burned past Nemanja Vidic on the left and cut inside the box. Agbonlahor went to ground, although replays showed the initial contact occurred outside the area. The referee awarded nothing.

Five minutes later United wasted a glorious chance to go ahead. Michael Carrick lofted a ball in to Rooney, who had time to compose himself before blasting a shot over the bar with just Friedel to beat.

With time running out Ferguson introduced Nani and Anderson at the expense of Carlos Tevez and a limping Ronaldo, but United could not find the breakthrough.

The last meaningful opportunity of the evening fell to Villa, when James Milner burst down the left flank and reached the by-line. The England Under-21 midfielder made his way towards goal, but his cut-back failed to find an onrushing Villa player and United cleared.

Will Tidey / Eurosport

Comment 52 - 71 of 91

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Support Hendon FC they could with your support be the future!

    From Nicholas, on Sun 23 Nov 10:35AM

  2. Am I alone in feeling there is something very "unholy"
    about Manchester united football club ?

    From Nicholas, on Sun 23 Nov 10:22AM

  3. Cry your hearts out-sad Utd fans.As usual they get ratty when not winning-what a sad talantless crowd of losers.

    From John O, on Sun 23 Nov 9:40AM

  4. Well done Villa "COME ON CITY"

    From Garrie, on Sun 23 Nov 7:50AM

  5. as a United fan, i must say well done Villa ! i was at times frustrated with United's performance namely Vidic, pretty lazy with half of his passes. Park had to save all our arses. we did have the toughest fixture compared to the other 2 teams (LFC and CFC). but in all honesty i am happy for Villa. by the way they've performed this season, they deserved top 4 placing. and to United, work harder, be less lazy and for God's sakes start winning away games will ya !

    From Aliaa, on Sun 23 Nov 7:37AM

  6. poor FERGIE!!!

    From Nathan, on Sun 23 Nov 6:59AM

  7. Never Say Die, Red Devils!! its still long way to go, start from next match onward, bring out your real red devils weapon to slash all your opponents to steak and ate it, erm...Delicious!

    From kathy, on Sun 23 Nov 5:18AM

  8. Villa you done good job...should kill off the idiots..

    From monkeysterunited, on Sun 23 Nov 4:07AM

  9. Can somebody please tell Mr Lerner to offer Martin O'Neil a contract for LIFE! MON is the BEST piece of trasnfer in Villa's history.

    As for Villa being in the top 4, being a villa fan myself, I do hope so, but in reality, we don't have the depth yet - compared to even Arsenal or Liverpool. if we finish in the top 4 at the end of this season, it would be a bonus, it does not cement our status until villa can do it consistently for a few seasons.

    UTV...

    From Sick of it all, on Sun 23 Nov 3:11AM

  10. art_tidesco, i'm a Villa fan but it would be hillarious if West Ham suddenly made a move towards the top of the table with Tottenham coming up behind them!

    From MichealS, on Sun 23 Nov 2:09AM

  11. At this rest the EPL will be won by WHUFC with Tottenham second :-)

    From art_tidesco, on Sun 23 Nov 1:39AM

  12. dream on Liverpool fans....
    ....from ManU fans...

    From tomasz, on Sun 23 Nov 1:26AM

  13. Dont even think to get the trophy again manchester... From Liverpool fans

    From naz_ftfc, on Sun 23 Nov 1:13AM

  14. haha again ......city will be easy ........haahhaahhhaaaaahaaha
    @#$%s

    From DAVID, on Sun 23 Nov 1:11AM

  15. haha .......hardy har even ........you will win nothin this year ...red nose has his clowns out fit on .......he dont need a red nose lol

    From DAVID, on Sun 23 Nov 1:08AM

  16. Good to see the four big kommedy pub teams kept honest today :-)

    From art_tidesco, on Sun 23 Nov 1:06AM

  17. what happened to the rerspect the ref campaign? United argued at every decision, milling around the ref and Assistant in a threatening manner, but the ref ignored it. Can't upset Fergie I suppose. And the "penalty"? Well that really would have upset fergie with the resultant sending off. All in all a great game but why do United get all the big decisions?

    From malcolm.sparkes@..., on Sat 22 Nov 11:12PM

  18. what happened to the rerspect the ref campaign? United argued at every decision, milling around the ref and Assistant in a threatening manner, but the ref ignored it. Can't upset Fergie I suppose. And the "penalty"? Well that really would have upset fergie with the resultant sending off. All in all a great game but why do United get all the big decisions?

    From malcolm.sparkes@..., on Sat 22 Nov 11:11PM

  19. Well done Villa! I hope Berbatov gets better soon.

    From gameplayer_uk, on Sat 22 Nov 10:22PM

  20. The first chance of the second half fell to Villa, when Young's ((((cross-@#$%-shot))) forced Van der Sar to tip over the bar.
    LOL!!!

    From Dando, on Sat 22 Nov 10:01PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account