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You did say you wanted a penalty, Ole!

But now he might pay the price as Bruno suffers and United fire blanks

By Joe Bernstein AT OLD TRAFFORD

regularly put their bodies on the line with blocks.

But Villa were always dangerous, too. Maguire’s dodgy back pass to De Gea was miscontrolled by the Spaniard who played it to Watkins. The goalkeeper then made amends by blocking the shot with his foot.

Cash gave Shaw a torrid time before the England left back limped off after 34 minutes.

Ronaldo was quiet but a late home spurt before half-time saw Martinez save Maguire’s header. Paul Pogba missed a header from closerange after Rafael Varane’s flick.

Temperatures were raised in the second period when John McGinn was shoved over by Maguire as he led a break. No foul was given.

Maguire was then left aggrieved as he was tugged in the penalty box by Ezri Konsa. The United skipper departed soon after, having taken a kick on the achilles by Danny Ings.

United fans started chanting ‘Bring on Cavani’ but it wasn’t until the 82nd minute that Solskjaer introduced the Uruguayan.

Yet it was Villa who broke the deadlock after 88 minutes when Hause headed in Douglas Luiz’s corner and Watkins’ presence in the box went unnoticed.

‘Inconsistency,’ fumed Solskajer, who compared it to Leicester’s disallowed goal against Brighton.

United’s potential lifeline came after 93 minutes. Martinez goaded and Fernandes missed.

MAN UTD (4-3-3): De Gea 6; Wan-Bissaka 6, Varane 7.5, Maguire 5.5 (Lindelof 67min, 6), Shaw 5.5 (Dalot 34, 6); McTominay 5.5 (Cavani 82), Fernandes 6, Fred 6; Greenwood 6, Ronaldo 6.5, Pogba 5.5. Booked: Shaw, Fred. Subs (not used): Heaton, Matic, Van de Beek, Lingard, Sancho, Martial.

ASTON VILLA (5-3-2): Martinez 6.5; Cash 8, Hause 7, Konsa 7.5, Mings 7, Targett 6.5; Ramsey 6.5 (Archer 85), Luiz 6.5, McGinn 6.5; Watkins 6, Ings 6 (Buendia 78). Booked: McGinn, Cash. Subs (not used): Steer, Young, Nakamba, El Ghazi, Traore, Chukwuemeka, Bogarde.

Referee: M Dean (Wirral) 5.5.

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2021-09-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

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