Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United: Falcao on target but Red Devils held by 10 men

Posted Sunday, December 21, 2014 by Goal.com

The loanee scored his second goal on his second start, but Christian Benteke's earlier opener saw the resurgent club fail to record a seventh consecutive Premier League win.

Manchester United's winning run came to an end on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 Premier League draw by 10-man Aston Villa.

Louis van Gaal's side travelled to Birmingham on the back of six straight wins and boasting an excellent record at Villa, who had lost to Midlands rivals West Brom last time out.

However, United were frustrated by a dogged showing from Paul Lambert's men, who held on for a point despite playing the final 25 minutes a man down after Gabriel Agbonlahor was handed a straight red card.

Christian Benteke gave Villa the lead in the 18th minute as he curled home only his second goal of the campaign.

Darren Fletcher - brought in by Van Gaal along with Falcao - was replaced by Tyler Blackett at the start of the second half, with Michael Carrick moving from defence to midfield.

United would have fallen further behind had De Gea not brilliantly tipped Benteke's header from a Delph corner over the bar.

Van Persie was then denied by Guzan at the other end, but the American could do nothing to prevent Falcao from restoring parity.

Young whipped in a left-wing delivery and the former Monaco man made no mistake, using the power of the cross to head the ball beyond a helpless Guzan.

United were handed a further boost when Agbonlahor was dismissed for a seemingly innocuous challenge on Young, referee Mason displaying no hesitation in brandishing a red card despite an apparent lack of intent on the part of the Villa forward, who caught the shin of his former team-mate.

Jores Okore was then forced to clear Carrick's goal-bound header, with Villa clinging seemingly clinging on for a point.

Yet Leandro Bacuna almost snatched all three for the hosts with a fierce long-range drive that flew narrowly over the bar, and the fact that United failed to break down a depleted Villa outfit may give Van Gaal cause for concern over Christmas as United aim to cement a top-four berth.