Aston Villa 1-2 Manchester United

Aston Villa lost out to a late goal from Manchester United at Villa Park on Sunday.

After Rasmus Højlund fired the visitors in front on 17 minutes, the home side were the dominant force and called André Onana into several fine saves.

The pressure finally told after 67 minutes when Douglas Luiz turned home Leon Bailey’s cross, with the hosts immediately going in search of a winner.

However, it was the visitors who found the net during a rare foray forward after 86 minutes when substitute Scott McTominay headed home from Diogo Dalot’s cross.

Unai Emery masterminded a Villa Park victory against Manchester United in his first match in charge of the club, and he brought one of the goalscorers from that day, Jacob Ramsey, into the team in place of Youri Tielemans.

His side were defending in the opening stages, however, as Diego Carlos made two fine interventions, with a tackle on Højlund diverting the striker’s effort over the bar.

United’s No.11 was on the scoresheet soon after as he pounced on Harry Maguire’s knockdown and turned the ball past Emi Martínez.

Villa responded strongly to going behind and were only denied a swift equaliser by two strong saves from Onana, who tipped John McGinn’s vicious drive over before blocking Ollie Watkins’ effort.

Pressure continued to be applied by the hosts, with the influential Ramsey shooting wide after a trademark driving run.

But the away side held out to take a one goal lead into half-time after converting their only shot on target.

The pattern of the game continued at the start of the second half as Villa began on the front foot and came close to equalising, with Watkins’ point-blank shot striking Onana and rebounding to safety.

Bailey’s influence on the match was growing, and when the Jamaican winger laid the ball back for Ramsey, only a block from Raphaël Varane kept the ball out.

Moments after Onana had produced another terrific reflex save to deny Clement Lenglet, Villa’s pressure finally told as the ball was recycled and Luiz turned Bailey’s cross into the roof of the net.

McGinn grabbed his fellow midfielder during the celebrations and ushered his teammates back to their own half, urging them to go on and find a winner.

And a golden chance fell to the left foot of Luiz with 14 minutes to play but his scuffed shot didn’t ask too much of Onana.

That miss proved costly as United struck with a rare effort on target in the second half with four minutes to play as McTominay headed home a cross.