Aston Villa continued their recent resurgence with a 2-1 triumph over Manchester United in Sunday’s meeting at Villa Park.
Both teams headed into the clash in fine form, with Villa having won nine straight matches while United had lost just one of their last 10 Premier League matches ahead of the trip to Birmingham.
Having scored in both of his two appearances against Unai Emery’s side last season, Matheus Cunha came close to breaking the deadlock in the third minute.
Down the other end, Villa forced the game’s first save as John McGinn called Senne Lammens into action. Ollie Watkins was denied from the rebound by Ayden Heaven.
From the resulting corner, Morgan Rogers hit the woodwork from close range as Villa stepped up the intensity.
However, the hosts needed Emiliano Martinez to be at his best to stop them from going behind midway through the half when Benjamin Sesko was one-on-one with the Villa goalkeeper.
After an attritional spell, the game came back to life in the final stages of the first half.
Cunha drew a fine stop out of Martinez, who was showing no signs of weakness after undergoing treatment earlier.
Youri Tielemans tried his luck from long range for Villa but was unable to keep his effort on target.
United had a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock as Bruno Fernandes looked set to fire home from inside the box before Ezri Konsa threw himself in the way.
With the first half approaching three minutes of stoppage time, Villa took the lead in superb style through Rogers.
The midfielder did well to chase down a seemingly overhit pass before heading into the penalty area and curling a beauty beyond Lammens.
On the balance of play, United were a tad unlucky to be behind, but they got themselves back on level terms before the break.
Matty Cash was punished for dwelling on the ball by Patrick Dorgu. He played in Cunha to restore parity with a fine finish beyond Martinez.
Despite the frenetic end to first-half proceedings, the second period began on a dour note as United sought to navigate things without Fernandes after he came off injured at half-time.
Lisandro Martinez was Fernandes’ replacement, and United would have wished it was their influential captain trying his luck from distance in the 56th minute.
Villa had comfortably been second best for the early exchanges of the half but regained their lead just shy of the hour mark courtesy of another moment of magic from Rogers.
The Englishman reacted quickest to latch onto Watkins’ somewhat inadvertent pass, then created room to send another stunner past Lammens.
United should have equalised midway through the half when Cunha headed wide from point-blank range after an exquisite delivery from Dorgu.
Ruben Amorim’s men continued to push for an equaliser but were kept at bay by Villa, who also retained a threat on the counter.
On as a substitute with United chasing the game, Shea Lacey had a decent crack at goal in the final minute of stoppage time, but Martinezsaved easily.
The Argentine was kept on his toes moments later as Mason Mount stood over a 93rd-minute free kick, which he sent just over the target.
That was United’s final chance of the contest as Villa held on to win 10 matches in a row for the first time in 111 years.
United will now spend Christmas Day outside the top six for the third season running, while Villa are back within three points of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
