Aston Villa 2 Manchester United 2: Full time report and pictures

Nov 13 2010

Manchester United launched a stunning comeback to rescue a point through goals by Federico Macheda and Nemanja Vidic after Aston Villa looked set for their first home win over the Red Devils in 15 years.

Villa, lacking nine players through injury or illness, stunned United as Ashley Young and Marc Albrighton put them in command with only 15 minutes remaining.

But United rallied through Macheda and skipper Vidic to maintain their unbeaten record this season.

Nevertheless, they are still three points behind leaders Chelsea who have a game in hand against Sunderland tomorrow.

Villa handed a league debut to 21-year-old reserve midfielder Jonathan Hogg after Ciaran Clark pulled out through injury.

The home side's bench was packed with youngsters including youth team captain Daniel Johnson and rookie Australian duo Chris Herd and Shane Lowry.

United, without the suspended Paul Scholes, were the first to settle and dominated the early exchanges.

Nani got into a dangerous position on the right flank after being found in space by Darren Fletcher but no-one attacked his low centre.

Nani had the first effort on goal after 13 minutes but his 20 yard effort flew over Brad Friedel's crossbar.

Villa threatened for the first time when a reverse pass from Barry Bannan found Stewart Downing in space inside the United box.

But the quality of his delivery across the box could have been better and Rio Ferdinand was able to clear the ball for a corner.

Dimitar Berbatov squandered a great chance to put United ahead after 16 minutes.

He timed his run to beat the offside trap and run onto Javier Hernandez's pass but, from eight yards out, he drilled his shot wide.

Bannan became the first player to be yellow carded for chopping down Hernandez in full flight.

The chances were starting to come for United and Wes Brown deflected the ball wide when he attacked a free-kick played into the near post by Nani.