Aston Villa 1, Manchester United 2: Mat Kendrick's match stats, player ratings and injury update
FRIEDEL 7
Chosen ahead of Guzan. Was a fingertip away from reaching Rooney’s winner.
CUELLAR 6
Picked ahead of Luke Young. Tried his best, but lacked momentum going forward.
DUNNE 6
Barely put a foot wrong all season but at fault for Owen’s goal. A difficult afternoon.
COLLINS 6
Given a tough time by Owen before the break and outjumped by Rooney for the deciding goal.
WARNOCK 5
Disappointing display by the England hopeful, who struggled to get close to Valencia.
A YOUNG 7
Sent Agbonlahor clear for penalty. Delivery let him down at crucial moments.
MILNER 7
Confidently buried penalty and worked his socks off but unable to influence the game.
PETROV 6
Had his work cut out against Fletcher and Carrick but toiled away manfully.
DOWNING 7
Sent over some dangerous balls late on but failed to stamp his mark on the match.
MAN OF THE MATCH: AGBONLAHOR 7
Won Villa’s penalty and he displayed more urgency than his team-mates. Lacked service.
HESKEY 6
Forced deep to help out Villa’s midfield and failed to give United enough to worry about.
SUBSTITUTES
Carew (for Cuellar, 80).
Not used: L Young, Sidwell, Carew, Delfouneso, Delph, Guzan, Beye.
MAN UNITED (4-4-2): Kuszczak; Rafael (Neville 66), Vidic, Evans, Evra; Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Park (Gibson 85); Owen (Rooney 42), Berbatov. Not used: Brown, Foster, Scholes, Diouf.
BOOKINGS: Collins (foul, 11), Downing (foul, 18) – Villa; Evra (41, foul), Vidic (foul, 68) – Man Utd.
CROWD WATCH 8
Did club proud on their first visit to the new Wembley. Attendance: 88,596.
REF WATCH 6
P Dowd (Staffordshire): Infuriated Villa by not sending off Vidic.
THE MANAGER 6
Went with his favourite XI and had them fired up, but had no answers to United’s impressive recovery.
GAME RATING 7
After an entertaining, open first half, United’s class eventually told.
INJURY WATCH
No fresh injuries.
WHO’S NEXT UP FOR VILLA?
Reading (a) Sunday, 1.45pm.
