Manchester United vs Aston Villa LIVE: FA Cup result, final score and reaction from third-round fixture tonight

All the action as the Red Devils and the Villains fight it out at Old Trafford for a place in the fourth round

Ralf Rangnick: 'Cristiano Ronaldo can make the difference'

Manchester United are a mess but that mess is through to the fourth round of the FA Cup. Aston Villa should really be the ones progressing to play Middlesbrough on the balance of play at Old Trafford last night, as Steven Gerrard’s side continue to quietly impress and gradually improve under a newly-appointed manager who is having a tangible, positive effect on his players. The same cannot yet be said of United and Ralf Rangnick.

But courtesy of Scott McTominay’s early header, United march on and Rangnick picked up a valuable win after a week in which his interim spell in charge has threatened to unravel. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s temporary successor is still moulding this big, bloated squad into his image; still waiting for a statement performance, and on this evidence, there is still a long way to go too, but at least he has a little more breathing room.

A response was needed after last week’s defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Villa will leave feeling that they played just as well as their neighbours in the west Midlands, only with nothing to show for their efforts. From the moment they went behind to McTominay’s header to the final whistle, they were the better side and fed off a febrile atmosphere, which was only heightened by Gerrard’s presence in the away dugout. Yet for all their opportunities and contentiously disallowed Danny Ings equaliser, they were eliminated. Follow all the reaction below as Man United beat Aston Villa:

Man United vs Aston Villa

• United through to face Middlesbrough at home in fourth round
• Man United XI: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Shaw, McTominay, Fred, Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford, Cavani
• Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Luiz, McGinn, J Ramsey, Buendia, Ings, Watkins
• 7’ - Unmarked McTominay heads in early opener for United
• 52’ - Ings nets from close range but goal ruled out for foul in build-up
• 59’ - Watkins also sees strike ruled out after offside flag against Ings

[10 January 2022 21:05 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Man Utd 1 - 1 Aston Villa (Ings, 50’)⚽️

50 mins: Equaliser! Shaw fouls Matty Cash on the right wing and gives Aston Villa a free kick. The set piece is floated deep into the penalty area where Ezri Konsa pops up at the back post. He heads the ball into the six-yard where Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings squeeze in front of the United defenders. The ball hits Ings in the face then drops onto his knee before bouncing into the back off the net!

[10 January 2022 21:03 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 1 - 0 Aston Villa

48 mins: It hasn’t been the best of starts to the second half from either team. United give the ball away in their own half and then a misplaced pass backwards from Villa sees Cavani bursting forward on a counter-attack. He feeds the ball out to Fernandes on the left who chips the ball into the box for Rashford. Rashford is challenge by a back-tracking Douglas Luiz who knocks the ball out for a corner.

[10 January 2022 21:01 · Michael Jones]

Second half: Man Utd 1 - 0 Aston Villa

Kick off: Aston Villa restart the match. Steven Gerrard won’t be too worried about the state of things just yet, his team have shown enough signs to get themselves back into this game.

[10 January 2022 20:59 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 1 - 0 Aston Villa

The draw for the FA Cup fourth round took place yesterday so the winner of tonight’s match already know who they’ll face in the next round. Either Manchester United or Aston Villa will face Championship side Middlesbrough at home so it’s in both of their best interests to go for it tonight.

[10 January 2022 20:53 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 1 - 0 Aston Villa

That was an entertaining first half at Old Trafford. Manchester United started as the better side and quickly went in front through Scott McTominay. Then their old mistakes slipped in and Aston Villa were given space to operate in United’s final third.

The visitors had a few good chances and David De Gea once again showed why he is United’s number one goalkeeper. As the half drew to a close United found their feet again and created the best chance of the half for Marcus Rashford but he was denied by a goalline clearance from Matty Cash.

[10 January 2022 20:49 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 1 - 0 Aston Villa

Scott McTominay’s eighth minute goal is the difference between the two sides at half-time. Two of United’s much maligned players, Fred and McTominay, combined to put the home side in front.

(Getty Images)

(Manchester United via Getty Imag)

[10 January 2022 20:45 · Michael Jones]

Half-time: Man Utd 1 - 0 Aston Villa

45+3 mins: Chance! This is Man Utd’s best chance for another goal. Fernandes flicks the ball over the top and plays Rashford in behind the sleeping Villa defenders. Rashford flies into the penalty area from the right and guides a shot towards the far corner. Cash sprints back to help out and manages to keep the ball from crossing the line with a sliding block.

It’s the last action of the half and United take a one-goal lead into the break.

[10 January 2022 20:42 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 1 - 0 Aston Villa

45 mins: Three minutes of added time to play at the end of the half. Rashford brings down a long ball and drives it towards the box. He passes it over to Cavani on the left side of the area and he lays it back to Fernandes. Fernandes shoots with the outside of his right foot but sends his effort high and wide.

[10 January 2022 20:40 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 1 - 0 Aston Villa

42 mins: The game’s getting a little fiesty. Both teams are putting in some heavy challenges and there’ll be a few players with little bruises tomorrow.

Douglas Luiz leaves a bit too much on Rashford and gives United a free kick in a dangerous area. It’s a fair way out to beat a goalkeeper as good as Martinez but Rashford goes for it anyway. He drills the free kick low but doesn’t beat the wall.

The ball ricochets out to Shaw and on the left side. He flicks the ball into the box and a headed clearance sends it to McTominay. He meets the dropping ball on the volley and fires a shot straight into the hands of Martinez.

[10 January 2022 20:35 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 1 - 0 Aston Villa

39 mins: Chance! Shaw feeds the ball to Rashford who dribbles into space and passes it across to Dalot. He plays it in to Greenwood who cuts inside and darts into the box. He flicks a pass over to the back post where it’s headed out as far as Fernandes. He drills a shot at goal but Cash blocks it deep in the box!

The ball comes out to Shaw who goes for goal from range but his effort takes a deflection and heads over the goal. Manchester United are turning up the heat on Aston Villa now.