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 20:04 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Man Utd 1 - 0 Aston Villa (McTominay 8’)⚽️

8 mins: Manchester United have the first goal! Mason Greenwood wins a corner for the home side after running at Matt Targett. The initial ball isn’t great but it comes back out to Greenwood on the right side. He slots it to Fred who flicks a teasing ball into the middle of the box. McTominay has stayed in the area and he rises above four white shirts to win the header and guide it past Martinez into the near, bottom corner.

[10 January 2022 20:02 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 0 - 0 Aston Villa

6 mins: Shaw gives the ball to Fernandes who’s made a decent run to the left of the Aston Villa box. He crosses the ball into the area hoping to pick out Cavani but Emi Martinez is off his line quickly to cling onto the aerial ball.

Rashford has started well. He receives the ball out wide and brings it into the middle looking for the ideal spot to shoot. A couple of dummies and a shimmy to the right gets him into position but his shot is easily blocked. The ball bounces out to McTominay who belts a low shot at goal from outside the box but Martinez is in behind the ball and smothers it easily enough.

[10 January 2022 20:00 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 0 - 0 Aston Villa

3 mins: Scott McTominay fires a good diagonal pass out to Rashford on the left wing. He brings the ball under control and takes it into the box squaring up against Matty Cash. He weaves around the defender but can’t find enough space for a shot and is forced to retreat. He gives the ball to Cavani who slides it into the feet of Fernandes in the area but he get tackled and Villa clear the lines.

[10 January 2022 19:57 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 0 - 0 Aston Villa

Kick off: Bruno Fernandes kicks off the match for Man Utd with the home side bootin the ball down the left wing. Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford press forward to recover the ball and win a throw in. Shaw takes it and sends back towards United’s defence.

[10 January 2022 19:54 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd vs Aston Villa

Here come the teams. Bruno Fernandes leads out the home team with Tyrone Mings back in charge of Aston Villa. Steven Gerrard got a frosty reception from the home fans as he made his way to the dugout.

Middlesbrough and a home tie await the winners of this game in the next round. Both teams have fielded strong sides so we should be in for a good affair tonight. Kick off is next.

[10 January 2022 19:51 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd vs Aston Villa

Tonight is the first time Steven Gerrard has returned to Old Trafford since calling quits on his playing career. He spoke to the BBC before kick off about returning to home of his old enemy saying:

“It is about the game, not about me. We are looking forward to it. Our record in the FA Cup in the last few years hasn’t been good enough and we want to put that right tonight.

“We are not involved in any European competition, we play a game a week to the end of the season so we want a good cup run. Coming here is going to be tough, we are going to have to be at it.”

[10 January 2022 19:47 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd vs Aston Villa

Kick off is just 10 minutes away and the warm ups at Old Trafford are almost over. This should be a good game and the outcome will depend on which Manchester United turn up.

If they’re are passive and sluggish there is enough talent in the Aston Villa team to take advantage and score goals but United dominate the ball and move it quickly it could be a tough night for the visitors.

(Manchester United via Getty Imag)

(AFP via Getty Images)

[10 January 2022 19:42 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd vs Aston Villa: Harry Maguire says Manchester United deserve criticism and they must justify wearing shirt

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire admits the team deserve recent criticism and have to show they have what it takes to pull on the shirt.

The Red Devils suffered a first defeat under interim manager Ralf Rangnick with a 1-0 Premier League home defeat by Wolves on Monday night.

United’s meek performance was followed by reports about a poor mood inside the dressing room, and on the back of being branded “a bunch of whinge-bags” by former defender turned TV pundit Gary Neville during half-time of the 1-1 draw at struggling Newcastle.

[10 January 2022 19:39 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd vs Aston Villa: Rangnick explains team selections

Ralf Rangnick has explained why there is no Cristiano Ronaldo or Jadon Sancho in the squad for Manchester United tonight. The answer is injury, both players have had niggling problems and Rangnick has chosen to rest them for tonight’s cup game.

[10 January 2022 19:35 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd vs Aston Villa: Gerrard on tough draw

Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard says that to be drawn against Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup (the first for Premier League teams) is a tough beat.

“We’ve been given a really tough draw - to go to Old Trafford in the opening round. There were certainly kinder draws out there for us, but you get what you’re given.” said Gerrard

“You have to prepare your team in the best possible way. Any time you go to Old Trafford with the level of player they’ve got, you know you’re going to be in for a really tough game.We’ll go there with the strongest possible team we’ve got available to try and get the best result we can.”