Source: Team_Talk
United dig deep to deny Villa
Manchester United produced a stirring comeback to maintain their unbeaten Premier League start with a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa.[LNB] 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.[LNB]But United rallied through Federico Macheda (81) and skipper Nemanja Vidic (85) to maintain their unbeaten record this season.[LNB]Nevertheless, they are still three points behind leaders Chelsea who have a game in hand against Sunderland on Sunday.[LNB]Villa handed a league debut to 21-year-old reserve midfielder Jonathan Hogg after Ciaran Clark pulled out through injury.[LNB]The home side's bench was packed with youngsters including youth team captain Daniel Johnson and rookie Australian duo Chris Herd and Shane Lowry.[LNB]United, without the suspended Paul Scholes, were the first to settle and dominated the early exchanges.[LNB]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.[LNB]Nani had the first effort on goal after 13 minutes but his 20 yard effort flew over Brad Friedel's crossbar.[LNB]Villa threatened for the first time when a reverse pass from Barry Bannan found Stewart Downing in space inside the United box.[LNB]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.[LNB]Dimitar Berbatov squandered a great chance to put United ahead after 16 minutes.[LNB]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.[LNB]Bannan became the first player to be yellow carded for chopping down Hernandez in full flight.[LNB]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.[LNB]Edwin van der Sar was called upon to make his first meaningful save after half an hour.[LNB]Gabriel Agbonlahor flicked on a long free-kick from James Collins to Ashley Young who turned sharply and forced van der Sar to save low to his right.[LNB]Villa ended the first half with a flourish and Brown blocked a goal-bound shot from Downing at the expense of a corner.[LNB]Then Richard Dunne sent a downward header straight at van der Sar from Ashley Young's corner.[LNB]Villa started the second half purposefully and Albrighton had a shot deflected into the sidenetting by Patrice Evra although referee Mike Dean awarded a goal-kick.[LNB]Nani was yellow carded after 52 minutes after appearing to catch Stephen Warnock with his elbow in an aerial challenge.[LNB]Albrighton should have put Villa ahead after 52 minutes.[LNB]Downing exchanged passes with Ashley Young before delivering a dangerous far post cross.[LNB]Albrighton was unmarked six yards out but sent his header back across goal and inches wide of the far post.[LNB]United retaliated and James Collins blocked a Dimitar Berbatov volley from a Nani corner.[LNB]Luke Young was yellow carded for a late challenge on Nani and then Hernandez was booked for a mis-timed tackle on Albrighton.[LNB]Villa were now looking more confident and United were rescued by the woodwork twice in the space of two minutes.[LNB]First Collins sent a thumping header against the crossbar from Downing's centre.[LNB]Then Gabriel Agbonlahor crashed a shot against the post after Ashley Young's initial effort had been blocked.[LNB]Villa's pressure finally paid off after 72 minutes when Ashley Young lashed home a penalty after he had been brought down by Brown as he attempted to convert a pass from Agbonlahor.[LNB]Sir Alex Ferguson responded by replacing Berbatov and Hernandez with Macheda and Gabriel Obertan respectively.[LNB]But after 75 minutes Villa doubled their lead through Albrighton.[LNB]Ashley Young found Downing in space and his cross was turned home at the far post by Albrighton.[LNB]United rallied and Ferdinand had a header cleared off the line by Albrighton.[LNB]Then Macheda reduced the arrears with a stunning 20-yard drive after Darren Fletcher back-heeled the ball back into his path.[LNB]With five minutes left Vidic made it 2-2 with a far post header from Nani's deep centre.[LNB]In injury-time Friedel blocked a shot from Obertan.
