Man Utd beat Aston Villa with stunning comeback as Hojlund ends unwanted record
Rasmus Hojlund finally scored his first Premier League goal to complete a remarkable comeback for Manchester United at home to Aston Villa.
The Red Devils' Boxing Day evening got off to a nightmare start, having found themselves 2-0 down on 26 minutes after conceding a pair of bafflingly bad set-piece goals at a stunned Stretford End. Alejandro Garnacho inspired a comeback in the second half, though, scoring twice to get United back on level terms. That ended their seven-hour goal drought and set up Hojlund to break his duck after 15 games in emphatic fashion, sealing a stunning 3-2 win.
While Unai Emery's men were recovering from a rare home hiccup before Christmas, Erik ten Hag had endured four winless games which had all come without a goal. Ten Hag had already gotten off to a difficult start to his Boxing Day with Luke Shaw and Sofyan Amrabat both ruled out due to what the club said were "minor issues."
Here are five talking points from Old Trafford.
1. Ratcliffe's right-hand man in attendance
Two days after it was confirmed that INEOS chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe had finally agreed a £1.3billion deal with the Glazers to acquire a 25 per cent stake at Old Trafford and take control of the club's football operations, his company had a presence at the match. Sir Dave Brailsford, director of sport for INEOS, was seen sitting in the directors box.
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Brailsford has had multiple meetings with United chiefs both in person and virtually over the past few months and is expected to play a key role in INEOS' overhaul. Ratcliffe plans to attend a home game himself in the near future, with Tottenham on Sunday, January 14 a possibility.
Sir Dave Brailsford is INEOS' director of sport (AFP via Getty Images)2. Boxing Day double knockout
"Have you kept the receipt, Jim?" read Brailsford's phone at 8:26pm. Okay, not really, but if the opening stages of Aston Villa's visit to Old Trafford didn't show the INEOS chief what he's up against, then what will?
United handed their opponents two late Christmas presents in quick succession, both from set pieces. The first was a wise routine in which Leon Bailey stood behind Andre Onana, who was motionless after the Jamaican winger scarpered and John McGinn's ball in flew right past him into the back of the net.
Four minutes later it was 2-0 to Villa. Barcelona loanee Clement Lenglet found himself unmarked and managed to nod the ball back across goal to an Leander Dendoncker, also somehow unmarked between seven red shirts.
It was another example of the Red Devils conceding multiple goals in short spells, a sign of their fragility. It was two in six minutes at West Ham on Saturday, two in five against Bournemouth a fortnight prior - and that's just this month.
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Aston Villa scored two set-piece goals inside five minutes (Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)3. A respondent Rashford
If one person has signified the low ebb at which United have found themselves in recent months, it's local hero Marcus Rashford. Looking demotivated and lacking quality, even some of the Mancunian's most ardent fans have been furious with his apathetic displays.
But after Villa's second, Rashford looked reenergised. Twice denied by Emiliano Martinez, he then did well to beat Ezri Konsa down the left but skewed his effort wide. The passion was there but not the punch. The rudderless Red Devils were booed off at half-time, with Villa fans revelling in their "sacked in the morning chants."
Marcus Rashford showed more appetite when Manchester United fell behind (Naomi Baker/Getty Images)4. Garnacho ends the goal drought
After a painstaking 451 minutes (seven hours of football) Manchester United finally scored a goal, sparking this game into a proper contest. Rashford was once again at the heart of a Red Devils attack, speeding away following a mistake by Diego Carlos.
The England international bound towards Martinez and had a simple task to square the ball across to Alejandro Garnacho, who had the pleasure of ending United's long drought which had seen them slip to becoming the Premier League's lowest scorers. Just 11 minutes earlier, to mark their seventh offside call of the night up to that point, Rashford had provided Garnacho with a goal before a VAR checked ruled it out.
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Fortunately for them, their second combination counted. There was more joy shortly after, as Garnacho bagged via a Carlos deflection to set up a fairytale finish.
5. Hojlund finally breaks his duck
It had to be him. After 15 appearances and 1,026 minutes without a goal in the Premier League, £72million signing Rasmus Hojlund finally scored at the most precious time.
As United held the pressure on Villa - barring a superb goalline clearance by Jonny Evans - Hojlund capitalised on McGinn failing to clear inside his own box. The Danish striker produced a wonderful finish on the swivel and the impassioned look on his face as he ran towards the Stretford End said everything.
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