United’s imperious FA Cup record against Villa
Manchester United host Aston Villa on Monday evening and the game marks the eighth time the two sides have met at the third-round stage of the FA Cup.
With Ralf Rangnick’s side keen to progress to the next round and continue the club’s dazzling run, here’s a look back at how United arrived at this point…
1906 - United 5 Villa 1
We cruised to a 5-1 victory at our former home Bank Street, thanks to a hat-trick from Jack Picken and a brace from Charlie Sagar. Played in front of a 35,500-strong crowd, Ernest Mangnall’s side would eventually lose in the fourth round, suffering a 3-2 defeat against Arsenal.
FA Cup Classic: United 2 Villa 1
On 7 January 2007, a new hero and an old one combined to give Old Trafford a day to remember in the cup…
United’s second third-round success was a 2-0 win at Villa Park with both goals coming inside the opening half-hour. George Wall and Sandy Turnbull were on hand respectively, with manager Magnall once more steering his charges to progression against the Midlanders.
1948 – Villa 4 United 6
Matt Busby’s side played out an astonishing 10-goal thriller in the 1947/48 season, blowing Alex Massie’s team away to lead 5-1 at the interval. First-half goals from Johnny Morris [2], Jack Rowley, Stan Pearson and Jimmy Delaney were needed to secure victory on the way to our second-ever FA Cup success. Pearson grabbed his second, following a corner, two minutes from time to end any hopes of a dramatic comeback by the hosts, who reduced the deficit to a single goal with Dickie Dorsett's 81st-minute penalty.
2002 – Villa 2 United 3
In the 153rd meeting between the two teams, the Reds left it late during the 2001/02 season, coming from two goals down to net three times in five crazy minutes. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and a majestic brace by master marksman Ruud van Nistelrooy left former Red Peter Schmeichel crestfallen. Phil Neville's own-goal had added to Ian Taylor's opener to leave the Reds staring down the barrel of defeat, only for Sir Alex Ferguson's men to turn on the style during a memorable evening.
2004 – Villa 1 United 2
Clashing for the second time in three seasons (it is also worth pointing out the clubs would have been paired in the 2000 third-round draw too had United not withdrawn), a Paul Scholes brace inside four second-half minutes set the Reds on our way to a record 11th FA Cup victory in the 2003/04 campaign. Gareth Barry had fired David O’Leary’s side into an early lead before United’s no. 18 struck twice, both assisted by Ryan Giggs.
FA Cup Classic: Villa 2 United 3
The Reds were 2-0 down at Villa Park and facing FA Cup elimination in January 2002 – what happened next was amazing…
The only Old Trafford triumph to date came back in the 2006/07 season, with former boss Solskjaer leaving it late to net the winner from the bench. Milan Baros had cancelled out Henrik Larsson’s debut strike with just 16 minutes left to play, but it was United who marched on once more. Gabor Kiraly will feel he could have done better with the winner but he did make fine saves to deny Wayne Rooney and Larsson.
2008 – Villa 0 United 2
Our most recent third-round victory over Villa came in 2007/08, with both Cristiano Ronaldo and Rooney on target inside the final 10 minutes at Villa Park. The club were paired together in the draw and future Red Ashley Young featured for the home side. Ronaldo turned in a cross by Giggs to make the breakthrough before Rooney, who had come on as a substitute, lashed past Scott Carson to seal the win.