Report: Aston Villa 2 Manchester United 1

A Matheus Cunha goal, at the end of the first half, was ultimately not enough as Morgan Rogers's double ended the Reds excellent form on the road, despite throwing everything at it after falling behind for a second time.

United were shorn of the experience of suspended Casemiro and injured Kobbie Mainoo, which only added to the absences of Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Noussair Mazraoui on the day the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off.

Rogers’ effort from the edge of the area put us behind but, despite the interval approaching, Cunha came up with a goal from Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu’s pass.

United were soon without captain Bruno Fernandes as well, the midfielder didn’t appear for the second half after pulling up injured.

When Rogers's red-hot form continued with a second curling strike, United went down to defeat away from home for the first time since losing at Brentford 85 days ago.

The first sight of goal came the way of Cunha, with the former Wolves player afforded plenty of room but he was unable to get the desired bend of his shot, as it flew just the wrong side of the post.

Villa needed little excuse to pour forward after six straight Premier League home wins and flexed their muscles when Manuel Ugarte was caught in possession. An alert Senne Lammens smothered from John McGinn, before defender Ayden Heaven finished the job with Ollie Watkins lurking but the threat wasn’t over.

From the corner, Ian Maatsen connected with the ball at the back post and his driving shot nicked off Rogers's heel and his quick-thinking flick kissed the post on its way wide.

However, there was no sense United were planning to sit and soak up pressure, against a side so intimidating on home turf.

Emi Martinez was outstanding as he shut down Benjamin Sesko, before the Slovenian turned quickly again but took the ball just too wide of goal, as Matty Cash clattered into his keeper.

The Villa fans, who have seen their team win here incessantly since August, were starting to get a little tetchy as we refused to allow them a moment on the ball as United, hunting in packs and closing down at every moment, offered the game’s significant attacking threat.

Cunha, coming into his own on his return to the Midlands, had another pop from distance before Fernandes - who worried fans when he pulled up minutes before - then shifted the ball onto his left and let fly.

Ezri Konsa had to throw himself at the shot and, soon, it was his England team-mate Rogers taking the acclaim, and the match suddenly exploded into life.

Rogers, who had been kept silent for most of the match, cut inside and, with confidence, unleashed a fantastic drive, into the corner of the net, from the edge of the area. It brought the house down but the festive guests were about to get rowdy.

Cunha stepped up to the plate as, when Dorgu robbed Cash, he gifted the forward his goal, firing well out of Martinez’s reach. It was the least United deserved for our first-half endeavours.

SECOND-HALF - NO REPLY TO ROGERS   

United were dealt a significant half-time blow when talisman Fernandes didn’t re-appear for the second half. Lisandro Martinez was asked to operate in an unfamiliar central midfield position and did well.

Like immediately after Rogers's first-half goal, United responded to the setback. Martinez was right into the thick of the action, finding Mount with a great pass and the stretching Sesko just couldn’t quite meet the cross.

The in-the-mood Argentinian then tried to test his namesake countryman from outside the box after picking Boubacar Kamara’s pocket, and another setback wasn’t far away.

Give Rogers a yard and he’ll take the net off. Brimming with confidence, the 23-year-old thrashed the ball into the top corner again when little seemed to be on, Youri Tielemans's cross was nudged back by Watkins and Rogers did the rest, beating Lammens with another impressive drive.

But we have scored two or more goals in each of the previous five away matches, and came within a lump of turf of keeping that run going.

From Dorgu’s excellent centre, Cunha navigated himself between two defenders and headed into the ground and the ball skipped up off the grass and wide of the target. It was a big moment that was, ultimately, to prove costly.

Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey were introduced for their senior debuts and the pressure continued.

Cunha was wide from range, with five minutes to go, before substitute Lacey skipped a challenge on the edge of the box and went for a blockbuster, but Martinez was comfortable in clutching the effort.

The chances kept coming, Dorgu was hacked down and Mount went for the spectacular from the resulting free-kick. It had the pace but not the placement as he tried to catch the keeper out at his near post, but it landed on top of the net.

MATCH DETAILS

Aston Villa: E. Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen (Digne 75) Kamara (Bogarde 87) Onana (Buendia 84) McGinn (c) (Guessand 84) Tielemans, Rogers; Watkins (Malen 75).

Substitutes not used: Bizot, Garcia, Routh, Hemmings.

Booked: Bogarde.

Goals: Rogers 45,57.

United: Lammens; Yoro (Lacey 84) Heaven, Shaw; Dalot, Ugarte (J. Fletcher 73) Fernandes (c) (Martinez 46), Dorgu; Cunha, Mount; Sesko (Zirkzee 68).

Substitutes not used: Bayindir, Heaton, Fredricson, Malacia, Mantato.

Booked: Ugarte, Dalot.

Goal: Cunha 45+3.