MANCHESTER, Sept 25 — Bruno Fernandes missed a stoppage-time penalty as Aston Villa shocked Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford today to prevent the Red Devils moving top of the Premier League.
The Portuguese midfielder blasted his 93rd-minute spot-kick over the bar minutes after Kortney Hause’s late headed goal, which earned Villa their first win against United since December 2009.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claimed Villa’s players tried to distract Fernandes but backed his player to rebound after he missed just his second penalty for United in 23 attempts.
“The way they get round the penalty spot, get round Bruno, that’s not to my liking,” he said.
“It (the miss) doesn’t get in Bruno’s head. He’s strong mentally and he’ll step forward again.”
United drew a blank in the league for the first time this season despite boasting the top-flight’s best attacking record and a star-studded line-up featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernandes, Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood.
Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard — last week’s match-winner at West Ham — were unused substitutes and Edinson Cavani only entered the fray with eight minutes remaining.
United have now lost three of their past four matches in all competitions after exiting the League Cup on Wednesday and conceding a late winner in their Champions League opener at Young Boys the previous week.
The visitors were guilty of wasting several gilt-edged opportunities but were eventually rewarded for their enterprise in a frantic finale.
Hause beat Cavani at the near post from a Douglas Luiz corner to put his side in front in the 88th minute before agonisingly conceding a penalty for handling a Cavani header.
But Fernandes — on spot-kick duty ahead of Ronaldo — missed in a dramatic finish to the game as the hosts racked up 28 shots to no avail.
Missed Chances
Earlier, defender Matt Targett squandered Villa’s first clear-cut chance of the game when he blazed over at the back post in the 16th minute.
Lingard’s misplaced back pass cost United dear in the Champions League against Young Boys and Harry Maguire almost made the same mistake at Old Trafford.
The United captain’s errant back pass forced David de Gea into a rushed clearance but Villa striker Ollie Watkins’s shot was too close to the Spaniard.
Ezri Konsa was the next Villa player to spurn a glorious chance as he missed the target with a header from six yards.
Visiting goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was called into action to deny Greenwood in the second half but the away side continued to have the upper hand.
Watkins drew another fine save from De Gea and young midfielder Jacob Ramsey lacked composure in front of goal as Villa appeared to have missed their chance to claim a rare Old Trafford win before the dramatic denouement.
Villa manager Dean Smith savoured his side’s win.
“It’s been a long time coming. It gives an awful lot of belief to the players,” he said.
The result left United locked on 13 points alongside Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool, who were due to play Brentford in the late kick-off today. — AFP
