In FA Cup’s third round, Manchester United beat Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Monday despite being the worse team. Scott McTominay glanced in Fred’s pass to give the hosts an early opener (football news), and eventually the 1-0 win. However, last night’s biggest contention were the two second-half goals that referee Michael Oliver dubiously denied Aston Villa. And these two puzzling, and hence questionable, cancellations, along with the visitors being the decidedly better side, begs us to ask the question – did Aston Villa get robbed of a victory yesterday in the FA Cup?
Did Aston Villa Get Robbed of a Victory Yesterday in the FA Cup?
Victory was a welcome relief for Manchester United’s interim manager Ralf Rangnick. But last night’s home performance showed just how much work he has to do if United are aiming for silverware.
“To say that this was a perfect game, nobody would believe that of course it was not,” Rangnick said.
“We still have quite a few things we can get better at but clean sheet was important today and we worked together.
“Still a lot of things to improve but it is easier to do that with a 1-0 win.”
Meanwhile, after Monday night in the FA Cup, better performing Aston Villa will wonder how they bowed of the competition.
After all, they responded to McTominay’s eighth minute opener with a dominant display, striking the woodwork twice.
Head coach Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa forced goal David de Gea into several saves and even scored two potential goals. Oliver disallowed the first because Jacob Ramsey apparently blocked Edinson Cavani, and the second because Danny Ings was allegedly offside.
“The officials took three and a half minutes to settle that one. They have looked at two or three things in it,” Gerrard said. “When VAR is there and they make a decision you have to accept it. There is nothing you can do to change it.
“The easy way out is to blame luck and the officials, we won’t do that. We dominated for large parts but we were not ruthless enough.”
Steven Gerrard’s Villa will get a swift chance for revenge as they host United in the Premier League on Saturday.
On the other hand, the reward for 12-time FA Cup champions Manchester United is a home draw against second-tier Middlesbrough.
