Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United – United hold on for underwhelming goalless Premier League draw at Villa

Manchester United have had their worst ever start to a Premier League campaign after being held to a goalless draw away to Aston Villa.

Erik ten Hag’s side have amassed just eight points from their opening seven fixtures and sit 14th in the table heading into the international break.

Bruno Fernandes came the closest to breaking the deadlock in a game of few chances and little quality as he struck the crossbar from a free-kick.

Aston Villa’s best chance of the game came in added time as Jaden Philogene was picked out in space at the back post, but his goal-bound effort was blocked by Diogo Dalot.

This was the first time in eight matches in all competitions that Unai Emery’s side failed to find the back of the net, but they are unbeaten in the league in five and go into the international break one spot off the top four on goal difference.

Ten Hag raised a few eyebrows with his team selection as his first-choice centre-back partnership of Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez dropped to the bench as Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans came into the side.

While Maguire was forced off at half-time through injury, the changes brought a first clean sheet in four matches in all competitions for United after conceding six in their previous two.

In an opening period that saw just two shots on target, Marcus Rashford had the brightest moment of the half early on as he cut in and forced a relatively routine save from Emi Martinez.

Morgan Rogers was Villa’s liveliest player in the first 45, picking up some clever pockets of space and driving at the United back four but he failed to convert this territory into any clear-cut chances.

The 22-year-old had the hosts’ best chance before the interval as he shifted the ball onto his right foot just inside the box but his effort failed to trouble Andre Onana.

The game’s only moment of real quality come after the hour mark when Fernandes struck the crossbar from a curling free-kick from 25 yards, which had Martinez scrambling.

Rashford, who was fortuitous not to pick up a second yellow for a foul on Leon Bailey, was denied by Agentina’s No. 1 on a second occasion after a similar cut-in and strike to his effort earlier in the game.

Both sides had chances in the closing stages as Philogene saw his left-footed strike blocked by Dalot when a goal looked certain after some woeful defending from De Ligt.

That came just moments before Alejandro Garnacho squandered a two-on-one counter-attack opportunity as he failed to avoid Matty Cash with his attempted ball to Fernandes.

But in truth, based on the abysmal lack of quality seen in the final third in this game, anything other than a goalless draw would have been flattering to the attack of the winning side.

Emery will be hoping the hamstring injury to Ezri Konsa which came after just 12 minutes will be somewhat dealt with on the other side of the international fixtures.

While Manchester United and Erik ten Hag would have probably taken a point if offered to them before kick-off, this results seals their worst start to a Premier League campaign at this stage of the season.

After a win over Fulham on the opening day, their only three points have come against struggling Southampton and they have now failed to score in their last three league matches.

Despite a welcome clean sheet, United looked devoid of creativity and quality and it is difficult to see what Ten Hag is trying to do with this set of players and how he is going to turn their fortunes around.

With Jim Ratcliffe and the rest of the United hierarchy in attendance at Villa Park, it will be interesting to see their course of action over this second international break with their side already 10 points adrift of Liverpool at the summit.

A surprise inclusion but the 36-year-old made some crucial challenges and interceptions in helping United secure their first clean sheet in four, particularly given he was up against the in-form Ollie Watkins and later Jhon Duran who were limited to very little all afternoon.

Aston Villa: Martinez 7, Cash 6, Konsa N/A, Torres 6, Digne 7, Barkley 6, Tielemans 7, Bailey 5, Rogers 7, Philogene 6, Watkins 5. Subs: Carlos 6, Duran 5, Maatsen N/A.

Manchester United: Onana 6, Mazraoui 5, Maguire 6, Evans 8, Dalot 7, Mainoo 6, Eriksen 6, Garnacho 7, Fernandes 6, Rashford 6, Hojlund 5. Subs: De Ligt 5, Lindelof 5, Zirkzee 4, Antony 6.

49′ – GREAT SAVE BY MARTINEZ: Rashford is found on the left and cuts in before unleashing a dipping effort but Martinez just tips it over. That’s the closest we’ve come to an opener!

68′ – FERNANDES HITS THE BAR: With the free-kick just to the left of centre, Fernandes looks to curl it into the top left corner and is so close to finding it but strikes the bar instead.

90+5 – LATE CHANCE FOR VILLA: A huge chance for Villa to win it! A low cross from the left is completely missed by De Ligt and falls to Philogene in acres at the back post. He looks certain to score but his left-footed effort is blocked by Dalot who really just stood tall.