United 3 - 1 Villa

DDG

Valencia Jones Rojo Blind

Mata Herrera Carrick Young(Di Maria)

Rooney Fellaini(Falcao)

A lovable hard working midfielder and a decent passer of the ball. Man of the Match.

A well deserved win. United went out wanting to attack Villa and that resulted in 20 attempts at goal. Today, Rooney and Fellaini didn't have much joy up front because Villa used an 8-man defense. The flanks operated very well though. Valencia, Blind, Mata and Young had a good game. They gave Villa's fullbacks a whole lot of trouble. Thankfully, when I had given up on United scoring, after a lot of huffing and puffing, Herrera managed to put us in front a few minutes before half-time. 

Scoring just before half-time is a very good time to score but the 15 minute break completely destroyed our momentum and we looked a tad shaky during the first minutes of the second half. There were a few instances of sloppy play and at 1-0 Villa could have gotten back in it easily. We had a few chances but failed to get the game out of Villa's reach early in the second half. Rooney managed to score a spectacular goal on the 80th minute and I thought that was game over and it was finally time to sit back and relax. We were all over Villa, a 2 goal lead was a just score. 

I only relaxed for about 1 minute. Villa managed to get back in the game when our defenders failed to clear a corner and De Gea made a meal of an ordinary Benteke shot. Our goalie should have done better but I won't say a bad word about Spanish Dave after the miracles he performed this season. If anything, today's mistake was a reminder that our goalie is human. 

We lived 10 tense minutes. I feared Villa might manage to sneak a draw; which would have been a daylight robbery. Alas, we managed to put the game to bed though. Rooney's pressure right at the death forced Villa to lose possession and Mata and Herrera combined as the latter placed in goal. Game over. Finally. 

Again, I am delighted. We attacked our opponents today and that is the football everybody wants to see. Our wing play was excellent. Herrera was superb. Old Trafford seems to have regained its status set by Fergie in the 90's and 00's. It is slowly becoming the place every team feared during Fergie's days. Opponents used to fear the worst upon setting foot on the hallowed turf.  Van Gaal seems to have managed to turn OT into the fortress it once was. 

So that's three goals, three points and third spot....at least until Monday. This season had the potential to be a disaster bigger than last year's but we've finally come good. I feel optimistic. We can beat City. Come on United!