Erik ten Hag was given a temporary moment of relief as Manchester United survived a nervy Premier League clash against Aston Villa to see points shared in a goalless draw.
The United manager’s immediate future dominated much of the pre-match build-up with club executives including Sir Jim Ratcliffe watching on at Villa Park amidst a poor run of performances.
Villa looked to be suffering from a Champions League hangover after their stunning midweek victory over Bayern Munich and were unable to find their usual attacking flair.
Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes both came close to breaking the deadlock while Jonny Evans produced a standout display after being named as a surprise starter.
Mail Sport’s Man United correspondent Chris Wheeler gives his expert player ratings from Villa Park.
Manchester United secured a valuable Premier League point in a goalless draw against Aston Villa
Aston Villa
EMILIANO MARTINEZ 6.5 – Didn’t have a great deal to do but denied Rashford twice, including a great fingertip save, as well as Garnacho and Antony.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez had to make several crucial saves to deny United
MATTY CASH 5 – Made his first appearance in eight games after a hamstring injury and rode his luck at times by taking unnecessary risks against Rashford.
EZRI KONSA 6 – Switched back to central defence but injured inside 10 minutes and went off after appearing to suffer a left leg injury in a challenge with Hojlund.
PAU TORRES 6.5 – Had his hands full with Hojlund but coped well with the challenge, and the Dane’s replacement Zirkzee offered nothing.
Pau Torres (right) was influential in negating United from getting into dangerous positions
LUCAS DIGNE 5 – Defended well but disappointing on free-kicks, one straight into Onana’s arms and another high over the bar.
ROSS BARKLEY 6 – Solid first league start of the season but found himself outnumbered at times in midfield, particularly in the first half.
Ross Barkley made a solid first Premier League start of the season against Man United
YOURI TIELEMENS 6.5 – One of the Villa players who looked a bit flat after beating Bayern Munich in midweek but more influential as the game wore on.
LEON BAILEY 5 – Quiet on the whole and replaced by Duran shortly after the hour, but not before his run almost drew a second booking for Rashford.
MORGAN ROGERS 5 – Flashed a shot wide from Villa’s best chance of the first half, and then overhit his cross from a rare opportunity in the second.
JADEN PHILOGENE 6 – So close to celebrating his first Premier League start with a winner in injury-time, having gone close with an early effort.
OLLIE WATKINS 5.5 – Drew a booking for Maguire in the first half and fired narrowly over in the second, but met his match in Evans.
Subs: Gauci, Carlos (for Konsa 12, 6.5), Duran (for Bailey 63, 6), Buendía, Nedeljkovic, Maatsen (for Digne 85), Bogarde, Swinkels, Young.
Booked: Barkley
Manager: Unai Emery 5
Manchester United (4-2-3-1)
ANDRE ONANA 6 – Made a smart save from Tielemens but otherwise hardly tested after a busy couple of games against Spurs and Porto.
Andre Onana enjoyed a rare match with few chances but was constantly alert to danger
NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI 6.5 – Performed well but one of two defenders who went off at half-time as United’s injury problems flared again.
HARRY MAGUIRE 6 – Started after his equaliser in Porto but went off at half-time with an injury to his left leg having been booked for a foul on Watkins.
JONNY EVANS 8 – Ten Hag put £130m-worth of centre-backs on the bench and trusted the veteran who was outstanding on his 400th league start.
Jonny Evans was a surprise starter but starred to produce a man-of-the-match performance
Evans was outstanding on his 400th league start as United secured a point at Villa Park
DIOGO DALOT 6.5 – Crucial block on Philogene effort right at the end saved a point for United and may even have saved Ten Hag’s job.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN 6 – Again trusted to start ahead of Casemiro and Ugarte. Solid despite being booked inside three minutes for a foul on Rogers.
KOBBIE MAINOO 6.5 – Returned from injury to bring more energy to United’s midfield. One of three players booked before half-time and five in total.
Youngster Kobbie Mainoo returned from injury to bring more energy to United’s midfield
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO 6 – Tenacious and energetic, but wasted a golden opportunity to send Fernandes clear on goal in injury-time.
BRUNO FERNANDES 6 – Avoided a third red card in a week and hit the bar with a free kick, but his creativity seems to have deserted him.
United captain Bruno Fernandes came closest to opening the scoring but lacked creativity
MARCUS RASHFORD 6.5 – United’s most potent threat again and offered more defensively, though lucky not to get a second booking for a foul on Bailey.
Marcus Rashford was United’s most potent threat again and offered more defensively
RASMUS HOJLUND 6 – The big Dane made his first league start of the season and gave United more of a physical presence, but still lacking in finesse.
Subs: Bayindir, Lindelof (for Mazraoui 46, 6), De Ligt (for Maguire 46, 5), Martinez, Zirkzee (Hojlund 64, 4), Diallo, Casemiro (for Mainoo 85), Antony (Rashford 64, 5.5), Ugarte.
Booked: Eriksen, Maguire, Mainoo, Rashford, Lindelof
United boss Erik ten Hag leaves Villa Park with a point ahead of the international break
Manager: Erik ten Hag 6
Referee: Robert Jones 7