United's flaws laid bare in Cup slog

MANCHESTER, England－Ralf Rangnick admitted Manchester United was far from perfect despite getting a much-needed 1-0 win over Aston Villa to reach the FA Cup fourth round.

While victory was a welcome relief for United manager Rangnick, it was a performance that showed just how much work he has to do if United is to challenge for silverware.

Villa will wonder how it bowed of the competition after responding to Scott McTominay's eighth-minute opener with a dominant display, striking the woodwork twice, forcing David de Gea into several saves and having two goals disallowed.

McTominay headed home the only goal after just eight minutes, but Villa was left to rue a host of missed chances and a controversial VAR review that ruled out an equalizer from Danny Ings in the second half.

Interim manager Rangnick desperately needed a response to recent reports of unrest in the United camp that followed a dismal performance in a 1-0 loss to Wolves.

One big decision was taken out of the German's hands as Cristiano Ronaldo was not fit to feature.

But there was little improvement in the performance despite holding out to set up a fourth-round clash at home to Middlesbrough.

"To say that this was a perfect game, nobody would believe that. Of course, it was not," admitted Rangnick.

"We still have quite a few things we can get better at, but a 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."

United got the start it needed to settle the nerves as Fred's perfect cross picked out McTominay to power in a downward header.

However, all of the shortcomings that have dogged a shambolic season under two managers for the Red Devils were soon revealed as Villa dominated the game.

"I have no complaints over what the players gave or the performance, but we go away frustrated we are out the FA Cup," said Villa boss Steven Gerrard.

"I thought we were good enough to win the game but we haven't been ruthless enough."

Ollie Watkins failed to turn home a corner at the back post, Emiliano Buendia's drive across goal just evaded Ings and De Gea produced a stunning save to deny John McGinn as the visitor passed up a hat-trick of chances in quick succession.

United was also without injured captain Harry Maguire and his understudy Victor Lindelof gifted Villa another golden chance to equalize with a heavy touch that let Watkins in, only for his shot to come crashing back off the crossbar.

Villa rues VAR

The home side was restricted to counterattacks, but could also have stretched its advantage before the break as Emiliano Martinez parried Edinson Cavani's drive before Marcus Rashford's effort was cleared off the line by Matty Cash.

Villa won at Old Trafford earlier in the season under former manager Dean Smith, but has improved markedly since Gerrard's arrival as boss in November.

The visitor twice had the ball in the net in the second half but was denied the chance to take the tie to extra time by a lengthy VAR review.

After Ings bundled in Ezri Konsa's knockdown, VAR initially checked whether the striker was offside.

But it was referee Michael Oliver who made the final call to rule the goal out for a foul on Cavani by Jacob Ramsey as the ball was played into the box.

"We had good rhythm, playing well, pushing for the equalizer and those three and a half minutes took a lot of the sting out of the game," added Gerrard.

"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."

A much more straightforward offside call against Ings moments later denied Watkins an equalizer.

Another moment of magic from De Gea was also needed to see United over the line as he turned Cash's drive wide.

Agencies