Morgan Rogers double sinks Manchester United as Aston Villa tighten grip on top-four race

Morgan Rogers opened the scoring with a superb strike on 45 minutes but United struck back before the half-time break as Matheus Cunha fired in after three first-half stoppage minutes. 

But Rogers proved to be the hero as he scored a similarly stunning second strike, with 57 minutes played.

This game was never going to end goalless and there was an early chance for a goal for the away team as captain Bruno Fernandes whipped in a first minute free-kick from the right of the 18-yard area that was easily cleared by Ian Maatsen.

Matheus Cunha then had Emiliano Martinez scrambling across his goal from a shot that was inches wide of sneaking in at the far post, on the right-hand side.

But there was also some early action at the opposite end as Ollie Watkins found himself one on one with Leny Yoro, but rather than shoot, the Villa striker cut back inside and was dispossessed by a covering Ayden Heaven.

Senne Lammens then did well to keep out a shot from John McGinn before Rogers fired wide of the target from the resultant corner.

The next chance fell to Benjamin Sesko after a cross from Fernandes broke to him inside the penalty area, but Martinez was quickly out to make the block.

Sesko was in again second later, after a neat pass from Manuel Ugarte, but the striker's touch was heavy and took him away from goal.

A strong run and shot from range from Rogers only led to a comfortable save from Lammens before Martinez calmly kept out a speculative Cunha shot at the other end of the pitch.

Youri Tielemans was next to try his luck from range, with United enjoying a good spell of possession as they pegged back their hosts, who were forced to attack on the break. 

There was a moment of concern with five first half minutes to play as Fernandes appeared to pull up with a hamstring injury, but he was able to continue.

United then looked to see out the half but found themselves a goal down when Rogers was able to cut in from the left-hand side before curling an excellent effort into the far-right corner.

But there was still time for more action as a mistake at the other end led to a quick-fire leveller. Matty Cash was dispossessed by Patrick Dorgu as he tried to clear his lines, and Cunha made no mistake with a super shot past Martinez to level the score going into half-time.

United's fears were confirmed when Lisandro Martinez came out to replace an injured Fernandes for the start of the second half.

But they started the second period on the front foot with Martinez breaking forward well before placing the ball across goal for Sesko to slot home, but he was a second too late to the pass.

Mason Mount was wide with his shot after 54 minutes as the ball broke to him from a half-cleared Luke Shaw corner.

McGinn then looked to release Watkins through on goal at the other end but the pass was ultimately too strong for the Villa frontman.

Martinez had his hands on his head after firing wide when he should have at least hit the target with 56 minutes on the clock after a cheap loss of possession from the Villa defence.

But Rogers made no mistake when he found himself with the ball at his feet, on 58 minutes, to calmly stride forward inside the box and curl another effort past a despairing Lammens, for a very similar goal to the one he scored in the first half.

United were close to an immediate response but goalkeeper Martinez was equal to a good Diogo Dalot shot before Matty Cash got himself across to block a goal bound Dorgu shot from the left.

Cunha really should have levelled with a diving header from five yards out after 68 minutes following an excellent Dorgu delivery, but he somehow put the effort wide of the post.

Joshua Zirkzee and Jack Fletcher were introduced with just under 20 minutes to play, for Sesko and Ugarte as head coach Ruben Amorim attempted to look for a way back into this game - handing 18-year-old Fletcher his debut in the process.

Unai Emery, meanwhile, brought on Donyell Marlen and Lucas Digne for Watkins and Maatsen.

United were looking the most likely to score as the match drew to a close, and had two hand-ball claims dismissed by VAR checks.

Villa then looked to further disrupt the flow of the game with two more changes with Emi Buendia in for Amafdou Onana as McGinn made way for Evann Guessabd.

There was, meanwhile, still time for another United debut as Shea Lacey came on for Yoro with just over five minutes to play.

Cunha had another chance to hit the target in the dying seconds but saw his shot deflected off target, while Emery's final change saw him introduce Lamare Bogarde for Boubacar Kamara on 88 minutes.

A brilliant surging run for Cunha opened up a chance for Lacey but he failed to beat Martinez with his shot on the turn.

With just four additional minutes posted, the away team handed a good opportunity for an equaliser, from a free-kick from the edge of the area, but Mason Mount's whipped in set-piece dropped onto the roof of the Villa goal.

The home team were ultimately deserved winners, but Amorim's side will be rueing the chance to level the score when Cunha headed wide earlier in the half.

The result saw Villa move up to third place on the league standings with 36 games, just two adrift of leaders Arsenal and it left Man Utd in seventh place with 26 points from 17 games.

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