Match report: Aston Villa 2 Man Utd 1 | Sunday December 21

The first sight of goal came the way of Cunha, with the former Wolves player afforded plenty of room but he was unable to get the desired bend of his shot, as it flew just the wrong side of the post.

Villa needed little excuse to pour forward after six straight Premier League home wins and flexed their muscles when Manuel Ugarte was caught in possession. An alert Senne Lammens smothered from John McGinn, before defender Ayden Heaven finished the job with Ollie Watkins lurking but the threat wasn’t over.

From the corner, Ian Maatsen connected with the ball at the back post and his driving shot nicked off Rogers’s heel and his quick-thinking flick kissed the post on its way wide.

However, there was no sense United were planning to sit and soak up pressure, against a side so intimidating on home turf.

Emi Martinez was outstanding as he shut down Benjamin Sesko, before the Slovenian turned quickly again but took the ball just too wide of goal, as Matty Cash clattered into his keeper.

The Villa fans, who have seen their team win here incessantly since August, were starting to get a little tetchy as we refused to allow them a moment on the ball as United, hunting in packs and closing down at every moment, offered the game’s significant attacking threat.

Cunha, coming into his own on his return to the Midlands, had another pop from distance before Fernandes – who worried fans when he pulled up minutes before – then shifted the ball onto his left and let fly.

Ezri Konsa had to throw himself at the shot and, soon, it was his England team-mate Rogers taking the acclaim, and the match suddenly exploded into life.

Rogers, who had been kept silent for most of the match, cut inside and, with confidence, unleashed a fantastic drive, into the corner of the net, from the edge of the area. It brought the house down but the festive guests were about to get rowdy.

Cunha stepped up to the plate as, when Dorgu robbed Cash, he gifted the forward his goal, firing well out of Martinez’s reach. It was the least United deserved for our first-half endeavours.