ACROSS 31 games that spanned 27 years, Manchester United's only defeat at Villa Park was in a 1999 League Cup tie that Sir Alex Ferguson treated so dismissively he selected a stronger side in his testimonial match two days earlier.
Ferguson's contempt for the competition back then was spelt out in his team selection: Bosnich, Curtis, Clegg, Higginbotham, O'Shea, Twiss, Chadwick, Wallwork, Greening, Cruyff, Solskjaer. Bench: Culkin, Notman, Healy, Roche, Wellens.
United won their last four FA Cup semi-finals at Villa Park before the soulless switch to Wembley semis in 2008. Arguably more euphoric was the five-minute turnaround in the third round against Villa in 2002, a night Ruud van Nistelrooy forged a lifelong bond with the United supporters who invaded the pitch.
Villa Park is not the gimme it once was for United. Villa got the ultimate manager bounce when Unai Emery's appointment ended a 9,941-day wait for a home league win over United last season.
Now Villa occupy the fourth spot that once decided the futures of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal as United manager.
United have not recorded a win away from home against a top-eight side since Tottenham on October 30 2021 and that was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's last win in management.
It was hardly a coup. Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked by Daniel Levy two days later.
This story is from the February 09, 2024 edition of Manchester Evening News.
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This story is from the February 09, 2024 edition of Manchester Evening News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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