6 draws in 7 away League matches for Manchester United. They have drawn more in the Premier League season than they have won. Games against Fulham, Sunderland, West Brom, Everton and Bolton, games that the title challengers should be expecting to win, they haven't. Aston Villa on Saturday was always going to be a tough game for United, especially considering the injuries and mid-week game that ended up as a dull 0 - 0 draw which gave the Red Devils no momentum going into the week-end. The result? A draw. But only just.
Sir Alex Ferguson said of his teams performance:
"we were all over the place,"United went behind to an Ashley Young penalty in the 72nd minute, and Albrighton doubled Villa's lead four minutes later. This season, United have found themselves in Aston Villa's position more than once; up by a couple of goals with the opposition coming back into the game. They must have learned something from their own performances, as they clawed their way back for a 2-2 draw. Macheda in the 81st and a Vidic goal in the 85th minute.
Ferguson observed:
"Another five minutes and we'd have won."
This may have have been true, but they had 95 minutes to win the game, and the team simply didn't play well enough to get the win from a good Aston Villa side. It was the last few minutes that they seemed to come to life.United find themselves 3 points behind Chelsea with Chelsea having a game in hand. United are still unbeaten this season, but being unbeaten will not win them the title while Chelsea are still winning.
