Manchester United drew 0-0, while Aston Villa coach Erik ten Hag was left in charge of the international break due to an improved performance from his newly formed team.

The Dutchman, who had been under pressure early in the game, dropped Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez in favor of Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire after the pair came on as substitutes in the 3-3 Europa League draw with Porto earlier in the week .

However, Maguire, who scored the late equalizer in that game, was forced off injured at half-time and was replaced by De Ligt, with his side holding their own in a close game.

The result means United are 14th in the Premier League table, with Villa fifth.

Here, our writers Carl Anka and Mark Critchley break down the game’s key moments.

What was United’s game plan?

It is unusual for a Premier League manager to be faced with the question of what style of football he wants to play after more than two seasons.

In the first half at Villa Park, Erik ten Hag tried to provide some answers. The United coach opted for a bold starting XI with Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire as the centre-back pairing. Sharp-eyed sleuths eventually discovered that the line-up bore many similarities to the team that beat Villa 3-2 on Boxing Day last year, but once United got going it became clear that Ten Hag had turned things on their head.

Diogo Dalot spent much of the first half playing high and wide on the left side of defense. Instead of moving to central midfield to help build play, as he had done in recent weeks. This had an encouraging effect on Marcus Rashford in front of him, who tried to break through Villa’s high defensive line.

(Zohaib Alam – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images)

United also managed to enjoy some periods of quiet possession in the first half, trying to circulate the ball in deeper areas while also looking for an optimal angle to launch a direct attack on the fast front three.

But poor weighting of the pass from Bruno Fernandes, coupled with some questionable hold-up play from Rasmus Hojlund, prevented it from happening properly.

Carl Anka

Evans, the enforcer

Ten Hag claimed his selection of Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans was purely down to “rotation”, but he wasn’t usually the type to chop and switch around the center of his defense – especially in a game like this.

More likely, Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt were no longer there after their difficult evening at the Dragao Stadium and Ten Hag’s pre-match comments were simply protecting his first choice centre-back position.

(Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

But Maguire and Evans were arguably a better fit for the conservative approach United were already taking: sitting in a low block and tasked with learning the basics of defending on the edge of their own penalty area. Both performed well, particularly Evans – who was named man of the match – who managed a number of tackles in the first half.

And interestingly, it was De Ligt who came on when Maguire went off injured. As expected, one right center back replaces another. But the lesser-known Victor Lindelof was also preferred to replace Noussair Mazraoui at right-back, rather than Dalot switching sides and Martinez being deployed at left-back.

That was interesting considering how Ten Hag attributed many of last season’s struggles to Martinez’s long absences. This is usually an integral part of the way United want to play, and this was a rare example of Ten Hag overlooking arguably his most trusted lieutenant in a time of need, and perhaps the clearest sign yet that the United Coach knows he has to think differently to save his job.

Mark Critchley

Rashford Rashford

United’s players and staff appeared frustrated that referee Rob Jones handed out three yellow cards at the end of the first half, while they felt Villa got away with similar infractions.

But things even out over the course of a season, as they say – and sometimes over the course of a single game – and Rashford was a little lucky not to be sent off in the second half.

In the 59th minute, he chased Matty Cash near the touchline before preventing a counterattack with a foul. It was a soft warning, but three minutes later he cynically tripped Leon Bailey on the edge of United’s penalty area.

Villa players and fans were outraged that he was not given a second booking. It took the intervention of Bruno Fernandes, who spoke to the referee, and Ten Hag, who took Rashford away from the fourth official, to keep him on the pitch.

Not that he would stay long. Ten Hag felt he had little choice but to replace Rashford shortly afterwards. In the context of Fernandes’ successive red cards last week, it wasn’t exactly the smartest of games and meant United were without a player who had been their most dangerous counter-attacker in the last half hour.

Mark Critchley

What does this result mean?

United’s 3-3 draw with Porto was described as “great entertainment for the neutrals”. Sunday’s slightly improved performance probably bored everyone watching.

Ten Hag’s side have failed to score in three of their last four Premier League games before the game against Villa. Apart from a Marcus Rashford shot that was parried in the first half and a Bruno Fernandes free-kick that hit the woodwork in the second half, they were rarely dangerous.

One of the problems with the team’s “catch ’em and beat them way back” approach was the choice of forwards. Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund all struggled to hold on to the ball in the final third – and with no hook to hold the attack on, everything faltered.

The substitution of Joshua Zirkzee and Antony in the 64th minute hardly changed anything. However, United were able to reduce the number of serious errors that led to their recent defeats, but they found it difficult to show enough effort/skill/conviction (strike to your liking) to win the game convincingly. They have only scored five league goals this season. It’s nowhere near good enough for some of their ambitions.

A point stops the bleeding somewhat but they remain in the bottom half of the table and have one of their lowest points totals ever after seven games. The game was attended by senior club managers from INEOS and a meeting will take place on Tuesday between Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Sir Dave Brailsford, Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth, Jason Wilcox and Joel Glazer.

If United is to be a success in 2024-25, all relevant parties will need to find better solutions to a host of long-standing problems.

Carl Anka

What’s next for Aston Villa?

Saturday, October 19th: Fulham (A), Premier League, 3pm UK, 10am ET

What’s next for Manchester United?

Saturday, October 19th: Brentford (H), Premier League, 3pm UK, 10am ET

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(Top photo: Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)