Manchester United Stunned by Aston Villa as Ten Hag’s Honeymoon EndsManchester United Stunned by Aston Villa as Ten Hag’s Honeymoon Ends Manchester United’s honeymoon period under Erik ten Hag came crashing down on Sunday as they suffered a shock 3-1 defeat away to Aston Villa. The result marks a significant setback for the Red Devils, who had won their opening two Premier League games under their new manager. Villa took the lead in the 12th minute through Leon Bailey, who fired home a low drive after a mistake by United defender Lisandro Martínez. The home side doubled their advantage in the 28th minute when Lucas Digne’s cross was expertly headed in by Jacob Ramsey. United pulled one back in the 61st minute through Bruno Fernandes, but Villa restored their two-goal cushion just three minutes later when Ollie Watkins tapped home from close range. The defeat leaves United with just three points from three games and raises questions about the extent of the progress the team has made under Ten Hag. The Dutchman had overseen an encouraging start to the season, with United beating Brighton and Brentford in their opening fixtures. However, the Villa result suggests that there is still a long way to go before the Red Devils can be considered genuine title challengers. Ten Hag was left to rue his team’s defensive errors, which proved costly against a spirited Villa side. “We made too many mistakes today,” the manager said after the match. “We gave away three sloppy goals, and against a good team like Aston Villa, you can’t afford to do that.” Captain Harry Maguire was particularly culpable for United’s poor defensive performance. The England international was at fault for Villa’s first goal and looked uncomfortable against the pace and movement of Bailey. The defeat will also be a blow to United’s morale, as they prepare to face Liverpool in their next Premier League game. The Red Devils have a poor recent record against their bitter rivals and will need to improve significantly if they are to avoid another setback. For Villa, the victory is a major boost and gives manager Steven Gerrard some much-needed breathing space after a difficult start to the season. The former Liverpool captain will hope that his team can build on this performance and improve their league position in the coming weeks.
