The Red Devils were on the back foot for most of their FA Cup clash with fellow Premier League team Aston Villa, but they won’t be bothered by that because the result is the only thing that matters in this competition, and the result reads Manchester United 1 Aston Villa 0.Scott McTominay scored inside the first ten minutes of this Monday night clash at Old Trafford to send his team into the next round and leave Villa wondering why they haven’t been able to score.🔴 𝑼-𝑵-𝑰-𝑻-𝑬-𝑫 🔴 #MUFC | #FACup pic.twitter.com/2V7Awv0G0q— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 10, 2022 It was a classic FA Cup Third Round matchup between two of the most traditional English clubs. And although many clubs have disrespected this competition by fielding weakened teams, there wasn’t any of that tonight… well, not unless you count Cristiano Ronaldo being rested.United’s Scottish midfielder McTominay scored the opening goal with a fine header early on, but it was Aston Villa who dictated play on Steven Gerrard’s first return to Old Trafford in a non-playing role.Tuesday, 22.45: (2.10) Southampton (3.50) Brentford (3.80)The Birmingham team enjoyed the lion’s share of ball possession, had two goals disallowed due to offside decisions – but their biggest problem was getting the shots away. While they were trying to get back on level terms, the Villains hardly tested David De Gea in Red Devils’ goal.As the second half of the game went on, the less likely Villa looked like getting back into it. Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Bruno Fernandes always looked for a chance to launch a counter-attack that would end the contest and book United a place in the next round and a meeting with EFL Championship team Middlesbrough.Steven Gerrard has visited Old Trafford 18 times as a player and a coach:✅ 5 wins❌ 13 defeatsScott sinks Stevie. 👋👋 pic.twitter.com/1lpP24EnKL— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 10, 2022 Ralf Rangnick brought fringe players Donny van de Beek and Jesse Lingard on in the closing stages and saw the game out.Gerrard and his players will be frustrated not to have at least found the net once because the manner in which they played and the courage with which they got into this tie deserved some sort of reward.However, the old unwritten rule was confirmed: it doesn’t matter how well you play – what matters is to outscore your opponents. That’s exactly what Manchester United have done.FA CUP – Third RoundFridaySwindon Town – Manchester City 1-4 (0-2)/McKidrey 78 – Silva 14, Jesus 28, Gundogan 59, Palmer 82/SaturdayMansfield – Middlesbrough 2-3 (0-2)/Hawkins 67, Oates 85 – Ikpeazu 4, Munce 14, O’Toole 90+5 (og)/Burnley- Huddersfield 1-2 (1-0)/Rodriguez 28 – Koroma 74, Pearson 87/Hartlepool – Blackpool 2-1 (0-1)/Ferguson 48, Grey 61 – Anderson 8/Coventry – Derby 1-0 (1-0)/Hyam 42/Bristol City – Fulham 0-1 (0-0) aet/Wilson 105/Millwall – Crystal Palace 1-2 (1-0)/Afobe 17 – Olise 46, Mateta 58/Boreham Wood – Wimbledon 2-0 (1-0)/Marsh 10, Clifton 86/Kidderminster – Reading 2-1 (0-1)/Austin 66, Smith 82 – Puskas 45/Leicester – Watford 4-1 (2-1)/Telemans (p) 7, Maddison 25, Barnes 54, Albrighton 85 – Pedro 27/Newcastle – Cambridge 0-1 (0-0)/Ironside 56/WBA – Brighton 1-2 (0-0) aet/Robinson 48 – Moder 81, Maupay 98/Port Vale – Brentford 1-4 (0-1)/Harratt 70 – Forss 26, Mbeumo 66, 76, 87/QPR – Rotherham 1-1 (0-0)/Dykes 115 – Ihiekwe 98/Wigan – Blackburn 3-2 (0-0)/Power 61, Whatmough 75, Aasgaard 90+3 – Khadra 49, Ayala 89/Peterborough – Bristol Rovers 2-1 (1-1)/Szmodics 21, Mumba 63 – Coutts 30/Barnsley – Barrow 5-4 (2-0) aet/Andersen 23, William 42, Cole 83, Morris 88, 102 – Banks 61, Glennon 78, Jones 86, Kay 90/Hull – Everton 2-3 (1-2)/Smith 1, Longman 71 – Gray 21, Gomes 31, Towsend 99/Chelsea – Chesterfield 5-1 (4-0)/Werner 6, Hudson-Odoi 18, Lukaku 20, Christensen 39, Ziyech 55 (p) – Asante 80/Birmingham – Plymouth 0-1 (0-0) aet/Law 104/Swansea – Southampton 2-3 (0-1) aet/Piroe 77, Bednarek 94 (og) – Redmond 8, Elyounoussi 95, Long 102/Yeovil – Bournemouth 1-3 (0-2)/Quigley 48 – Marcondes 19,43, 70)SundayLuton – Harrogate Town 4-0 (1-0)/Adebayo 18, Jerome 50, Naismith 82, Berry 88/Cardiff – Preston 2-1 et (1-1, 1-0)/Davies 42, Harris 116 – Johnson 54 pen/Charlton – Norwich 0-1 (0-0)/Rashica 79/Stoke – Leyton 2-0 (1-0)/Ince 43, Campbell 89/Tottenham – Morecambe 3-1 (0-1)/Winks 74, Moura 85, Kane 88 – O’Connor 33/Liverpool – Shrewsbury 3-1 (2-1)/Gordon 34, Fabinho 44, Firminho 78 – Udoh 27/Wolverhampton – Sheffield Utd 3-0 (1-0)/Podence 14, 80, Semedo 72/West Ham – Leeds 1-0 (1-0)/Lanzini 34/Nottingham Forest – Arsenal 1-0 (0-0)/Grabban 83/MondayManchester United – Aston Villa 1-0 (1-0)/McTominay 8/Fourth round drawWolves – NorwichManchester City – FulhamNottingham Forest – LeicesterStoke – WiganLiverpool – CardiffTottenham – BrightonManchester United – MiddlesbroughKidderminster – West HamEverton – BrentfordChelsea – PlymouthSouthampton – CoventryCambridge – LutonPeterborough – QPRHuddersfield – BarnsleyBournemouth – Boreham WoodCrystal Palace – Hartlepool
