Few opponents have proved to be as obliging as Aston Villa over the years when Manchester United are in town but this turned out to be an afternoon of frustration and disappointment for Louis van Gaal and his players.  Chasing a seventh successive Premier League victory to maintain their pursuit of Manchester City and Chelsea, United came up short and were forced to settle for a point despite playing the final 25 minutes with an extra man.  Gabriel Agbonlahor’s harsh and controversial second-half dismissal, following a challenge with Ashley Young that Lee Mason deemed worthy of straight red card, shifted the momentum further into United’s favour. Yet the visitors, for all their dominance, created few clearcut opportunities and lacked the craft and guile to break down a resolute Villa defence.  Radamel Falcao’s second United goal, on his first league start in more than two months, pegged Villa back after Christian Benteke had put the home side ahead with a glorious strike in the 18th minute, but the anticipated second-half onslaught never arrived. Michael Carrick’s glancing header was hacked clear by the excellent Jores Okore and James Wilson forced the impressive Brad Guzan into a late save but Villa, who have failed to beat United in the Premier League here in 19 years, stood firm. Paul Lambert’s side might even have pilfered a victory but Leandro Bacuna’s 25-yard drive flashed inches over.  Benteke’s opening goal – his first at Villa Park in the league since March – had come totally against the run of play. It was, however, an absolute beauty. Taking the ball down on his chest following Fabian Delph’s deep free-kick, Benteke shifted the ball onto his left foot and, with Jonny Evans standing off him, curled a sumptuous shot from just inside the penalty area that arched into the top corner.  Either side of the goal United controlled the game against a Villa side content to sit deep and play on the counter-attack, but were unable to turn long periods of possession into goals. In fact, even chances were hard to come by in the first half as United, who were once again playing with three at the back, ran out of ideas around the opposition penalty area, with their slow, prosaic build-up playing into Villa’s hands.  The visitors’ best chance in that opening period arrived inside two minutes. Young, back at his former club, broke away down the left flank and delivered a low centre that Robin van Persie, from about eight yards, was unable to direct on target. Falcao shot tamely at Guzan, after being set free by Van Persie, and Young’s dangerous inswinging cross forced the Villa goalkeeper into a scrambled save. But that was as good as it got for United before the interval.  Van Gaal made a change at half-time, replacing Darren Fletcher with Tyler Blackett and pushing Carrick, who started as the central figure in that three-man defence, into midfield. It was Villa, though, who came close to scoring again from another set-piece involving the same two players who combined for the goal. Delph’s deep corner picked out Benteke, who had got away from Phil Jones far too easily, and the Belgian’s powerful header forced David de Gea into a fingertip save.  There was a sense, however, that a United goal was coming. Van Persie, running onto a sublime Wayne Rooney pass, and Juan Mata, drilling a low shot from just inside the area, had both tested Guzan in the minutes leading up to Falcao’s equaliser. That goal owed much to Young’s persistence on the left, the former England international’s pace and tenacity taking him past Matthew Lowton before digging out a fine cross that implored Falcao, totally unmarked, to head home. He made no mistake.  Then came that hugely contentious decision, when Agbonlahor and Young came together close to the halfway line and Mason, quick to reach for his pocket, showed a red card. Looking at the television replays, Young appeared to get to the ball first but there was no malice in Agbonlahor’s challenge and it was easy to see why the Villa striker was so frustrated to be sent off. Villa, though, refused to surrender and picked up a precious point.
Manchester United’s six-match winning streak ended with a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa, where Christian Benteke opened the scoring