Manchester United traveled down to the midlands on Monday night to face Aston Villa in a must win game for the reds.
Warren Joyce had good depth from a strong-squad that included Alexander Büttner, Nick Powell, Bébé and Macheda amongst the pack.
Aston Villa started the game in a lively fashion with two chances in the opening five-minutes that fell first to Johnson and then Drennan for the home side with Manchester United finding it hard to get hold of the ball.
In the 15th-minute, Aston Villa’s Watkins-Clark went straight through Davide Petrucci in a sliding challenge which on another day and with another referee may have been a red, as it was, he escaped with just a yellow card.
A fantastic counter attack from Manchester United on the half-hour mark led to a comfortable save from Barrett. Scott Wootton with a fantastic defensive challenge in his area passing to Tunniclffe who ran nearly the length of the pitch before cutting back to Kiko Macheda who was unable to control as much as he would have liked, resulting in it finding its way into the keepers hands.
Aston Villa’s goalkeeper Barrett made a great save just before half-time after a Vermijl cross from the right hand side was deflected towards goal from defender Watkins-Clark, great reactions from Barrett.
Just before the half time whistle, Alexander Büttner picked up a nasty knock to his right ankle after a strong challenge from Devine on the left. Buttner was unable to continue and Sean McGinty replaced him for the start of the second half.
A fantastic run and shot from Bébé in the 52nd minute made it 1-0 to the visitors. The move was started by a great sliding challenge from Vermijl down the right hand side who then laid it off to Bébé, for a powerful run and shot into the bottom corner.
Only five minutes later Bébé was a threat again, hitting the base of the Aston Villa post with another thumping effort. Aston Villa were really on the back foot after Manchester United went 1-0 up with further chances to Tunnicliffe and Powell.
Larnell Cole missed an absolute sitter on the 65th-minute after some fantastic work down the left from Bébé before Macheda slotted it to Cole who side footed the ball wide for what would have been a fantastic time for United to get their second.
In the final 10 minutes, Aston Villa started to put the pressure on Manchester United, Scott Wootton the centre of everything at the back for the reds. Goalscorer Bébé made way for Fornasier in the 84th minute as Warren Joyce looked to secure the 3-points and firming up the defensive options.
Kiko Macheda made it 2-0 to United with a great effort in the 88th after a fantastic through ball from Davide Petrucci.
The full time whistle went shortly after; Manchester United had beaten Aston Villa 2-0 away from home, a good result while the pressure was on for the reds in a must win game to qualify for the Elite under 21s league.
Attendance: TBC
Final score: Aston Villa 0-2 Manchester United
Next up for Manchester United U21s is Morcambe away in the Manchester Senior Cup on the 19th December 2012.
Manchester United team vs Aston Villa (A)
Sutherland
Vermijl
Thorpe
Wootton
Büttner (45′ McGinty)
Bebe (84′ Fornasier)
Tunnicliffe
Powell (89′ Veseli)
Petrucci
Cole
Macheda
Subs not used: Gollini, Lawrence
Aston Villa: Barrett, Watkins-Clark, Devine, Donacien, Lewis, Barton, Johnson, Carruthers, Stieber, Burke, Drennan
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