Rogers shines in Villas victory over Man Utd enhancing title hopes

Aston Villa advanced their surprising Premier League title pursuit with Morgan Rogers exceptional double securing a 2-1 triumph over Manchester United on Sunday.

Unai Emerys team grabbed the opener via Rogers impressive effort towards the end of the opening period at Villa Park.

Matheus Cunha equalised for United shortly after but Rogers netted his sixth goal across his recent six league outings post break to confirm Villas 10th straight win spanning all tournaments.

Unai Emerys third positioned squad trails leaders Arsenal by three points and second placed Manchester City by one as they aim for their inaugural English championship since 1981.

Villa boasts their finest sequence of consecutive victories in all competitions since 1914 during which they achieved 11 in a row.

They have triumphed in seven successive top division fixtures for the first occasion since the 1989-90 season when they ended runners up under Graham Taylor.

Villas rise towards the title contention proves even more astonishing given it followed their poorest league opening in 28 years which included only two points and a single goal from the initial five games.

Emery has transformed Villa Park into an impregnable stronghold boasting merely one Premier League home loss in 2025 less than any rival side.

Arsenal has suffered defeat there already this term and even United who had only one loss in their prior 26 visits to Villa could not halt Emerys title push.

United in seventh spot endured their second league loss in the past 11 encounters leaving them without a win in their latest two after the 4-4 stalemate against Bournemouth on Monday.

Compounding Ruben Amorims woes United skipper Bruno Fernandes departed at the interval due to a suspected hamstring problem.

Fernandes injury struck at the most inopportune moment for Amorim who missed seven squad members versus Villa.

Harry Maguire Matthijs de Ligt and Kobbie Mainoo sat out injured Casemiro served a ban while Amad Diallo Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui competed at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Fernandes lately stated United desired my departure when Al-Hilal bid for him during the summer.

Emery joy

The Portugal playmaker declined the move to Saudi Arabia yet United will now see how it feels sans their key leader should Fernandes remain absent for an extended duration.

Benjamin Sesko ought to have opened the scoring for United after bursting into the Villa box but he delayed permitting Emiliano Martinez to advance and thwart the Slovenians attempt.

Villa assumed control with a meticulously executed break in the 45th minute.

John McGinns precise delivery propelled Rogers racing along the left wing and the England midfielder evaded Leny Yoro before bending a superb shot into the distant corner from barely inside the box.

Matty Cash presented United their leveller right at half time the full back lingering on the ball as Patrick Dorgu intercepted to set up Cunha for a sharp conversion from a tight position.

The absence of Fernandes in the latter half proved devastating and the tireless Rogers reestablished Villas edge in the 57th minute.

Demonstrating greater hunger than Yoro Rogers seized a stray ball within the United penalty area and slotted a instinctive effort beyond Senne Lammens from 12 yards.

Emery savoured the instance bellowing with excitement as he flung his jacket skyward in jubilation.

The Spaniards elation almost ended abruptly but Martinez denied Diogo Dalot and Dorgu to safeguard Villas advantage.

Cunha missed a superior opportunity heading astray from Dorgus delivery.

Amorim introduced Jack Fletcher offspring of ex United midfielder Darren Fletcher for his bow but the young players initial outing concluded in loss.