Premier League: Manchester United snatch a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa
· BehindLines newsroom
Eight goals, two comebacks and a disputed finish: Manchester United and Aston Villa drew 4-4 at Old Trafford on Sunday 8 November, in the Premier League. Villa twice led by two goals, but United levelled through two goals from substitutes in stoppage time, according to ESPN and Sky Sports.
A disastrous start
Once again United began badly: Unai Emery's side were 2-0 up before the fifth minute. Michael Carrick's team fought back, but conceded two more goals early in the second half, before pulling level once more. Joshua Zirkzee and then Patrick Dorgu, both of them substitutes, scored in stoppage time. Dorgu's goal came in the 97th minute according to Sky Sports.
Worrying numbers
The point does not get United out of trouble. According to ESPN, the club are winless in eight league matches, the worst run in their Premier League history, and have not won in the league since August. They have won only one game in ten, their lowest total at this stage since 1972-73, and sit in the relegation zone, a position they have never held this late into a season. In 15 matches in all competitions, they have conceded first 10 times. They are also the first team in Europe's top five leagues to reach 30 goals conceded this season. A few days earlier, in the Champions League, they had nonetheless come back from 0-2 to beat Roma 3-2.
A contested last action
On the corner that led to the fourth goal, United goalkeeper Senne Lammens went up into the area and made contact with his opposite number, Zion Suzuki. Video review checked the incident and allowed the goal. Villa's director of football operations, Damian Vidagany, protested on social media, recalling what he says were the instructions given to referees last summer. Roy Keane, a Sky Sports pundit, replied that football is a contact sport.
Emery, for his part, left the pitch towards the tunnel before the final whistle. He explained that he thought the match was over, because six minutes of stoppage time had been announced. He said he was angry at losing two points, but not angry with his players.