Man United 3 Villa 2 - analysis

Defeats have become regrettably regular for Villa of late – this was their fifth in six Premier League games – but none has been quite so painful. Theatre of Dreams? More like nightmares.

Old Trafford may have erupted after 17-year-old Federico Macheda's 93rd-minute winner, a goal that put United's own Premier League title dreams back on track.

But for Villa boss Martin O'Neill, his shattered players and their loyal following it was like a dagger to their hearts after a performance that ranked among their best this season.

It is 26 years and counting since Villa left the red half of Manchester celebrating a victory. Rarely will they have come closer.

Deservedly leading 2-1 with 10 minutes to go, O'Neill's fifth-placed men were on course for a win which would not only have moved them back within three points of Arsenal but sent confidence levels soaring.

United did what they do best, and conjured up two goals out of nothing.

Yet while the outcome was the same as at Liverpool a fortnight ago, Villa's display was anything but.

They outplayed the champions for prolonged spells, restoring pride after their Anfield annihilation. It made defeat tougher to swallow.

O'Neill's team could and should have departed down the M6 with a point at the least. The evidence was at least resounding and clear: Villa will not be giving up on fourth without a fight.

Right now, the odds are stacked against them, but with Arsenal still having to face Liverpool, Chelsea and United in their end-of-season finale – with all their big four

fixtures out of the way Villa's run-in compares favourably – there is still a glimmer of hope.

One thing is for sure. Victory is vital against Everton this Sunday.

O'Neill had to rally his troops after their drubbing at Anfield but, despite a fine display yesterday, his job will be just as tough this week, if not harder, after his players gave him everything and still fell short.

The Ulsterman made two changes to his team, Gabby Agbonlahor returning for the injured Emile Heskey while the impressive Nicky Shorey was handed a first Premier start in five months at Nigel Reo-Coker's expense.

United were without a string of stars. It was a good time to be playing them.

No Nemanja Vidic. No Rio Ferdinand. No Paul Scholes. No Anderson. No Dimitar Berbatov. No Wayne Rooney.

Instead it was Gary Neville, Jonny Evans, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs, Nani and Carlos Tevez – still the depth Martin O'Neill could only dream of.

If the stakes were big for Villa, they were just as much for United. They kicked off in the unfamiliar surroundings of second place in the table – just weeks after looking as if they had the title sewn up.

It was Villa who began the brighter. Their tails were up and it was all coming down the left.

Ashley Young whipped a teasing ball towards Agbonlahor at the back post but Edwin Van der Sar swatted the ball away.

Then a sumptuous drop of the shoulder from Shorey set him free only for his cross to be cleared.

Carew's header from the resulting corner was heading for the left corner of the net before Darren Fletcher came to the rescue.

Then, in the 14th minute, United were handed an indirect free-kick inside Villa's box after James Milner, under minimal pressure from Nani, forced keeper Brad Friedel to handle a back pass.

It was a poor mistake from one of Villa's most reliable performers and Milner knew it. Clearly anxious to make amends, he was booked for failing to retreat.

The punishment was complete seconds later from the free-kick, Ronaldo remorselessly curling Ryan Giggs' lay-off into the top corner. It was harsh on Villa.

But as the volume turned up inside Old Trafford, so too did the pressure from United and it took a superb piece of dogged defending from Carlos Cuellar to deny Giggs.

The good news for Villa was that their talismens' tails were wagging.

Agbonlahor looked reinvigorated, Ashley Young was involved and posing questions of John O'Shea and Carew against Neville looked the biggest mismatch on the field.

It was the big Norwegian who pulled Villa level just after the half-hour mark.

Gareth Barry swung in a trademark cross and Carew delivered a trademark finish, creeping in between Neville and O'Shea to steer a deft header into the bottom corner. Classic Villa.

It was a richly-deserved equaliser, one that silenced the home support to cries of "We forgot that you were here" from the Villa faithful.

United looked vulnerable, there for the taking. Villa looked anything but.

On 59 the visitors had the lead. Stiliyan Petrov dispossessed Ronaldo, who was disappointing despite his two goals, and slid the ball out to Carew.

Carew had all the time in the world to pick out Agbonlahor and he supplied a finish to match his strike partner's earlier effort.

United's response was to introduce 17-year-old Macheda, signed from Lazio's academy – a decision that highlighted the unusual dearth of options available to the champions.

A thrilling game swung from end to end but it was United who struck 10 minutes from time when Michael Carrick exchanged passes with Giggs, he laid off to Ronaldo, who squeezed the ball in the corner beyond Friedel's grasp.

Still, a point would have been at least some reward for Villa's valiant efforts.

They rode their luck when Friedel denied Darren Fletcher and then Danny Welbeck.

But United were handed renewed hope when referee Mike Riley, having seemingly favoured United all afternoon, gave five minutes of extra-time.

By the third Villa's resistance had crumbled, when Macheda spun Luke Young to curl a stunning shot inside the far post.

One team's dreams were revived, the others' were left hanging by a thread.

By Brendan McLoughlin