Man United vs. Aston Villa result, reaction & highlights: Ronaldo-less Red Devils survive VAR scare in FA Cup

Steven Gerrard's first trip to Old Trafford as a manager ended in an agonizing defeat, as his impressive Aston Villa side fell 1-0 to Manchester United in the FA Cup 3rd Round. 

In the opposite dugout to Gerrard, Ralf Rangnick responded to recent pressure by switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation and bringing Bruno Fernandes back into the team. 

The Portuguese star was upstaged by Scott McTominay, though, as the holding midfielder connected with a cross from partner Fred to seal United's victory. 

MORE: FA Cup 4th Round draw results

A United team without Cristiano Ronaldo held on despite intense pressure from the visitors, who were controversially denied an equalizer by VAR in the second half. 

Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings threatened throughout, but it's the Red Devils who go marching on to a 4th Round home tie against Middlesbrough, continuing the search for FA Cup No.13 and the first trophy since 2017. 

Manager reaction

Ralf Rangnick, speaking to the BBC: "I think we showed a reaction after the Wolves game, that is what everyone expected from us.

"In the first half, I thought we did well. It could have been 3-2 or 4-3 to us at half-time.

"In the second half we were on the counter-attack and we could have made more of those situations. We took the wrong decisions at times but when we changed to a diamond in midfield we had more control.

"[McTominay] is an academy boy, his energy is amazing. He has now also started scoring goals and also with some leadership skills. I wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years he would be the captain of this team."

"We had a look [at the VAR decision] in the dugout and when I saw the situation for me it was clear - the player who blocked Edinson Cavani was offside in the very moment when the ball came in."

Steven Gerrard: "How long have you got? The officials took three and a half minutes to settle [the VAR decision]. They have looked at two or three things in it.

"When VAR is there and they make a decision you have to accept it. There is nothing you can do to change it. The easy way out is to blame luck and the officials, we won't do that.

"Very tough. We are out of the FA Cup and coming into this job I saw this competition as an opportunity to have a good run in it.

"We dominated for large parts but we were not ruthless enough. I've seen enough tonight in terms of the performance to know that I can get to where I want to get to but we need to learn and learn quickly.

"We need to be more ruthless moving forward, defending crosses we need to be tighter. We cannot be having people with free headers in our six-yard box."