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United are ignoring their biggest problem and it is costing them

‘Broken and rotten from top to bottom’ read the banner in the second tier of the Doug Ellis Stand. Antipathy is rife among Manchester United supporters again and they needed the team to stir the soul. They did and they didn't.

Kitted out in their vibrant Hacienda tribute kit, United exhibited that jaunty arrogance that has been absent for almost the entirety of the campaign. They had waited seven years to threaten another Villa Park pitch invasion by celebrating a goal at the north stand. Bruno Fernandes sparked delirium worthy of Madchester.

United then suffered a brutal and sobering comedown. Yesteryear, they would recover from a two-goal deficit to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Villa. With this feeble squad of underachievers, the roles are reversed.

Steven Gerrard, baited again by United supporters, had the last laugh by introducing Philippe Coutinho to poach the equaliser. Gerrard's in-game management embarrassed the dormant Ralf Rangnick, dilatory in his planning and misguided in the choice of Jadon Sancho to close the contest out.

Read the full report here.