Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard can take a lot of positives out of the Manchester United game in Australia earlier this weekend despite the fact that their perfect record in pre-season ended. The two Premier League clubs met in Burswood on Saturday and they served up a four-goal thriller. Both Manchester United and Aston Villa had a perfect pre-season record, but they could not extend It after the game ended in a 2-2 draw.
Aston Villa began their pre-season campaign this summer with a big win over home team Walsall. The League Two outfit suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Villa with the likes of Douglas Luiz, Leon Bailey and Douglas Luiz getting on the scoresheet for the former European champions. Villa made it three wins from three games with the slim victories over Australian club Brisbane Roar and fellow Premier League team Leeds United. England international Danny Ings scored the winner in the Leeds United game, while young striker Cameron Archer scored the lone goal of the match against Brisbane Roar having come off the bench.
For the Manchester United game, Aston Villa trailed two-nil at the end of the first half. Villa went behind to a Jadon Sancho strike on 25 minutes with his third goal in four pre-season games. He has been one of the best United players on their tour of Asia and Australia. Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash put through his own net just before the half-time break to double the Red Devils’ advantage.
Villa fought back in the second half to ensure that they are yet to taste defeat in pre-season. Jamaican star Leon Bailey has been amongst the goals in pre-season this summer and he pulled one back for his second goal in four friendly games this summer. Ex-Arsenal defender Calum Chambers scored a late goal for Aston Villa to secure a draw to the frustration of those connected with Manchester United.