The absence of Kobbie Mainoo dominated the pre-match talk at Villa Park, and perhaps a media storm played into United’s slow start.
Fortunately for the Red Devils, it went unpunished, but they had Senne Lammens and Ayden Heaven to thank for that, as United’s stopper first denied John McGinn before their teenage defender produced a last-ditch block which denied Ollie Watkins a certain opener.
They had to survive another scare from the resulting corner too, as Ian Maatsen’s driven effort across the six-yard line was deftly flicked inches wide by the heel of Morgan Rogers.
Once Ruben Amorim’s men did settle down though, they managed to get on top of their opponents and tested Emiliano Martínez when Benjamin Sesko had an effort repelled by the Argentine.
But for all United’s good work in the first half, it looked like their efforts were undone when Rogers stepped inside off the left-hand side and curled a sumptuous effort into the top right corner beyond a helpless Lammens who merely stood and watched.
But they were handed an early Christmas gift on the stroke of half-time when Matty Cash had his pocket picked by Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha bent a perfect effort into the far corner to level the scores.
United’s enthusiasm was soon dampened at the interval when a Bruno Fernandes injury forced Amorim to introduce centre-back Lisandro Martínez into the heart of his midfield.
The Argentine took to his position like a duck to water, but United soon found themselves behind again when in almost carbon copy fashion to his first goal, Rogers stepped in off the left and curled another inch-perfect strike into the far corner.
United ought to have hit back soon after when Dorgu planted a perfect cross onto the head of Cunha six yards from goal, but he incredibly managed to head wide when it looked easier to score.
United handed a couple of debuts to youngsters Shea Lacey and Jack Fletcher, and although the former had a pop shot in the closing stages which at least worked Martinez, they were left to rue that Cunha miss as the one that got away.
Villa once more asserted themselves in the title race as a genuine contender, while United’s momentum has been stifled after losing ground on their fellow European chasers, a gap which could now widen with a growing list of absentees.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)