Manchester United have been held to a 1-1 draw by the 10 men of Aston Villa in a keenly-contested game at Villa Park this afternoon.
The result has brought an end to a six-game winning streak for Louis van Gaal's side, but they remain in the top three of the Premier League.
United saw much of the ball in the opening 15 minutes, but could not fashion any chances with their superior possession.
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Their lack of creativity came back to haunt them in the 18th minute as Benteke bent a measured shot inside the far post from inside the box, after Jonny Evans was unable to deal with a deep free kick.
United were soon on the front foot again as they penned the hosts back inside their own half, but a wall of claret and blue shirts prevented them from carving open any opportunities.
After a Villa counter-attack broke down, United almost got a goal back as Ashley Young's inswinging cross evaded everyone inside the box, but Brad Guzan clawed it away just as it looked to be creeping inside the far post.
Radamel Falcao was close to connecting with a couple of dangerous Antonio Valencia crosses as half time approached, but a mass of bodies prevented the Colombian from getting a shot at goal on either occasion.
In contrast to a cagey opening 45 minutes, the second half began with a flurry of chances for both sides.
Fabian Delph's crashing shot was deflected behind by Evans and, from the resulting corner, David de Gea tipped Benteke's towering header over the bar.
Then it was United's turn to threaten, as Guzan stood tall to thwart Robin van Persie, before he dived low to his left to prevent Juan Mata's shot from creeping inside the near post.
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There was nothing he could do to prevent Falcao from making it 1-1, though, as the forward guided Young's cross inside the near post with a cushioned header in the 53rd minute.
Delph then fired an awkward shot at De Gea, and Villa's task soon became much tougher after Agbonlahor was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on his former teammate Young.
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Rather than hand the visitors more opportunities to go ahead, it was Villa who came close just minutes after Agbonlahor's dismissal as only a series of brave blocks prevented Ciaran Clark and then Matt Lowton from making it 2-1 to the hosts.
The home side were soon on the back foot, though, and they just about managed to scramble four successive corners away to safety on their way to holding out for a point in fairly comfortable style.
Kristian Johnson
