Villa’s Record at Old Trafford
For a couple of seasons now, Unai Emery’s Aston Villa have walked into Old Trafford with a lot of momentum on their side but have flattered to deceive. Unai Emery gets a lot of pre-match hype and is even seen as a serious candidate for the job, but after the final whistle has blown, we get a sense of why he hasn’t. In fact, some of United’s best performances in the last couple of years have come against his side, which should play on the player’s mind as they try to turn
their season around.
Shea Lacey
The youngster made a difference when he came on against Roma in midweek and even played his part in the winning goal. He’s already scored a goal earlier in the season against Brighton in the cup, so we know he can offer something as a starter. Amad Diallo hasn’t set the world on fire for some time either, so Lacey’s involvement could just be the thing he needs to get his form back on track. This game will tell us a lot about how Michael Carrick sees both, and if he sees Shea Lacey as a potential starter or as a useful bench option
The Fans
The last game saw a bit of everything from the fans: there were tennis balls being thrown on the pitch, boos and chants against the INEOS cohort, and something in between relief and joy when the third goal went in. There’s a common target for everyone to unite against, which could reenergize the season. All’s not lost.
