The Scottish global headed home after just 8 minutes, but Villa were left to rue a number of missed possibilities and a controversial VAR evaluation that ruled out an equaliser from Danny Ings within the 2d 1/2.
United period in-between manager Ralf Rangnick desperately wanted a response to per week of unrest inside the United camp that followed a gloomy performance in dropping 1-0 at home to Wolves. One big decision was taken out of the German's palms as Cristiano Ronaldo became now not fit.
United got the begin they needed to settle the nerves as Fred's perfect go picked out McTominay to electricity in a downward header. However, all the shortcomings that have dogged a shambolic season beneath two managers for the Red Devils had been quickly revealed as Villa ruled the game. Ollie Watkins failed to show home a nook on the lower back put up, Emiliano Buendia's power across goal just avoided Ings and David de Gea produced a beautiful store to deny John McGinn because the traffic handed up a hat-trick of possibilities in quick succession.
United had been also without injured captain Harry Maguire and his understudy Victor Lindelof gifted Villa any other golden danger to equalise with a heavy touch that allow Watkins in, handiest for his shot to come crashing back off the crossbar. The domestic aspect were restricted to counter-attacks, but can also have stretched their gain earlier than the break as Emiliano Martinez parried Edinson Cavani's pressure before Marcus Rashford's attempt turned into cleared off the line by means of Matty Cash.
Villa gained at Old Trafford earlier within the season below former supervisor Dean Smith, however have progressed markedly since Steven Gerrard's arrival as boss in November. The site visitors twice had the ball inside the net within the 2nd half however have been denied the risk to take the tie to extra time via a prolonged VAR review. After Ings bundled in Ezri Konsa's knockdown, VAR to start with checked whether or not the striker was offside. But it become referee Michael Oliver who made the final name to rule the goal out for an offside with the aid of Jacob Ramsey after blocking Cavani because the ball changed into played into the box.
A a good deal more trustworthy offside call towards Ings moments later denied Watkins an equaliser. Another second of magic from De Gea was also needed to see United over the road as he grew to become Cash's force extensive. The game resulted in controversy as Luke Shaw stuck Konsa within the nose along with his arm, drawing blood, but the officials deemed it now not to be a penalty. Had it been given, Shaw could have possibly seen a second yellow. In the quit, it was a case of process completed for Man Utd.
Rangnick's guys will face Middlesbrough at domestic in spherical four on the first weekend of February.
