Morgan Rogers brace boosts Aston Villa to 10th straight win at Man Utd expense

Morgan Rogers’ brilliant brace helped Aston Villa secure a 10th successive win in all competitions as Unai Emery’s Premier League title contenders triumphed 2-1 against Manchester United.

A week on from sealing victory at West Ham by following up a fine finish with a stunning strike, the 23-year-old was at it again as Villa headed into Christmas within three points of leaders Arsenal.

Rogers showed skill and confidence when cutting in from the left to bend home a beautiful strike late in a first half that that ended with Matheus Cunha levelling for United after Matty Cash was dispossessed.

But Villa were not to be denied a seventh straight Premier League victory as Rogers hammered home his second after the break.

United were without seven first-team players at Villa Park and their second loss in 11 matches was compounded by an injury to their captain.

Bruno Fernandes appeared to tweak a hamstring and was withdrawn at half-time of a match from which natural replacement Kobbie Mainoo was absent after picking up a calf complaint on the eve of the game.

Play got off to a frenetic start at a rocking Villa Park, where Cunha struck narrowly wide from 20 yards before Ayden Heaven put his body on the line to stop Ollie Watkins at the other end.

The teenager produced another block when the striker got away another shot after Senne Lammens stopped a John McGinn drive, with Rogers flicking an Ian Maatsen strike narrowly wide from a corner.

United survived that period and Benjamin Sesko, making his first start since a knee injury, should have done better when the ball fell kindly for him, only for returning Emiliano Martinez to spread himself well.

The returning Villa goalkeeper – a summer target of United – was later cleared to