- Man United played out a bore draw with Villa as pressure ramps on Erik Ten Hag
- Controversial broadcaster Richard Keys took a dim view of the showdown
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Viewers tuning into Sunday’s offering of football were treated to a snooze fest for the ages as an under-pressure Manchester United side held in-form Aston Villa to a goalless draw.
The result was the second stalemate for the Red Devils in a week which saw a beleagured Erik Ten Hag just about cling on to his job but at least halted a woeful run of form in the Premier League.
Last Sunday, United slipped to a humiliating 3-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in what was arguably the nadir of the Dutchman’s reign.
The side grabbed a last-minute equaliser, courtesy of outcast Harry Maguire, against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday night in a pulsating 3-3 draw. At one point, they were two goals up but a disastrous spell left them needing some stoppage-time inspiration.
This weekend’s clash against The Villans was certainly a change of pace and controversial broadcaster Richard Keys claimed it ‘might just be the worst’ Premier League match he had seen in more than 30 years covering the sport.
Richard Keys has slammed the Premier League match between Man United and Aston Villa as the ‘worst ever’
Viewers tuning into Sunday’s offering of football were treated to a snooze fest for the ages as Erik Ten Hag looked to cling on to his job at United
Jaden Philogene (middle) had a late goalscoring chance blocked by Diogo Dalot (left)
Presenting for Qatar-based beIN SPORTS, the 67-year-old said: ‘I’ve watched every Premier League game one for or another since 1992… and that is the worst I’ve ever seen.
‘Villa should give those fans their money back.’
He later reasserted his views on X, formerly Twitter, adding: ‘I have watched every PL game since 1992 in one form or another – this one might just be the worst I’ve ever seen.’
While Keys’s remarks might have contained an element of hyperbole, the ‘Super Sunday’ showdown was hardly inspiring.
Hopes were high following the mid-week European action which featured the Red Devils’ frantic draw and Villa’s memorable 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
But in a poor first half, United perhaps had the best chances. Marcus Rashford drove infield after only three minutes and Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez parried his right foot drive.
Villa were patchy as an attacking threat, only Morgan Rogers threatening to break through with an early shot that excited the crowd but actually found only the side netting.
The away side’s best chance came in the second period when Bruno Fernandes struck the bar with a beautiful right-foot free-kick in the 69th minute.
By then, however, United might have been playing with ten. Rashford’s foul on Leon Bailey seemed deliberate and Ten Hag admitted later he substituted him for his own good.
Late in the piece, Villa looked the more likely. United’s play on the counter was largely wasteful.
Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez (right) stood strong as United hauled crosses into his box
Villa boss Unai Emery watched as his players produced an unusually below-par outing
Keys (pictured, in 2003) presented for Sky Sports from the division’s inception in 1992
Spectators were stirred from their slumber in the 93rd minute when a shot by Villa’s Jaden Philagene did not find the net. Diogo Dalot blocked it but replays showed the Portuguese had simply turned his back on the shot and it struck him and flew wide.
Keys, for his part, remained awake to front beIN’s post-match coverage and the veteran broadcaster can certainly stake a claim as to watching more Premier League games than most, having presented for Sky Sports from the division’s inception in 1992.
He resigned in 2011 after allegedly making derogatory comments about female referee Sian Massey-Ellis and other women in the industry. Keys, thinking his microphone had been switched off, said: ‘Somebody better get down there and explain offside to her (Massey).’
