Aston Villa v Manchester United: half time report
Aston Villa 0 Manchester United 0
The deadlock remains unbroken at Villa Park in the Premier League fixture between Aston Villa and Manchester United.
The lunchtime kick-off started in lively fashion, although it took 12 minutes before United winger Nani had the first shot of the match.
However, the Portuguese's left-footed effort from 20-yards failed to test Brad Friedel - flying harmlessly over the crossbar, instead.
Villa manager Gerard Houllier fielded a youthful line-up with the likes of Jonathan Hogg, Barry Bannan and Marc Albrighton all starting, and it was the latter who whipped in a dangerous cross after beating Patrice Evra down the right flank. On this occasion, though, the hosts were unable to capitalise.
Moments later, Dimitar Berbatov was presented with a glorious opportunity to put the visitors 1-0 ahead. Javier Hernandez's pass found the Bulgarian, who managed to stay onside, but the striker skewed his shot wide with his unfavoured left foot.
On the half-hour mark, Villa had their first shot on goal through Ashley Young. Gabriel Agbonlahor, who signed a contract extension earlier this week, out-jumped Rio Ferdinand in the air to flick the ball on. Young struck a decent effort on target, but the 40-year-old Edwin van der Sar was equal to the England winger's strike.
United then went close again after a well worked free-kick between Nani and Evra. The France international fired the ball across the face of goal after being cleverly played in by Nani, but none of his teammates were able to connect with the drilled cross.
In the closing stages of the first-half, Stewart Downing must have thought he'd given Villa the lead when his goal-bound shot was deflected by Ferdinand, but the ball whistled agonisingly past Van der Sar's left post.
It was the hosts who finished the opening 45 minutes on top, and Houllier will be hoping for more of the same after the break.
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