Louis van Gaal responds by making changes of his own. Goalscorer Adnan Januzaj departs, along with Michael Carrick. Birthday boy Ander Herrera and Bastian Schweinsteiger to add some fresh legs in midfield.

Image source, Reuters

Villa Park has found its voice and it gets louder as Tim Sherwood decides to introduce his £6m signing Rudy Gestede for Scott Sinclair.

Shot on target! A good start to this half by Aston Villa and Gabriel Agbonlahor wins his side a corner. He strolls back into the box before the ball is fired in and Agbonlahor is there to meet it, powering a header at goal but Sergio Romero is well positioned to make the catch.

Image source, AFP

Graham Taylor
BBC Radio 5 live

"Tim Sherwood is now on the touch line which we didn't see hardly all in the first half. I think he's probably had some words with his players at half-time."

Image source, Reuters

Long kick by Sergio Romero goes straight to an Aston Villa player and the ball is quickly worked to Jordan Amavi, whose tricky feet sees him work space down the left and he whips the ball into the box. It is a good cross, but there is no Aston Villa player there.

Image source, Reuters

Bright start to the second half by Aston Villa as Manchester United are immediately put under pressure and Jordan Ayew pounces on a loose ball, turns towards goal but skews his shot over the bar.

That's what Villa need. Well, the build up was, not so much the finish.

Image source, Reuters

Aston Villa get things back up and running.

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Not since 1995 have Aston Villa beaten Manchester United in the league at home. There's nothing to suggest that run will end tonight.

How long before Rudy Gestede is thrown into the mix? Tim Sherwood suggested before the game he is not ready for the full 90 minutes, but you would think he would cause Daley Blind and Chris Smalling a few more problems.

Open another window or a tab on your mobile and keep your eye on our Spanish Super Cup coverage. Athletic Bilbao against Barcelona - follow it here.

Image source, BBC Sport

Nice sunset over Villa Park, that's about the only positive of Friday night football so far.

The build-up to Adnan Januzaj's goal aside, it has not been the prettiest of matches to watch.

Januzaj's goal came from an interception, the  forward then fed a pass to Memphis Depay, continued his run into the box before finishing from Juan Mata's ball.

Whistle goes and so ends not one of the most memorable halves of football. So far so good for Manchester United.

Image source, Reuters

One minute of added time as Aston Villa embark on possibly one last attack before the break, Jordan Veretout whipping a low cross into the area but it is too close to Sergio Romero.

I'd like to think Friday night football would bring with it a big party atmosphere, end of the working week and all that, but it is a subdued atmosphere at Villa Park. Feels a bit like an early round cup game, rather than a league fixture. 

Manchester United are looking in a good position to keep this lead until half time. Not enough bite to the Villa attack.

Image source, AP

Aston Villa still in possession but Manchester United seem quite content to let them have the ball. Ciaran Clark launches the ball forward in an effort to find the run of Jordan Ayew, but Sergio Romero is out quickly to get to the ball first.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Opta

Manchester United deserve their lead but Aston Villa are pressing a little bit now as they win their first corner of the game, Chris Smalling heading a cross behind.

The ball is sent in and Micah Richards dives for it, rather theatrically, as he appeals for a penalty with Matteo Darmian seemingly all over him. Nothing given.

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First goal since April 2014 for Adnan Januzaj and, if he is to be sold before the transfer window shuts with rumours of Sunderland sniffing around, his price tag has just gone up a bit.