Football news - More frustration for Solskjaer as Manchester United held by Villa

United came back through an own goal and a Victor Lindelof header to lead after falling behind to an 11th minute Jack Grealish goal but had to settle for a point that leaves them in ninth place, 22 points adrift of Liverpool after 14 games.

Solskjaer's side now face two big tests with their former manager Jose Mourinho returning with Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday before the Manchester derby at the Etihad on Saturday. United fans will be far from confident of positive results in those games after another poor display from a team lacking authority and quality in midfield against a Villa side inspired by the creativity of Grealish.

After a wide open start to the game, Grealish fired Villa ahead, cutting in from the left and then expertly curling the ball into the far, top corner.

Villa substitute Trezeguet had the ball in the net in the 29th minute but his effort was ruled out for offside and three minutes before the break United got a barely deserved equaliser. A short corner led to Andreas Pereira floating in a deep cross which Marcus Rashford rose well to head against the post with the ball bouncing in off helpless Villa keeper Tom Heaton in the 42nd minute.

Villa continued to play with ambition after the break and Grealish could have added a second goal but his outstretched foot turned a Trezeguet ball just wide of the post.

It was another corner routine which led to United taking the lead after 64 minutes, this time Fred's cross was inadvertently headed to the back post by Villa striker Wesley and United's Swedish defender Lindelof nodded home.

But the lead last only two minutes before Villa got back on level terms, the impressive Matt Targett chipping the ball into the box to an unmarked Tyrone Mings who volleyed home.

While the defender looked offside, VAR ruled the it was valid giving the centre-half his first Premier League goal.

United pushed forward in response but lacked the finesse to open up the Villa defence and their skipper Harry Maguire admitted the performance had not been good enough.

"As a team we are improving but we want to improve a lot more. To not win games at home is disappointing," he said.

"We huffed and puffed but we need to do better and Wednesday [against Spurs] gives us a great opportunity to put that right.

"We were poor after their first goal. It knocked us and we were edgy and nervous. To concede straight away after going in front, its disappointing," added the England international.

Villa boss Dean Smith hailed Grealish's performance, saying "everything that was good from us came through him", though he added that the midfielder would find it hard to forget his missed chance.

"He knows more than anybody that nine times out of 10 he scores that. He'll be pleased because of his goal but he won't sleep because of that miss," he said.