Statistics & Post-Match Quotes | Aston Villa 2-3 Manchester United

TEAM STATISTICS

MUFC PLAYER STATISTICS

* David de Gea (goalkeeper): 9/15 passing (60%), 2 goals conceded, 1 save

* Chris Smalling (right-center-back): 32/37 passing (86%), 5/8 long balls, 1 tackle, 1 interception, 14 clearances (9 effective), 0 shots blocked, 1 foul

* Rio Ferdinand (left-center-back): 48/52 passing (92%), 3/3 long balls, 1 tackle, 0 interceptions, 4 clearances (1 effective), 0 shots blocked, 1 foul

* Rafael (right-back): 40/46 passing (87%), 1 chance created, 2/10 crosses, 4/5 long balls, 1 successful dribble, 3 tackles, 4 interceptions, 2 clearances (1 effective), 0 shots blocked, 1 foul

* Patrice Evra (left-back): 42/46 passing (91%), 1 chance created, 0/3 crosses, 2/2 long balls, 1 successful dribble, 4 tackles, 0 interceptions, 9 clearances (8 effective), 1 shot blocked, 0 fouls

* Michael Carrick (central-midfielder): 119/133 passing (89%), 1 chance created, 0/0 crossing, 8/11 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 1 tackle, 1 interception, 1 shot (1 on target)

* Paul Scholes (central-midfielder | substituted off 72'): 98/106 passing (92%), 2 chances created, 0/0 crosses, 14/17 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 2 tackles, 0 interceptions, 2 shots (0 on target), 1 assist

* Antonio Valencia (right-winger): 50/55 passing (91%), 2 chances created, 2 chance created, 3/12 crosses, 3/4 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 3 successful dribbles, 1 foul won, 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 2 shots (0 on target)

* Ashley Young (left-winger | substituted off 45'): 22/24 passing (92%), 0 chances created, 0/2 crosses, 0/0 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 2 fouls won, 0 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 shot (0 on target)

* Wayne Rooney (secondary striker | substituted off 79'): 51/59 passing (86%), 1 chance created, 1/5 crosses, 3/3 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 0 interceptions, 1 tackle, 0 interceptions 4 shots (2 on target)

* Robin van Persie (striker): 36/45 passing (80%), 6 chances created, 4/8 crosses, 5/5 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 1 successful dribble, 0 fouls won, 4 shots (0 on target), 1 assist

* Javier Hernandez (striker | substituted on 45'): 15/16 passing (94%), 0 chances created, 0/0 crosses, 2/3 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 0 fouls won, 3 shots (2 on target), 2 goals

* Tom Cleverley (central-midfielder/left-sided midfielder | substituted on 72'): 25/25 passing (100%), 1 chance created, 1/2 crosses, 0/0 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 1 tackle, 0 interceptions, 0 shots

* Anderson (central-midfielder | substituted on 79'): 12/13 passing (92%), 0 chances created, 0/0 crosses, 1/1 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 0 shots

POST-MATCH QUOTES

Sir Alex Ferguson | MUFC manager (courtesy of Sky Sports)

(On Chicharito's match-wining performance...) "As I have been saying for the last few weeks, he's fresh as he had a good summer break and it's made a difference to him. When he came to us two years ago, that's what we're seeing again today and, when you score a hat-trick, you pick yourself. I think he'll be playing next week. He does his natural thing. He's fantastic in the penalty box with his movement, his quickness and being in space and that has got him three goals today."

(Overall thoughts...) "It's an absolutely magnificent result for us, it was a magnificent game, I must say that. Aston Villa played fantastic today, they've run their socks off and you have to feel sorry for them, with the effort they put in. But we never give in. We hit the bar twice. Once we lost the second goal, we came alive. It was a fantastic game."

(On improving after a poor start...) "We were careless in the first half with no real tempo to our game. We hadn't had a shot on goal so we had to improve on that and we did. I was disappointed to lose the second goal like that, when a player goes unmarked into your penalty box, but I started to think if we got a goal we could change the game and, once we scored, it did. We get inspired with the support we have and the challenge of coming from two-down to win the game is there for us. We didn't let ourselves down in that respect - we really did put in a shift in the second half to sort ourselves out - as did Villa. But we did put pressure on ourselves today, even though we got through it, and I think it's a little lesson that we really need to be defending better. I think I admire the team and the tenacity of the performance. When they need to do it, they do it and the attacking play is terrific at times."

(On Rooney sustaining a knock...) "Rooney got an ankle knock and he's got some ice on it. We'll see what it's like tomorrow."

Javier Hernandez | MUFC striker (courtesy of MUTV)

(On United's 2nd goal officially being an own goal...) " I’ve seen the replay and I think it’s going on target. The defender tried to get it away but I think he kicked it in the same direction as I shot."

(On the winner and the result...) "It felt unbelievable to score the winner. But the most important thing is we get the three points and we’re still on the top with a four-point gap. We’re very happy."

(What were the instructions to him when he came on at half...) "To do my best, to do the things I have been doing in my last few games and on the training ground as well. I try to do that every time, to help my team with a lot of effort and to do the things I have done today."

(On quickly pulling one back after Villa went 2-0 up...) "I think it was very important. Sometimes you can score late as well and get the three points and that’s part of the game, but thankfully we recovered quickly after they got the second one. In the history of Manchester United, we never want to give up until the end. The game is for 90 minutes and you need to play until the last minute. We need to improve because we’re conceding a lot of goals but thankfully we got the three points. I have a lot of best moments with this club and this is one of them."