Javier Hernandez scores Manchester United's equaliser in off Aston Villa's Ron Vlaar
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted with his side's battling spirit after they fought back from a two-goal deficit to seal a dramatic 3-2 victory against Aston Villa.
"I admire the tenacity of the performance, though. When they need to do it, they do it"
Sir Alex Ferguson
Goals in each half by Villa's Andreas Weimann looked to have set up a shock defeat for the Barclays Premier League leaders, but two goals by substitute Javier Hernandez either side of a shot by the Mexico international that deflected in off Ron Vlaar completed another dramatic United comeback win.
"It was a magnificent result and a magnificent game," said Ferguson, whose side have moved four points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League. "Villa did fantastic today, they ran their socks off. We have to feel for them but we never gave in.
"We hit the bar twice but it was after the second goal we came alive, and it was a fantastic game.
"I was disappointed to go behind like that, but I started to think about (how) if we got a goal we would have a chance, and we did.
"We did put pressure on ourselves today but we came through it. The lesson is we need to do better defensively. I admire the tenacity of the performance, though. When they need to do it, they do it."
Defeat leaves Villa just one place above the bottom three and with two wins to their name this season, but manager Paul Lambert refused to lay the blame with his players, despite them letting slip a two-goal advantage today.
"We gave it absolutely everything, we were brilliant," he said. "I can't fault the team. We've got lots of young lads in the team and they were great. I can't ask for any more from them."
For the match report, match statistics and photos from Villa Park click on Matchday Live below.
Aston Villa v Man Utd | #AVLMUN | Matchday Live >>
