Morgan Rogers struck twice as Aston Villa extended their winning run to 10 matches in all competitions, their best run as a top-flight club since 1914, by beating Manchester United at Villa Park.
On a day when Unai Emery’s side were not at their best, in-form Rogers put them ahead with a curling shot into the corner a minute before the break.
After Matheus Cunha had capitalised on a Matty Cash error to level, Rogers stepped inside United defender Leny Yoro a second time before curling a replica effort over Senne Lammens for his sixth goal in as many league games.
Emery reacted by ripping his coat off and throwing it into the air as his side recorded only their second win in 27 home Premier League games against United and moved to within three points of leaders Arsenal.
It was a bad day for United head coach Ruben Amorim, who lost talisman Bruno Fernandes to injury at half-time, and was already without six senior players through a combination of injury, suspension and Africa Cup of Nations duty before Kobbie Mainoo pulled out pre-game with a calf problem.
That misery was only magnified when Fernandes pulled up towards the end of the first half and suggested he had hurt his hamstring.
Although the United skipper continued to the break, he did not reappear for the second period and was walking very gingerly as he made his way slowly to the dug-out, suggesting he is set for an extended period on the sidelines just as the squad is stretched, with youngsters Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey both making their debuts as substitutes.
