Manchester United extend record, have now done one thing more time than any team in Premier League history

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Manchester United looked to be heading to defeat against Aston Villa before a remarkable second half turnaround.

The media knives were being sharpened for Erik ten Hag when Manchester United fell two goals down within the opening half an hour against Aston Villa.

There may even have been a few United fans around the world who tuned out, unwilling to watch the team drift towards another miserable loss.

Anybody who gave up on the team would have regretted it. Manchester United don’t know how to quit, this is ingrained into the club.

Record extended

Manchester United came from 2-0 down to win 3-2, extending a Premier League record in the process.

Per Opta, “Manchester United have now won 14 Premier League games in which they have trailed by at least two goals, at least five more such wins than any other side in the competition’s history.”

Impressively, two of these comebacks have occurred this season, with this win over Aston Villa following a 3-2 win at home to Nottingham Forest back in August.

It wasn’t even the first time United have done so on Boxing Day, turning around a 2-0 deficit to beat Hull City 3-2 in 2013.

Comeback kings

This is a good sign for manager Erik ten Hag, who would much rather his team did not go 2-0 down in the first place, but it is good to see they are fighting for him and won’t give up.

Former managers have benefitted in the same way, but it is not sustainable to keep winning in this manner.

Take for instance Manchester United’s 3-2 win at home to Newcastle in October 2018, when Alexis Sanchez scored the winner. All that did was buy Jose Mourinho a little more time.

Still, a refusal to give up is a good trait to have, which can help out in a bad moment. Look at the way Mourinho’s United came from behind to beat City 3-2 to delay their title party at the Etihad that same year.

A week later Mourinho’s United lost at home to West Brom. This problem of inconsistency still haunts the club in 2023.

Erik ten Hag will hope for a calmer, more straightforward 2024. But at least he knows his players have a comeback in them, when needed.

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All 14 times Manchester United came back from 2-0 down to win in the Premier League era

• Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United (1993)
• Tottenham Hotspur 3-5 Manchester United (2001)
• Everton 2-4 Manchester United (2007)
• Manchester United 5-2 Tottenham (2009)
• Blackpool 2-3 Manchester United (2011)
• West Ham 2-4 Manchester United (2011)
• Aston Villa 2-3 Manchester United (2012)
• Hull City 2-3 Manchester United (2013)
• Crystal Palace 2-3 Manchester United (2018)
• Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United (2018)
• Manchester United 3-2 Newcastle (2018)
• Southampton 2-3 Manchester United (2020)
• Manchester United 3-2 Nottingham Forest (2023)
• Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa (2023)