Manchester United have made their worst start to a Premier League season in 31 years but manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not yet concerned by their position in the table.

A 2-2 draw at home to Aston Villa – a match the Norwegian admits they did not deserve to win – left the Red Devils ninth with 18 points from 14 matches, their worst return at a similar stage since 1988-89.

Back then they finished 11th in the top flight, 25 points behind eventual champions Arsenal.

While United are only two points behind fifth-placed Tottenham they are a whopping 22 behind arch-rivals and Premier League leaders Liverpool.

A victory over Villa would have lifted them above Spurs and within six of Chelsea but Solskjaer, with just six wins in 22 league matches since being appointed permanent manager in March, is not paying any attention to the table.

Player ratings: Manchester United vs Aston Villa Show all 22 1 /22 Player ratings: Manchester United vs Aston Villa Player ratings: Manchester United vs Aston Villa David de Gea - 5 Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Aston Villa - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - December 1, 2019 Manchester United's David de Gea during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Phil Noble EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. 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(Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images) Ash Donelon Manchester United via Getty Imag Player ratings: Manchester United vs Aston Villa Tom Heaton - 5 epa08037806 Aston Villa's goalkeeper Tom Heaton (R) concedes the 1-1 equalizer with Manchester United's Juan Mata (L) during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain, 01 December 2019. EPA/PETER POWELL EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications PETER POWELL EPA Player ratings: Manchester United vs Aston Villa BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 25: Matt Targett of Aston Villa reacts after being sick during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park on November 25, 2019 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. 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“I wouldn’t have sat here and talked about us being fifth if we had got that one goal extra, so the league table at this point is not the biggest concern because it is so tight,” he said.

“I just need to make sure that we get performances and get three or four performances after each other – and results.

“What I can say is so far we have had the lead in so many games and we haven’t been able to win those games; six or seven times we’ve been 1-0 up, or 2-1 or 3-2 like last week (a 3-3 draw at Sheffield United).

“We should be better at seeing those games into wins.

“I think there is loads of evidence these boys are closer to winning games than losing games.”

What will have disappointed Solskjaer the most is that United hauled themselves back into the match against a side who had lost 16 of their previous 17 matches against established top-six opponents.

Villa captain Jack Grealish ran the show in the first half and capped a commanding performance with an equally impressive goal, cutting in from the left to curl a shot over David De Gea.

Marcus Rashford’s header just before half-time hit the post and went in off goalkeeper Tom Heaton for an own goal and then after the break Victor Lindelof headed the hosts in front.

However, the lead lasted just four minutes before Tyrone Mings sprung the offside trap to volley home unmarked.

It was Grealish who stole the headlines though.

Jack Grealish impressed as Aston Villa secured a point away from home against Manchester United (Getty)

“A super goal. It’s what I’ve come to expect from him,” said manager Dean Smith.

“First 30 minutes I thought he was running the game, everything good coming from us was through him and that’s not overlooking the whole performance.

“He is a top player and when you have top players you get performances at places like this.”

Asked whether he thought Grealish would have had England recognition by now had he played for one of the Premier League’s big names he added: “We have Tyrone Mings in the England squad.

“All Jack can control is his performances and if he keeps performing the way he is then he keeps putting pressure on the people who have to choose these squads.”