Sir Dave Brailsford stony-faced in Old Trafford stands as Man Utd struggle vs Villa while Ratcliffe plots huge shake-up

JIM RATCLIFFE'S sidekick Dave Brailsford went from grinning to groaning in the stands at Manchester United's home clash with Aston Villa.

The two sirs are plotting a major Old Trafford shake-up following Ratcliffe's 25% takeover of the club.

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And Brailsford initially smiled widely during the Premier League match on Boxing Day - until the former Team GB cycling supremo soon realised how tough a job he faces to install the winning culture he is famed for.

Brailsford saw John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker put Villa up 2-0 up inside the fist half-hour as the Red Devils' recent struggles under Erik ten Hag continued.

And as Brailsford's fan turned to stone, one viewer claimed the executive was "seeing just how big a job INEOS has on its hands at United"

The viewer added: "Yet again a collapse after going behind, fans booing, away fans mocking - utterly toothless in attack."

Another posted: "In front of Brailsford... . Get the PLAYERS AND STAFF gone."

And a third noted the 59-year-old's changing expression as he wrote: "His face says everything."

Brailsford is expected to land a key position alongside a new sporting director - with Newcastle's Dan Ashworth the favourite for that position.

The INEOS Director of Sport has had big roles at both the football clubs the company own - Switzerland's FC Lausanne-Sport and Nice in France.

Shocked fans were even more furious as Villa cruised into half-time still 2-0 up.

One joked of the INEOS investment: "The regret starts here."

And many wondered if the future of manager Ten Hag was now in imminent danger.