3 hours ago
10
On 71 minutes a classic Manchester United riposte, via Matheus Cunha, to Ross Barkley’s equaliser moments before. From around halfway, the peerless Bruno Fernandes glanced up and steered the ball through an inside left channel for Cunha. United’s No 10 galloped forward and as Emiliano Martínez loomed large the Brazilian’s curled finish was a peach that kissed the far right of the net, Cunha stepping forward before the Stretford End to soak up the ecstatic adoration.
Fernandes’ assist was his 100th in all competitions for United, the contest’s second, and 16th in the Premier League. The last statistic is a club record, this term’s competition high, and a latest argument for winning the player of the season awards.
United’s captain said: “I’m more proud because I did it serving my teammates. It’s an achievement for me, but the main achievement will be [to finish] in the top spots.”
Next came Benjamin Sesko’s 81st-minute clincher. This time, Cunha’s ball from the left was deflected into the No 30’s orbit and, after swivelling, he bundled past Martínez – the striker having entered only recently.
Cunha’s goal pulled United ahead after Barkley’s intervention. It arrived with the Aston Villa No 6 near Senne Lammens’ goal, his rocket of a left foot beating United’s keeper to his right, zipping past Amadou Onana, who was offside.
The video assistant referee decided – correctly – that he was not in Lammens’ line of vision and so Villa believed they had a point at least in the Champions League qualification race.
But now came Cunha and Sesko’s finishes which complimented Casemiro’s 53rd-minute headed opener and following this victory,United may fancy hunting down Manchester City, whose form is faltering in second.
Michael Carrick was delighted. “We can enjoy winning,” United’s interim manager said. “We are keeping a lid on it and understanding where we are and what it takes to win games like today. We are in a good position at the moment but still a lot to play for.”
Wayne Rooney, Carrick’s former United teammate when a player, stated on BBC 5 Live that he should “100%” become the No 1. “It doesn’t affect me the noise, I don’t mean Wayne, I mean in general,” the 44-year-old said. “Obviously I’m enjoying the job.”
The entertaining second period followed a stuttering start yet with a double-twist in midfield that created space Bryan Mbeumo upped the quality and ignited a raid that moved left through Fernandes, whose cross posed a question the visiting rearguard answered with a clearance.
United took charge. A crashing and fair Casemiro tackle dispossessed Onana and Villa were spun. Moments later Casemiro ran along the right, claimed a corner, Fernandes delivered, Harry Maguire rose and nodded to Amad Diallo who headed for the right of Martínez but Villa’s No 1 saved low.
Diallo – for Sesko – was one of two Carrick changes as Noussair Mazraoui made way, also, for Diogo Dalot following the loss at Newcastle. Unai Emery could start John McGinn for a first time since hurting a knee against Everton on 18 January, with Tyrone Mings and Barkley his other two changes from the midweek Europa League win over Lille.
Still Villa lacked imagination, unlike Fernandes, whose dummy sent Emiliano Buendía into a different postcode: he fed Casemiro, and his shot was blocked by Ezri Konsa. Emery, as his animated way, was a Marcel Marceau of disgust at this being allowed but the Spaniard’s touchline mime went positive when Ollie Watkins threatened down Villa’s right. But Maguire outsmuscled the No 9.
More encouragement for the Midlanders came when Watkins swooped left in United’s area but an amateurish touch allowed Leny Yoro to stymie the attempt. At the interval Carrick could be the happier of the managers but his men lacked sharpness in front of goal.
Example: seconds into the restart and Diallo blasted over when in, to the left of Martínez’s posts.
But, now, Casemiro showed how – at a corner, from the right. Fernandes curled this in as skilfully as the veteran hopped forward and sent a skimming header beyond a flailing Martínez in and off the far post for a seventh league finish.
This began a breathless 28 minutes containing the goals of Barkley, Cunha and Sesko and at the final whistle United had strengthened their hold on third place.
It is only the second time Emery’s Villa has lost three consecutive league matches.
The manager said: “Manchester United are at a high level and to face them today was a huge challenge. We are competing and were with the same points, today we finish three points behind them.
“We must keep going, use the [positive] points we had before to try to keep going, keep fighting and keep recovering tactically and with confidence. I am so motivated to achieve our objectives. I like the challenges we have before us.”
