United 1 Aston Villa 0

Erik ten Hag’s men extended our lead on the chasing pack when Bruno Fernandes picked up the rebound to a Marcus Rashford shot, and it proved the difference maker at Old Trafford.

Rashford’s low effort forced Emiliano Martinez to dive low to make the save but Fernandes pounced to place the ball past the Argentina international to give the Reds a huge boost in our quest for Champions League football in 2023/24.

Towards the end of the game, the in-form Villans attempted to break through the United defence, in a bid to claim a point. Douglas Luiz’s close-range effort looked to have beaten David De Gea, before Victor Lindelof rose high to head the ball off the line, but the offside flag was raised in any case.

FIRST HALF - BRUNO GIVES UNITED THE LEAD

Early on, Marcel Sabitzer managed to dispossess Jacob Ramsey and threaded the ball through to Rashford. The Reds' no.10 managed to break away from Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa in the centre of the pitch and got one against one with Martinez, but his shot was wide of the near post, before the linesman raised the flag for offside.

Rashford looked to break through again, just minutes later. Tyrell Malacia and Fernandes linked up on the left of the penalty area, before the Portuguese midfielder sent a wonderful pass into the path of Rashford, who tried to smash it on his weaker left foot, but Martinez was quick to react with a low save.

The Reds did not let up with the attacking football in the opening 15 minutes. Sabitzer struck a powerful volley over the crossbar, after receiving an over-the-top pass from Rashford. Soon afterwards, Fernandes attempted to lift the ball over the on-rushing Martinez, but the chip crept past the far post.

The Villans finally came into the game in the 19th minute. Ramsey’s pass managed to find Emi Buendia in the United penalty area. The Argentine only needed to take one touch before threading the ball between the legs of Luke Shaw, looking for Ollie Watkins at the back post, but Diogo Dalot was able to thwart the in-form striker. Villa’s attack would not cease there, as Spanish left-back Alex Moreno blasted the ball straight at David De Gea and out for a corner. VAR did take a look at a penalty shout by Watkins, after Dalot's timely challenge.

Erik ten Hag’s men responded with an incredible effort. Jadon Sancho, using skill and tricky, got the better of former United defender Ashley Young, before picking out Casemiro inside the box. Taking a touch, the Brazilian midfielder curled the ball towards the Villa goal, but the strike cannoned off the crossbar and fell to Fernandes, who was in an offside position.

As the half came to a close, United broke the deadlock. Streaking through, Rashford tried a low shot past Martinez, but the World Cup-winning goalkeeper dived low to make the save. However, he failed to push the ball past the post. Busting a gut to get to the rebound, Fernandes sprinted to slot the ball past the keeper and Mings on the line to notch his 11th goal of the season, and his seventh overall against Villa.

SECOND HALF - REDS HOLD ONTO LEAD

As the second began, the visitors broke early with Ashley Young. The former Red was able the gain some space on the right flank and whipped a great cross into the back post looking for Watkins. The Villa forward was unable to rise above Lindelof, whose glancing header averted the danger.

After winning a free-kick midway inside the Villa half, United were able to take a foothold in the second half. Eriksen’s delivery was able to pick out Lindelof, peeling away from the defence but the Wembley penalty shootout hero was unable to convert with his left foot.

Moments later, Malacia’s cross whipped into the area, but was stopped by Konsa. The centre-half’s first touch did let him down initially, but he was able to recover and clear his lines before Rashford could sneak up behind him.

Ramsey and Watkins kept the tempo going for the away side, with a great piece of build-up play just before the hour mark. Sending Ramsey through on goal, he skipped past the on-rushing Shaw before attempting to fire the ball at De Gea, but Lindelof flew in with a heroic block to send the ball out for a corner.

United’s search for a second resulted in multiple attacks on Martinez’s goal. Casemiro’s long-range attempt took a massive deflection before falling into the keeper's gloves. Then Eriksen’s through ball managed to pick out Sancho running through the space behind the backline. The winger fed Fernandes on the edge of the area, but the Portuguese midfielder’s pass was easily headed away by Mings.

The best of our attacks came when Rashford was able to break into the area before being brought down by substitute Calum Chambers. No penalty was forthcoming but the ball fell to Sancho, who played a quick pass to Malacia on the left wing. The Dutchman teed up Casemiro but his drive curled just too late and fizzed wide of Martinez's right-hand post.

The visitors had one last roll of the dice to try to take a point back to Villa Park. Ramsey’s pass allowed Watkins to break away towards goal and whip a low pass into the area. Sabitzer attempted to clear the ball but it ricocheted off Shaw and fell to the feet of Douglas Luiz. The former Manchester City midfielder’s efforts were repelled by Sabitzer and then Lindelof, off the line, but the flag went up for an initial offside against Watkins.

Despite late pressure from the Midlanders, with Harry Maguire on to help stiffen the defence, United kept another clean sheet to clinch three welcome points.

MATCH DETAILS

United: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Shaw, Malacia, Casemiro, Eriksen (Fred 76), Fernandes (c), Sabitzer (Maguire 85), Sancho (Antony 76), Rashford (Martial 85).

Subs not used: Butland, Wan-Bissaka, Williams, Pellistri, Weghorst.

Booked: Fred, Malacia.

Goal: Fernandes 39.

Aston Villa: Martinez; A. Young (Chambers 64), Konsa, Mings, Moreno (Digne 76); Dendoncker (Traore 64), Luiz, McGinn, Ramsey; Buendia (Duran 76);  Watkins.

Subs not used: Olsen, Silva, Revan, O’Reilly, K. Young.