Talking points from our clash with Villa

Bruno Fernandes bagged the decisive goal, five minutes before the break, tucking home from a narrow angle after Marcus Rashford’s shot had been parried by Emiliano Martinez.

The Reds dominated before half-time and repelled a second-half resurgence from a Villa side who had arrived at the Theatre of Dreams on the back of a 10-game unbeaten run to make a late surge for a European place.

Following the clash, read the key talking points from a big victory that keeps our Champions League push firmly on course…

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

It had felt like a long time since United’s last home league game, against Everton on 8 April, but we continued our strong form at Old Trafford this term. Erik ten Hag’s men looked sharp and fluid in attack against a high defensive line and, while Villa improved markedly after the break, they never seriously threatened to complete a first league double over us since 1954, as they failed to score for the first time in their 20 games under Unai Emery. That’s now 27 games unbeaten in all competitions at what has become a fortress for the Reds, with David De Gea keeping his 15th clean sheet of the season.

BRUNO HITS A CENTURY 

Fernandes’s match-winning effort was his 100th career league goal and his seventh strike in eight appearances against Villa – his joint-most against any opponent, along with Leeds United. The Portuguese star was energetic and inventive from his position on the right and was predictably taunted by the away fans, in front of whom he operated during the first half – so he promptly stared at them after opening the scoring. His strike ended a run of 10 league games without a goal stretching back to February, though he has since netted in Europe and the Emirates FA Cup.

TACTICAL RESHUFFLE

Ten Hag admitted before the match that one of the reasons he made a couple of changes to his side – including naming Antony on the bench – was to “divide the load of the players" in our 55th game of the season. Marcel Sabitzer was picked in the no.10 role and impressed, having scored twice in the position in our last home game, against Sevilla, while Tyrell Malacia also made an important contribution, including one crucial block to deny ex-Red Ashley Young.

THE ICEMAN COMETH

Victor Lindelof has really stepped up in the absence of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, and the Swede again put in a commanding performance alongside Luke Shaw at the back. As Villa pushed for an equaliser in the second period, Lindelof was a rock in defence with a number of blocks and headers, and made an excellent clearance off his line to deny Douglas Luiz, albeit the offside flag was then raised.

CASEMIRO CLASS

Thursday’s draw with Tottenham wasn’t one of our Brazilian maestro’s best performances in a United shirt but he was outstanding in this game and particularly in the first half, when he dominated Villa’s midfield and won the ball on countless occasions. He hit the bar in the first half and also curled a left-footed effort just wide as United pushed for a second goal just after the break.

TOP-FOUR RACE HOTS UP

Sunday’s win put distance in the table between United and Villa, whose recent form had made them outside contenders for a Champions League place. And though Newcastle United came from behind to beat Southampton 3-1 to stay in third spot, the Reds can still leapfrog the Magpies by winning our game in hand over them.

APRL SHOWERS 

Even by Manchester’s famously pluvial standards, there was a lot of rain around on Sunday, with the gloomy skies necessitating the need for the floodlights to be on in the middle of the afternoon at Old Trafford. It aided United’s slick passing game and while the players were soon soaked, the pitch remained in top condition throughout – a testament to the superb drainage at the Theatre of Dreams and, of course, our brilliant groundstaff.