A function from Bruno Fernandes secured Manchester United a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday, expanding their possibilities of completing within the most sensible 4 within the Premier League and proceeding their dominant shape at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag’s facet are fourth within the standings with 63 issues from 32 fits and feature a sport in hand on fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur who’re on 54 issues.
United are unbeaten at house in 15 immediately Premier League video games, with simply 3 attracts. They have now not misplaced at Old Trafford for the reason that opening weekend of the season towards Brighton & Hove Albion.
United put Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez to paintings early with a number of nice possibilities earlier than they had been in the end rewarded within the thirty ninth minute.
Martinez dived to push away Marcus Rashford’s shot after the United striker’s well-timed run, and Fernandes sprinted in for a one-touch end from a decent perspective for the a centesimal league function of his occupation. He celebrated in entrance of the visiting Aston Villa segment.
“They probably don’t like to play against me… I would prefer them to come and support their players rather than focus on me,” Fernandes instructed MUTV.
Unai Emery’s Villa, whose defeat used to be their first in 11 video games, are 6th within the standings, with 54 issues from 34 fits. They additionally failed to attain for the primary time of their 21 video games since Emery took rate.
The victory comes 3 days after Ten Hag chastised his gamers for now not giving 100% in a 2-2 draw at Spurs.
They replied effectively on Sunday, with a number of early possibilities together with Marcel Sabitzer’s volley that sailed simply over the function, and Casemiro’s curling shot a couple of mins later that got here again out off the crossbar.
While Villa had been higher after the damage, United nonetheless had extra possibilities, together with a pair from Rashford by myself. In the 59th minute, he break up two Villa defenders earlier than Martinez raced off his line to take hold of the ball away.
Some very good protecting stored the guests from drawing stage within the loss of life mins, together with a few rapid-fire clearances from Sabitzer, together with his foot, and Victor Lindelof, together with his head.
“A good three points but I think an impressive performance from Manchester United. We were magnificent on the ball, had good possession and pressed well,” Ten Hag instructed the BBC.
“In the second one part you wish to have to move 2-0 forward however we did not so it is at all times going to be a tricky end.
“(Lindelof) played brilliantly. He was totally in control in the area around (Villa striker Ollie) Watkins.”
Hundreds of enthusiasts, burning flares and hoisting a big banner that learn “Full sale only”, marched to Old Trafford earlier than the sport to protest the Glazer circle of relatives’s possession of the crew.