Man Utd and Aston Villa came into their Premier League clash level on points in the race for a top four finish but it was the Red Devils that grabbed the advantage to move three points clear.
It was a dour first half, with just a single shot on target between the two sides, but the game sprung into life eight minutes into the second period when Casemiro gave the home side the lead.
It was a lead that lasted just 11 minutes, though, with Ross Barkley sweeping home following an Aston Villa corner to level things up. However, Man Utd showed the resilience they were missing in the early stages of the season, claiming the lead back with 20 minutes remaining when Matheus Cunha finished Bruno Fernandes’ sublime pass.
They were then able to put the exclamation mark on their victory nine minutes from time through substitute, Benjamin Sesko.
In this article, we’ll cover:
Bruno Fernandes continues his stunning form
The reasons surrounding Man Utd’s lacklustre early season performances were numerous but the one positive constant the Red Devils have been able to draw on is their midfield maestro, Fernandes.
The 31-year-old wrote his name further into the Old Trafford history books against Villa, contributing two more assists to his tally for the season and moving clear of David Beckham’s record of 15 assists in a Premier League season with his assist for Cunha, which only happened to be his 100th assist for Man Utd in all competitions.
Fernandes now needs just four more assists this season to match the record of 20 in a single season, set by both Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, and one more to claim the record as his own. With eight games remaining it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to see him claiming the record.
Fernandes’ all round performance against Aston Villa was superb, offering excellent link up between midfield and attack. Aside from his two assists, he created a further four chances for his teammates and completed 19 final third passes, more than any other player on the pitch when looking at either metric.
His first assist, a corner swung into the box that was finished off by Casemiro’s glancing header, was the fifth time that duo has combined for a goal this season, a total higher than any other two players in the league this season.
Fernandes was, rightly, given the player of the match award and proved why he is so pivotal to Man United’s chances of playing Champions League football again next season.
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Villa’s stuttering attack poses a problem
It would be fair to say that Aston Villa were extremely passive in the opening forty-five minutes, managing just two shots, with neither being on target. They improved in the second period but their attack still looked blunt and it’s not an isolated problem.
Unai Emery’s side have scored the fewest of any club in the top seven and only one more than 16th placed, Tottenham. They’ve managed to find the net just five times in their last seven Premier League games and their lack of goals has put their chances of qualifying for Champions League football in real doubt.
Ollie Watkins, the Villains main striker, has only scored once in his last nine Premier League games and failed to even register a shot against Man Utd this afternoon. It’s a worrying run of form for Watkins, especially heading into the World Cup, with his place in Thomas Tuchel’s squad by no means assured.
Harry Kane will, barring injury, lead the line for the Three Lions this summer but the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Danny Welbeck outscoring Watkins this season and his time is running out to rediscover his scoring touch and force himself back into the England reckoning.
Rogers must play through the middle
John McGinn’s comeback from injury was much welcomed by an Aston Villa side that has got their fair share of treatment room issues, particularly in midfield.
It was a surprise, though, to see McGinn line up behind Watkins, with Morgan Rogers pushed into a wide right position to start the match. It was a move from Emery that didn’t pay off, with Rogers managing just 21 touches of the ball in the first half.
The second half saw Rogers moved into a more central area, and his impact was plain to see. The eye-test showed the England international was much more effective, with some important passes and excellent flicks giving his side some much needed impetus and the stats back it up, with Rogers increasing his touches by 15 compared to the first period.
Rogers best chance of playing Champions League football next season, as well as starting for England at the World Cup, comes from playing in the number 10 position and being given the freedom to express himself.