Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko scored late goals to secure an important victory for Manchester United over Aston Villa in the race for Champions League qualification.
The first half lacked quality, but the match came alive after the break, with United captain Bruno Fernandes heavily involved in the decisive moments.
Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez had earlier denied Bryan Mbeumo with a fine save, but Fernandes soon delivered a perfect near-post corner that Casemiro flicked over Martinez and into the net off the far post.
Aston Villa responded 11 minutes later when Ross Barkley, making his first Premier League start in 14 months, fired home a quick equaliser.
Manchester United, however, regained control. Fernandes produced an excellent through pass that released Cunha behind the Villa defence, and the Brazilian calmly slotted a low shot into the far corner.
Substitute Benjamin Sesko later sealed the win, taking his tally to eight goals in 10 matches as his turning effort deflected past Martinez to hand Villa their third consecutive league defeat.
The victory keeps Michael Carrick’s side in third place and marks the interim manager’s sixth straight home win a feat only surpassed at the start of Premier League managerial spells by Sven-Goran Eriksson, Carlo Ancelotti, and Manuel Pellegrini.
For Aston Villa, the defeat continues a poor run of form. They have now won just three of their last 12 league games, collecting only 12 points from that stretch and leaving their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League in doubt.
