Manchester United 1-0 Aston Villa (Fernandes 39′)
OLD TRAFFORD – Manchester United’s future looks as contentious and uncertain as ever off the field but, thanks to a crucial Bruno Fernandes winner, at least their fate on it is becoming ever clearer.
This victory may prove to be enough in Erik ten Hag’s efforts to return his side to the Champions League next season, given the cushion they have now established over fifth place and the chasing pack.
And while this may not have been a convincing victory or one that was particularly pleasing on the eye, it was another plus in Ten Hag’s debut season as the club’s manager.
Villa arrived at Old Trafford unbeaten in 10 and with genuine, if faint, aspirations of gate-crashing the top four themselves.
But Unai Emery, currently earning plaudits for his efforts in transforming Villa, was simply out-coached by United’s Dutch master who oversaw a win that steadied nerves around the club following some recent indifferent form.
The goal was was as scrappy as the win overall, although it was the result of Ten Hag’s decision to attack Villa’s high defensive line with the pace of Marcus Rashford and his attacking midfield three.
An Emilio Martinez clearance after 38 minutes was steered directly at Casemiro who headed back towards the Villa goal for Rashford to chase.
The England striker’s hurried shot seemed to lack the precision or power to trouble Martinez but the Villa keeper succeeded only in pushing the ball to Fernandes who beat Alexandre Moreno to push the ball in from a difficult angle.
It was a moment that was particularly enjoyable for the goalscorer, whose injury-time penalty miss in this fixture last season saw United lose to Villa and opposition supporters, as well as Martinez himself, mock him for it.
Fernandes’s celebration in front of the Villa fans yesterday was all the more poignant given the running abuse he had received from them.
“I emphasised on the first day, he is so tough,” said Ten Hag. “A couple of weeks ago there were questions about his captaincy which was crazy.
“He is such a big leader by example, he gives so much energy to the team, besides his smartness. But also his determination, his passion, his resilience.
“You need such players if you want to win games and you want to win trophies.”
"We were determined and passionate to win this game"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 30, 2023
Erik ten Hag on Man Utd's 1-0 win against Aston Villapic.twitter.com/4WsE2ISRod
And for United fans, the Fernandes winner was the highlight of a day on which they had staged renewed protests against their current owners, the Glazers.
The current fear among United supporters that the Americans are contemplating a deal with British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe that would see them maintain a minority interest prompted demonstrations.
And the smoke from flares let off outside the stadium was still swirling around the Old Trafford pitch when United kicked off.
“We felt that the fans were behind us,” said Ten Hag. “So we have to focus to be successful because that is what the fans expect.
“They have to rely on us so we will focus on that and I’m sure when we keep performances like we did today, the fans are behind us. There is a lot of energy and a strong bond between the players and the fans.”
United started strongly with Martinez saving at the near post from Rashford and Marcel Sabitzer flashing a shot over before Casemiro struck the cross-bar from a Jadon Sancho pass.
But Villa, as the form book and league table suggest, packed a threat of their own as they maintained their push to qualify for a European competition of some sort.
Emiliano Buendia’s cross might have led to an equaliser but Diogo Dalot defended well to deny Ollie Watkins a tap-in before Moreno’s follow-up was well saved by David de Gea.
And in the frantic losing stages, Watkins played in Jacob Ramsey for a chance which was only denied by Victor Lindelof’s brilliant block with the defender doing even better later as he somehow headed a Douglas Luiz shot off the line.
For Emery, the knowledge that three of his team’s four remaining games are against rivals pushing for European places – Spurs, Liverpool and Brighton – is some consolation.
“Playing for European places for teams like us and Brighton is not normal,” he said. “We’re playing our last match against Brighton and if we go into this game with the opportunity to get into Europe it will be fantastic.
“But if we want to have this opportunity, we have to win the matches we have before that.”
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