Manchester United, still 4 points off their rivals Manchester City, keep their hopes of a top four place alive. The gap is four points and with City’s involvement in the Champions League, an unlikely accomplishment of finishing fourth remains on after putting Aston Villa to the relegation zone with a 1-0 (32 ‘) win

Huge ovation for our young Rash who has given the Red Devils the lead in 32 minutes, at the end of a half in which they largely dominated. Rashford has now become the first player to score four goals for United in the Premier League before his 19th birthday.

From the first minute of the game, Valencia stands a cross up to the far post getting Memphis ready to swipe a volley towards goal but Bacuna takes the ball off his foot and here goes the series of corners. United spreading it wide in a nice way with Mata and Memphis combining well down the left. Rooney not involved in a great deal just yet, but United are well on top. The Villas just about to cope with United’s counter attacks. Aston Villa parked the bus well, making tough for United to take a patient approach in possession while waiting for openings with their desperate opponents fighting for their Premier League lives.

The tempo remained quite slow as we approached the final whistle, with United passing the ball around capably near the halfway line. They picked their spots to send it forward, but if they don’t like what they see when they break into the final third they’re more than content retreating and starting over again.

UNITED ESCAPE DISASTER! Absolutely exceptional defending from Blind to get back and deny Gestede a simple tap-in with De Gea stranded! The Dutchman has somehow denied Villa their equaliser!