Hojlund double wins it for United
Rasmus Hojlund's early double proved enough to secure Manchester United an absorbing 2-1 Premier League victory at Luton Town on Sunday and push them closer to the battle for the top four.
Danish striker Hojlund pounced on a defensive error to give United the lead after 37 seconds and then made it 2-0 with only seven minutes on the clock to put his side in control.
Relegation battlers Luton dusted themselves down though and responded impressively with Carlton Morris's brave header halving the deficit in the 14th minute. The only surprise in a wide-open game was that there were no more goals as both sides carved out chances.
Sixth-placed United were guilty of wasting several giltedged opportunities in the second half, while Luton's Ross Barkley headed against the crossbar in stoppage time.
United's fourth successive league win put them on 44 points from 25 games, five points behind Aston Villa who are fourth.
Meanwhile, a late Simon Adingra double secured Brighton’s biggest away win in the Premier League as they won 5-0 at bottom-side Sheffield United, who played most of Sunday’s match with 10 men after Mason Holgate was sent off.
Brighton’s first league win on the road since November lifted them to seventh place with 38 points from 25 matches, while Sheffield United, on 13, suffered a third loss in four games.
Holgate, who joined United on loan from Everton earlier this month, was sent off in the 13th minute after a knee-high challenge on Kaoru Mitoma.
The visitors went ahead seven minutes later when Facundo Buonanotte scored from close range after a Pascal Gross corner was headed down inside the box by Lewis Dunk.
Brighton doubled the lead thanks to Danny Welbeck in the 24th minute after Gross found Mitoma in the box. Keeper Wes Foderingham blocked the Japan forward’s shot but it went to Welbeck and he finished with his left foot.
The hosts thought they had a goal back through Ben Osborn before the break, but a VAR check showed he was offside.
Jack Robinson then put Mitoma’s cross into his own net in the 75th and three minutes later Gross found Adingra in the box from the right and he slammed the ball home with his right foot.
Adingra got his second goal in the 85th when Ansu Fati dodged several challenges to find the Ivory Coast international, who sent the ball over Foderingham.