MASON’S ON A ROLL FOR REDS
Utd wonderkid bags another in win
MASON GREENWOOD bagged a fourth goal in three games as Manchester United closed in on a Champions League spot.
The Old Trafford wonderkid netted the second after Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring from the spot with Paul Pogba putting the icing on the cake.
The result moved United to within just one point of fourth-placed Leicester and momentum appears to be on their side after a third-straight victory for the Red Devils.
Pogba hailed Greenwood and said: “I enjoy seeing him play, in training and in the game, and I’ll keep pushing him to reach the top.
“He has so much potential, he can do even more than what he’s doing, he’s a talent.”
And Pogba was delighted with another top showing.
He said: “We are really pleased with ourselves because we know we have to carry on.
“We talk before the game, in training, Manchester is a big club and we want to keep the level up. The performances of the past few weeks are Manchester United.
“We have to keep working, there is a lot to do.”
But it was Villa who almost snatched the lead early on when
Mahmoud Trezeguet’s low strike rattled off a post.
Fernandes then opened the scoring in controversial style with a penalty kick after the Portuguese midfielder went down under a challenge from Ezri Konsa in 27 minutes.
Replays appeared to show that Fernandes jumped into the defender but, despite a VAR review, the decision stood and he rolled in the spot-kick.
United doubled their advantage through teenager Greenwood, whose thunderbolt in first-half injury time put the visitors on easy street.
It was the 18-year-old’s 16th goal of the campaign and his recent displays have justified Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s faith in the academy graduate.
Pogba then ended the game as a contest in the 58th minute with, remarkably, his first goal since April 2019.
Anthony Martial almost got in on the act when he cracked an effort off the bar but, all in, it was another impressive display from United who are now unbeaten in 17 games in all competitions.
On the hand, it was more misery for sorry Villa who remain in 19th, four points from safety with four games remaining to save themselves.