LATE STRIKE FROM McTOMINAY STEALS THE POINTS FOR RED DEVILS
SUPER sub Scott McTominay’s thundering header secured Manchester United a late, hard-fought 2-1 victory away to fellow Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa.
This felt like a match that the sixth-placed Red Devils could ill afford to lose given Unai Emery’s men were a place higher in the standings and able to extend an eight-point cushion to an eye-watering 11.
In-form Rasmus Hojlund broke Villa hearts on Boxing Day and got United off to a dream start when scoring in a fifth straight Premier League match, but the hosts responded brilliantly and deserved Douglas Luiz’s second-half leveller.
The match was on a knife-edge from that point and McTominay made another key contribution, scoring his fourth goal off the bench four minutes from time to seal the points at Villa Park.
Emery may well be wondering how his side ended Sunday’s match without so much as a point as Erik ten Hag celebrates his first Premier League away win in charge against a side in the top nine.
Furthermore, this was the first time this season that United have managed to win four straight matches in all competitions.
The United boss was delighted with a win which lifted his side to within five points of Villa and six behind fourth-placed Tottenham.
“It’s a massive win for us,” Ten Hag said. “We get closer, that was the aim for today and also the way we did it I liked it, especially the first 20 minute when we were dictating the game.
“It was very high intensity, you could see how many players were fatigued by the end, but we found the mentality and character to win the game and the subs also had an impact.
“We are in a good mood and we have to keep this process going.”
Villa have now won just once in six games in all competitions, but John McGinn insisted there was no need to panic.
“It’s a sucker punch for us but I think we need to remember how far we’ve come as a team and a club,” McGinn told Sky Sports.
“We don’t want to accept that defeat, there’s a lot of people hurting in there, but it’s my job to keep us together.
“We’re still in a great position to achieve something this season.”