Manchester United 1-0 Aston Villa: Rashford confirms Villans' relegation

The Red Devils dominated the game at Old Trafford and their visitors, needing a win to maintain hope of top-flight survival, never looked like getting close to one

Another goal for Marcus Rashford was enough for Manchester United to consign Aston Villa to relegation with a 1-0 Premier League victory at Old Trafford.

The Villans needed a win to maintain any chance of survival in the top flight but lacked urgency and United were allowed to dominate.

Wayne Rooney – one of five changes to the United team – started for the first time in two months following a knee injury and played a pivotal role in the decisive goal, picking out Antonio Valencia who in turn set up the lively Rashford for his fourth Premier League goal.

A late rally nearly produced a twist in the tale but substitute Rudy Gestede was denied first by Daley Blind and then by the woodwork, confirming that the visitors will play Championship football next season.

A sense of inevitability was in the air as the visitors managed to ride out an early storm, with Marcos Rojo wasting a decent opportunity in the 19th minute as the defender met Memphis Depay's ball with a backheel which was deflected wide.

Mata was the culprit shortly afterwards, darting into the right-hand side of the penalty area following a fine interchange with Rashford but slicing a shot all the way out for a throw-in from 12 yards out.

Villa's resistance finally broke in the 32nd minute. Valencia latched on to a brilliant cross-field pass from Rooney and slid an inch-perfect cut-back into the danger zone for the in-form Rashford to direct past Brad Guzan.

The visitors did threaten on the break towards the end of the first period but Jordan Ayew ultimately failed to outsmart Chris Smalling and United escaped unscathed.

A clever Mata pass set up Rashford for a fine chance at doubling his tally early in the second half, only for the youngster to drag his effort wide from close-range under pressure from Ciaran Clark.

The impressive Mata was then denied by Guzan at the near post just after the hour-mark, United catching Villa napping with a quick corner.

Villa's caretaker boss, Eric Black, introduced Gestede with eight minutes to go and he had an instant impact, almost bundling the ball over the line following a quick breakaway and then smashing against the post at a corner.

But it proved to be too little, too late, as United - who hit the frame of the goal through Memphis in stoppage time - held on to consign Villa to the second tier for the first time since 1988.