7M - Cunha and Sesko score to fire Manchester United past Aston Villa

Manchester United secured a vital three points in their pursuit of a top four finish with a hard fought 3-1 victory over Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday. In a match that showcased the attacking depth of Michael Carricks side it was the second half goals from Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko that ultimately decided the contest and sent the home crowd into raptures. The first half had been a cagey affair with both teams struggling to find a breakthrough as they headed into the interval locked at 0-0. However the deadlock was broken early in the second period when veteran midfielder Casemiro rose highest to meet a Bruno Fernandes corner and power a header past the Villa goalkeeper. The visitors responded well and briefly threatened to spoil the party when Ross Barkley equalized with a clinical strike after a lapse in the United defense but the home side soon regained their composure to dominate the final thirty minutes of play.

The response from Manchester United was swift and showcased the creative brilliance of captain Bruno Fernandes who provided his second assist of the afternoon by sliding a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian forward made no mistake with his finish into the bottom corner to restore Uniteds lead and mark his continued importance to the squads offensive output. As the clock ticked down Aston Villa pushed forward in search of another equalizer which left spaces at the back for United to exploit on the counter attack. Subsitute Benjamin Sesko put the result beyond doubt in the 81st minute with a composed finish after being played through on goal effectively ending Villas hopes of a comeback. This result moves United three points clear of their rivals in the Premier League standings and provides a significant psychological boost as the season enters its final stages.

Following the victory Michael Carrick praised the resilience of his players and their ability to react positively after conceding the equalizer. The manager highlighted the impact of his substitutions and the clinical nature of his forwards as the key factors in overcoming a well organized Aston Villa side. For Unai Emery the defeat represents a missed opportunity to consolidate their own position in the Champions League places as they struggled to maintain their intensity throughout the full ninety minutes. With only eight games remaining in the campaign Manchester United now hold the momentum in the race for European qualification while Villa must regroup quickly to avoid slipping further down the table. The performance of Fernandes in particular was singled out by pundits as he continues to lead by example and break club records for creative output in a single season.