Manchester United 2, Aston Villa 0
Late goals by Amad Diallo and Christian Eriksen ensured that United avoid finishing 17th (they ended up in 15th) and stop Aston Villa’s bid for Champions League football next term after the Villans had been reduced to 10 man with the sending off of Emi Martinez just before half time.
The sending off of Martinez wasn’t in dispute but referee Morgan Rogers had the ball in the back of the United half only to find that referee Thomas Bramall had already blown the whistle for an earlier infringement meaning that VAR could not intervene.
The goal would have put Villa 1-0 up but instead United scored three minutes later through Amad Diallo’s back post header following a a Bruno Fernandes cross.
And the Reds finished the Villans off 3 minutes from time when Diallo went over easily from a challenge by Ian Maatsen and Christian Erikson was handed the ball by Fernandes
It emerged after the game that Eriksen was leaving the club along with Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof as United finally finished a forgettable season with a rare win.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 2, Aston Villa 0
Altay Bayindir: 6. Had the ball robbed off him by Morgan Rogers before he had full control of it but referee spotted an infringement and blew up early, disqualifying VAR from having a look. He saved from Matty Cash late in the game.
Victor Lindelof: 7. Got through the game unscathed.
Harry Maguire: 7. Commanded the area well and pushed into midfield too. Loose header got United in trouble
Ayden Heaven: 7. Steady game but was taken off midway through the second half.
Noussair Mazraoui: 6. Decent going forward, set up a chance with a cutback but went off after just 20 minutes after suffering a hamstring injury chasing after Ian Maatsen.
Bruno Fernandes: 8. Just got better throughout the match, creating chances as the spaces opened up for him. Set up the opening goal and handed the match ball to the departing Christian Eriksen as a parting gift to the Dane when a late penalty to secure to the win was won by Amad Diallo.
Casemiro: 7. Improved after Villa went down to 10 men. Tried a long range daisy cutter and then hit the post with a curling shot. Rifled a shot over the bar
Patrick Dorgu: 6. Not much impact down the left until the second half when he set up Rasmus Hojlund for a good chance but he crossed.
Amad Diallo: 7. Layoff set up a shot for Bruno Fernandes, sent a chance wide when set up by Mason Mount’s cross. Went wider after second half reshuffle but kept his defensive discipline. Sneaked in at the back post to break the deadlock late in the game and won a penalty to make sure of the win.
Mason Mount: 7. Looked fitter – early foul as he tracked back, three chances to score early on and set up a chance for Amad too. Set piece routine finished off by an offside Rasmus Hojlund.
Rasmus Hojlund: 6. Head in hands as a square ball to him was wayward after he worked himself into a great position. Clean through on goal after getting onto a poor backpass in first half injury time only to be cleaned out himself by Emi Martinez. Thought he scored a header but was ruled offside and his poor control later cost him the chance to turn and shoot, aimless cross into the area with nobody to finish it summed up his day. Could only shoot straight at Robin Olsen later after finally getting on goal.
Diogo Dalot (on for Noussair Mazraoui, 20): 6. Hit the post as United overloaded Aston Villa in attack. A square ball to Rasmus Hojlund was played behind the striker who would have been clean through on goal.
Kobbie Mainoo (on for Diogo Dalot, 46): 6. There to add more attacking threat to United.
Christian Eriksen (on for Mason Mount, 66): 7. Almost a perfect parting gift for United when he hit the crossbar with a dipping free kick late in the game. Sent another shot wide before he gift wrapped a penalty for the fans.
Johnny Evans (on for Ayden Heaven, 66): 6. Steadied the ship at the back with one eye catching tackle.
Chido Obi (on for Rasmus Hojlund, 81): No time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester United 2, Aston Villa 0
Man Utd 1, Aston Villa 0: 76. Bruno Fernandes swept the ball into the area where Amad Diallo headed it home at the back post from 6 yards out.
Man Utd 2, Aston Villa 0: 87. Christian Eriksen places a penalty down the middle of the goal – sub keeper Robin Olsen dived out of the way – after Amad Diallo had been brought down by Ian Maatsen.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 2, Aston Villa 0
Man Utd: Bayindir, Lindelof, Maguire, Heaven (Evans 66), Mazraoui (Dalot 20, Mainoo 46), Fernandes (C), Casemiro, Dorgu, Amad, Mount (Eriksen 66), Hojlund (Obi 81)
Man Utd Subs not used: Heaton, Ugarte, Collyer, Fredricson
Bookings: Amad 45+1, Casemiro 90+4
Goals: Amad 76; Eriksen pen 87
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa Torres, Maatsen, Kamara (Barkley 84), Onana (Ramsey 63), Rogers (Malen 84), Asencio (Olsen 45+4), McGinn (C) (Tielemens 62), Watkins
Aston Villa Subs not used: Mings, Digne, Garcia, Bailey
Bookings: Torres 73, Rogers 80
Red Card: Martinez 45+1 (last man foul on Rasmus Hojlund)
Referee: Thomas Bramall
Attendance: 73,839