Manchester United 1-0 Aston Villa: Bruno Fernandes goal sees Man Utd tighten grip on fourth with home win

Bruno Fernandes was on the scoresheet as Manchester United returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 1-0 win at home to Aston Villa.

The home side, looking to bounce back from blowing a two-goal lead against Tottenham, were impressive in the first half going forward and their makeshift centre-back pairing of Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw were not tested enough.

Marcel Sabitzer, who started ahead of Antony, fizzed a shot narrowly over while Casemiro rattled the crossbar from distance.

And their possession was rewarded when Marcus Rashford's shot was parried by Emi Martinez and Fernandes bundled in the rebound via a deflection.

Both sides created decent chances in the second half but not enough were on target.

Erik ten Hag's side had the better of them with Casemiro shooting wide, Fernandes' strike was saved by Martinez and Rashford had strong appeals for a penalty when he appeared to be wrestled to the ground by Calum Chambers.

Unai Emery made four substitutions but it yielded little, with the best chance falling to Douglas Luiz whose header was cleared off the line, as United held on to cement fourth position while Villa remain sixth after suffering their first defeat in 10 games.

The referee was lenient all game but the England striker will feel aggrieved he was not awarded a penalty when he was wrestled to the ground by Chambers in the second half. There was no VAR check on the incident either.

The jury has been out on the defender throughout his six years at the club. After the disastrous season last year, the Sweden international and Harry Maguire have been consigned to the bench in favour of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane. But with the first-choice pair injured, Lindelof got his chance and was brilliant in the air and with his positional play. His header to clear Luiz's effort off the line and his tackle on Ramsey in the first half were among his highlights.

MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea 6, Dalot 7, Lindelof 9, Shaw 8, Malacia 7, Casemiro 8, Eriksen 6, Sabitzer 6, Fernandes 8, Rashford 7, Sancho 6. Subs: Maguire n/a, Martial n/a, Fred 5, Antony 5.

ASTON VILLA: Martinez 7, A.Young 7, Konsa 6, Mings 6, Moreno 6, Dendoncker 6, Luiz 7, McGinn 7, Ramsey 7, Buendia 6, Watkins 6. Subs: Chambers 5, Traore 5, Digne n/a, Durán n/a.

27' - WOODWORK! Sancho cuts it back to Casemiro whose effort from the edge of the box hits the bar and Fernandes is then flagged offside.

39' - GOAL FOR UNITED! Rashford's low shot is parried by Martinez and Fernandes puts in the rebound via a deflection.

73' - STRONG PENALTY APPEAL: Clumsy defending from Chambers who wrestles Rashford to the floor. Casemiro then shoots narrowly wide with a low effort.

80' - OFF THE LINE! Luiz's header is cleared off the line by Lindelof and De Gea does well to get in front of Traore.

Bruno Fernandes has now scored six goals in six Premier League appearances against Aston Villa.