Aston Villa versus Manchester United LIVE: vital three points at stake in Sunday showdown

Manchester United moved to within six points of the top four of the Premier League tonight with a late goal to secure victory at Villa Park.

Once again Scott McTominay was United’s saviour with a late goal, as he planted a firm header past Emiliano Martinez with four minutes to go.

Aston Villa unsettled the visitors with a high energy performance, with Jacob Ramsey to the fore in the first half. Rasmus Hojlund put United ahead after 17 minutes, but the home side created the better openings throughout.

Midway through the second half Villa deservedly drew level as Douglas Luiz poked in a loose ball after a corner. The game seemed to be petering out into a draw until McTominay intervened to win it late for United.

Erik ten Hag’s team stay in sixth place but are now five points behind Aston Villa and six behind Tottenham in the race for the Champions League places.

There goes the final whistle, and that's a huge win for Manchester United. Their top four hopes have flickered into life this afternoon.

Carlos sends it forwards into the United box, but it's overhit and Onana gathers unchallenged. Was that the last chance for Villa?

He gets into the area on the left from a lofted ball, but it takes so long to come down that his shot is paritally blocked and Martinez gathers.

Cash has a crack from the corner of the area. It's a thump, but Onana gathers.

Evans and Amrabat replace Mainoo and Hojlund.

We'll have a minimum of six additional minutes.

Cash fires one in from the right. Watkins rises and gets a firm header on it from 12 yards out, but it's straight at Onana.

McGinn and Moreno are off, for Digne and Zaniolo.

Nothing wrong with this cross from Dalot! He fizzes one to the edge of the six yard box and McTominay gets ahead of Cash to thump a header into the net to restore United's lead.

A lovely switch from Casemiro finds Dalot, in acres down the right. His cross is poor though, as Moreno clears.

They work it to Garnacho, now stationed on the left wing, once more. Again Garnacho flies infield, diagonally across the D, but can only scuff a tame shot at Martinez. If it comes from anyone for United it'll come from him, because they look bereft of any other threat.

Mainoo loses the ball near the Villa area, and McGinn turns and goes. He finds Diaby in the inside right position. Diaby cuts into the area, opens out to shoot, and puts it way wide of goal.

United look nervous as anything at the back. Dalot shanks a McGinn cross straight to Luiz twelve yards out, who can only shoot meekly at Onana.

He sets off down the right, and his looping cross clears everyone and finds Garnacho at the back of the area. Garnacho shoots, but it's blocked.

For Villa, Tielemans replaces Bailey.

For United, it's McTominay for Rashford.

Villa work a patient passing move across United's box. Diaby finds Ramsey, who dummies, and Luiz picks it up and shoots. Varane gets across to block it.

What a run from Garnacho. He snakes across from the left wing, right across the face of the D, and curls a low shot just wide of the far post.

Diaby has been booked, for leaving one on Fernandes.

The Holte End is at peak volume as Watkins charges down an Onana clearance.

It's been coming! Onana makes one point plank save after a scramble from a Villa corner, but it soon comes back. Bailey's cross deflects to the edge of the six yard box and Luiz throws a leg out to divert it high into the net.