Report by Dr talal osman Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to score another late goal as Manchester United earned a 3-1 win over fellow top-four hopefuls Aston Villa. With only goal difference separating the teams in the Premier League prior to kick-off at Old Trafford, the Red Devils strengthened their grip on third by getting back to winning ways. Casemiro deftly headed the hosts in front early in the second half, but Ross Barkley – on his 200th Premier League start – pulled Villa level 11 minutes later. However, Man Utd ended strongly, with Matheus Cunha finishing off a quick counter-attack before his direct play caused chaos from which Sesko profited for their third. Michael Carrick’s side move onto 54 points, three clear of Villa, who could drop out of the top four if Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur later on Sunday. How the match unfolded After a slow start, the contest almost came to life in the 22nd minute as Amad thumped a header on goal, but Emiliano Martinez brilliantly sprung to keep it out. Diogo Dalot then found himself with an even clearer opening when Fernandes slid him in, but he rushed his shot after cutting inside, blazing over the crossbar. Man Utd found their breakthrough in the 53rd minute, as Casemiro drifted to the near post to glance Fernandes’ corner over Martinez and in off the far post. But Villa found their fight soon after, with Amadou Onana’s poked effort pushed behind. Barkley bent a lovely finish past Senne Lammens from the resulting corner, with an offside Onana swerving out of the way in time. However, Cunha finished off a brilliant counter-attack, latching onto Fernandes’ wonderful throughball to guide a pinpoint finish past Martinez. And Sesko rounded off the scoring with yet another goal off the bench in the 81st minute, firing past Martinez on the half-turn to secure all three points with the help of a deflection off Tyrone Mings.
