MANCHESTER UNITED kept whipping crosses in without a striker on the pitch.
Yet they had the most potent set piece scorer on the pitch in Casemiro.
Benjamin Sesko sealed all three points for Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
Matheus Cunha had already restored the Red Devils’ leadCredit: Getty
For the fifth time this season, a Bruno Fernandes dead-ball kick was converted by Casemiro.
The Brazilian’s six goals from set pieces is the most in the Premier League and he has equalled his joint-best tally of seven goals for United.
For Michael Carrick, it spared him the embarrassment of justifying Benjamin Sesko’s return to the bench on a day United provided near-perfect service for a centre forward.
Yet the difference-maker in this United side remains Fernandes, who overtook David Beckham’s 15-assist Premier League record for the club.
Fernandes’ first-time pass for Matheus Cunha to restore the lead in the 71st minute arguably topped the finish.
It also marked Fernandes’ 100th assist in his 319th appearance for the club.
This was more evidence that Fernandes, United’s best player since he stepped foot into the club, is perhaps the frontrunner for a first PFA Player of the Year accolade.
Fernandes, who has scored against Villa more than any other side, had to contend with chants of, “Bruno Fernandes, he looks like a rat” from the Midlanders. His response was worthy of the man of the match.
You would have struggled to believe this was a contest between the Premier League’s third and fourth-best sides.
Champions elect Arsenal have not won many admirers and Manchester City are a fading force but their place behind the Gunners is not in genuine jeopardy.
Casemiro opened the scoringCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Ross Barkley bagged Aston Villa’s levellerCredit: Getty
Sesko’s return to the bench after two starts was eye-catching. His goals have secured ten points for Carrick and Luke Shaw’s third-minute cross was ripe for United’s substitute striker.
Cunha, the No10 playing on the left wing again, was told in the sixth minute to stay wide by Carrick, via Fernandes.
Cunha bore all the hallmarks of a pure winger when he whipped in a wonderful 17th-minute cross that Amad failed to meet.
The winger desperately appealed for a penalty but Tyrone Mings marshalled him cannily.
Diogo Dalot soon got in on the act with a pearler of a centre from the right. Again, the connection came from a Villa defender.
From the corner, Amad did get his head on the ball from Maguire’s knock-back and Emiliano Martinez dove to his right to parry the ball to safety.
With no ball to kick, Sesko was possibly kicking his heels, having headed in United’s winner in their previous home match against Crystal Palace.
Villa played three days earlier in Lille and were sprightly enough with their three changes. Their moment in a goalless first half arrived in the 43rd minute with Morgan Rogers pitted against Leny Yoro.
Casemiro rose highest to meet Bruno Fernandes’ cornerCredit: AFP
Cunha roared with delight after his goalCredit: PA
Having invited Rogers to shoot twice and score twice in the reverse fixture, Yoro did not make the mistake a third time and impressively slid in to rob him of the ball inside the area.
United started the second half with another inviting cross from Mainoo that was again not met by a teammate.
Bryan Mbeumo, struggling to justify his place, finally contributed with a stinging shot that Martinez shovelled out for a corner.
It was from that kick that Casemiro flicked on Fernandes’ outswinger from the near post, as the ball kissed the far post on the way in on 53 minutes.
The outgoing Casemiro clutched the United crest in celebration. The Stretford End soon began a rendition of “One more year, one more year, Casemiro”.
That is not music to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ears. He named Casemiro, on £350,000 a week, as one of the players his Ineos regime had “inherited”.
Yet the 34-year-old’s four years at United seem set to be bookended by fine seasons in which he has helped the club return to the Champions League.
United will have to invest heavily to replace the five-time Champions League winner, who has impressively salvaged his Old Trafford career over the past year.
Sesko came off the bench to continue his rich vein of formCredit: Getty
Villa’s Champions League qualification hopes suffered a setbackCredit: Reuters
The goal woke up Villa and United started dozing. Unai Emery sent on Leon Bailey and Tammy Abraham shortly before Amadou Onana’s close-range potshot was palmed over by Senne Lammens.
Ross Barkley ensured Lammens had no chance when he lashed the ball into the left-hand corner on 64 minutes after Shaw’s hit thin air with an attempted clearance.
VAR checked whether Onana was in Lammens’ line of vision or whether he had touched it. Replays cleared him on both counts but the wait for confirmation was again inordinate.
As he has done so often, Fernandes grabbed the game by the lapels and sprung Cunha through seven minutes later.
Cunha scored against Martinez at Villa Park and beat him again from a similar angle.
The day was capped by a fourth goal off the bench from the eager Sesko, via a deflection.
The afternoon ended with the United fans pleading for Casemiro to stay one more year.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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