Manchester United comfortably defeated a lacklustre Aston Villa 0-3 at Villa Park. Bruno Fernandes, Mason Greenwood, and Paul Pogba scored as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side charge towards the top-four. United set a new Premier League record in the process of their comfortable win. They became the first side to win four consecutive away games by a three-goal margin.
Manchester United Outclass Struggling Aston Villa
Controversial Penalty for United
The game started in a relatively balanced fashion. Possession was split evenly throughout the opening 20 minutes and Aston Villa managed to cause problems. Jack Grealish had an opportunity after Aaron Wan-Bissaka let a cross over his head, but he volleyed wide. Wan-Bissaka struggled to cope with Villa’s deep crosses, missing multiple clearances. Trezeguet hit the post just after the water break and it appeared that Aston Villa were taking a foothold in the game.
However, as things pan out when a team is lingering at the bottom, luck went against Villa. On 25 minutes, Manchester United were awarded a controversial penalty.
Bruno Fernandes received the ball just inside the box and noticed an incoming challenge from Ezri Konsa. Fernandes, aware of the Villa defender, stopped the ball and attempted a roulette. In the process of challenging Fernandes, Konsa brought down the United man. Referee John Moss pointed to the spot.
The controversy arose as it appeared that Bruno Fernandes stamped on Ezri Konsa. Replays showed that Fernandes did catch the young defender, prompting an intrigued response from the Aston Villa Twitter account. Despite the protests, VAR judged that Konsa did not win the ball and brought down Fernandes and the United talisman cooly dispatched the penalty.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 9, 2020
Mason Greenwood’s Purple Patch Continues
Mason Greenwood earned the Man of the Match award for his performance at Villa Park. The 18-year-old added another goal to his tally, making it 16 goals in all competitions in his debut campaign.
Despite his young age, Greenwood is smart beyond his years and is surprisingly comfortable with the physical demands of the game. Operating on the right-hand side, Greenwood caused the 30-year-old Welsh International Neil Taylor issues all game. He held the ball up and shrugged much older men off the ball, before affecting the game with his deadly finishing capabilities.
Greenwood displayed a glimpse of his exciting talent before his goal. He began in a deep central position, bringing Villa defenders out of their comfort zone. The youngster took the ball on the half-turn before driving directly at the Villa backline. This time his powerful effort was tipped behind by the experienced Pepe Reina.
On the stroke of half-time, Greenwood managed to grab his goal. Again, though he is just 18-years-old, his footballing brain earned him the space to score. Manchester United launched a counter-attack leading to Greenwood playing a one-two with Martial. This exchange allowed Greenwood to exploit the space left by the vacant Tyrone Mings. The lethal finisher then unleashed a venomous hit from 20 yards past the helpless Reina.
It is difficult not to give Mason Greenwood more praise at the moment because he is such an exciting player. Players with a natural eye for goal do not come around often, especially at the level he is capable of. His awareness and intelligence only enhance his abilities and give him extra comfort in the men’s game.
Another Comfortable Victory
Manchester United never left second gear all evening. Aston Villa were hapless after the penalty was scored and the game was played at a walking pace at times. United’s midfield dominated the game, with Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba battling hard against the hard-working Douglas Luiz. The second half, in particular, felt like a training match with its slow pace.
Paul Pogba added a third goal with his first goal of the season. After a corner was cleared, the Frenchman finished calmly and accurately into the bottom right corner. With the score at 3-0 with around 30 minutes left, the game slowly waned out.
Manchester United will be pleased with the result and the fact they were so comfortable. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer now has a team he can trust and consistency in team selection is pleasing. The comfort in the victory is pleasing from a fitness point of view, with United in action again on Monday evening. Goals are flying in, and the midfield looks vastly improved now that Pogba and Fernandes are playing together regularly.
United appear to have found their formula for success after a rocky first half of the season. They will now hope to continue this stellar form as they battle for the top four intensifies and reaches a dramatic conclusion over the next few weeks.
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