da 888casino: The midfielder again proved his knack for stepping up to the plate in United's hour of need, snatching a barely-deserved three points at Villa Park
da fezbet: No one would have had Scott McTominay down as Manchester United's top scorer at the start of the season, but the homegrown midfielder has built a career on surprising people, and yet again he was the unlikely hero in a smash-and-grab win at Aston Villa.
Rasmus Hojlund scored for the fifth consecutive league game to give United an ideal start at one of their favourite away grounds, but Villa roared back into the game, dominating the latter part of the first half and most of the second.
After numerous lucky escapes and a handful of impressive saves from Andre Onana, United finally caved in as Douglas Luiz levelled, rubbing his equaliser in the face of the goalkeeper and Raphael Varane as he danced in celebration.
Villa looked the most likely team to go on and win it, but United defended resiliently before McTominay headed home a Diogo Dalot cross to send the visiting supporters wild. Somehow United have left the West Midlands with another late win, and are back in the hunt for a top-four position and an unlikely return to the Champions League. And it's all down to McTominay.
GOAL rates United's players from Villa Park…
Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence
Andre Onana (7/10):
Made two great saves from McGinn and blocked a Watkins effort just by standing there. Kicking was suspect but no disasters. Getting better with each week.
Diogo Dalot (7/10):
Outstanding defensively. Made two perfectly-timed slide tackles and did some clever jockeying. Had a good understanding with Garnacho, too, before providing the superb cross for McTominay's winner.
Raphael Varane (7/10):
Made lots of important blocks and minimised the damage of Villa's second-half onslaught.
Harry Maguire (6/10):
Good on the ball and a real handful at set-pieces, his header setting up Hojlund. Less impressive when reading Villa's attacks.
Luke Shaw (6/10):
Good defensively, didn't do much in an attacking sense. Taken off at half-time with a suspected injury.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield
Kobbie Mainoo (5/10):
Hit and miss. Saw lots of his passes cut out and struggled to impose himself physically.
Casemiro (7/10):
Played lots of good through balls and at the heart of United's best moves.
Bruno Fernandes (4/10):
His passing was sloppy and was too hurried in possession. Villa fans were on his back all game and he couldn't silence them.
Getty ImagesAttack
Alejandro Garnacho (8/10):
United's most dangerous player and looked the most likely source of a winner before McTominay's intervention. Had three promising runs. but his finishing let him down.
Rasmus Hojlund (6/10):
Showed quick feet to score for the fifth consecutive league game but then slowed down and had few moments to remember after that.
Marcus Rashford (6/10):
Lots of promising moments, but made the wrong decision each time.
Getty ImagesSubs & Manager
Victor Lindelof (4/10):
Erratic, and that's putting it kindly. Not used to deputising at left-back and it really showed.
Scott McTominay (7/10):
He does it again. Utterly deadly in the box, landing a bullet header with his only chance.
Sofyan Amrabat (N/A):
Brought on in added time.
Jonny Evans (N/A):
Brought on in added time.
Erik ten Hag (7/10):
Will be annoyed with how the team slowed down after taking the lead but ultimately his substitution won the game. Now the race for the top four is on!