MASON GREENWOOD proved he is already a finishing maser rather than an apprentice as he matched fellow scorer Bruno Fernandes all the way in Manchester United’s 3-0 win.
Paul Pogba walloped the third as United reached 100 goals for the season with a fourth straight win, going ten games unbeaten.
Man Utds strike prodigy Mason Greenwood needs barely any backlift to smak their second goal at Villa Park
Bruno Fernandes wins a controversial penalty opener for Man Utd despite Ezri Konsa barely making contact
Here’s how they rated on a tight night for 27 minutes – then all downhill for lowly Villa.
Here’s how we rated Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Champions League hopefuls at Villa Park.
Aston Villa v Manchester United – Premier League
Contents
David de Gea -6
Raely stretched against a Villa side high on work-rate but low on guile. Did the sensible thing by hoisting the ball into touch when Shaw put him under pressure with a firm backpass. Not the type a game to assess if he should stay United No1 next season, especially as he never came under aerial danger.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 6
A subdued first-half down the right, spent far deeper than opposite full-back Shaw. But was livelier in the second, notably on 49 minutes when darting in at the backpost to head a gaping chance when his first United goal beckoned.
Victor Lindelof – 6
Much like with De Gea, centre-back Lindelof was untested when question marks remain over his long-term future in Ole Gunnar Solskjaers improving side. Scarceky needed to get out of second gear, particularly in the second period when Villa’s fight faded.
Harry Maguire – 6
Sauntered through most of this game, increasingly untroubled once United went ahead on 27 minutes. United cut the service to the Villa front line further forward and out wide, leaving Maguire and Lindelof on watching brief for the second period.
Luke Shaw – 7
United’s liveliest and most impressive defender before the interval, more a wing-back at times as he overlapped beyond United’s midfield. Slightly overhit a naive backpass – but on a more testing night that would not merit even a passing mention.
Paul Pogba – 7
Hit the post early on and thumped United’s match-killing third goal from 25 yards on 58 minutes. But he was given far too much space to measure that bottom-corner right-footer. He was then caught well offside in front of Villa keeper Pepe Reina when Marcus Rashford had a long-ranger disallowed. Agan, though, Poga flickered rather than flared. And it seemed more like was piggy-backing on United’s rise to total control in the second half, rather than helping to create it.
Nemanja Matic – 7
The steady cog in a United midfield headlined by the more mercurial Fernandes and Pogba. Rarely involved in the key attacking moments but busy and effective before United had the luxury of turning on the style.
Bruno Fernandes – 8
Has that extra class, plus acceleration in thought and footwork, and the magnetic presence that draws big moments to him. None more so than when his sudden drag-back on the edge of the area brought a clumsy challenge from Villa defender Ezri Konsa.
The penalty verdict was harsh, but his precise spot-kick opener showed no mercy – transforming a tricky contest into a stroll for United. That’s seven goals in ten Prem matches since his January arrival.
Mason Greenwood – 8
Arguably the most exciting English finisher of the past two decades. Slotted in smoothly out wide but exploded into life for a left-footre well parried shortly before needing no invitation and almost no backlift to smash a 25-yard righter home for thesecond United goal in first-half stoppage time. Typifies the surge in electricity United can now produce in the final third of the pitch.
Marcus Rashford – 7
Drilled a disallowed goal, and linked pacily and cleverly with Greenwood and Martial once United got in front. Flitted all across the front line – perfect for Solskjaer’s new, mobile, counter-attacking young side.
Anthony Martial – 7
Dangerous all night, involved in nearly all United’s best attacks. A slick mix of speed and control, he summed up an evening where he was so unfortunate not to score by flashing a lelft-footer off the bar.
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By: Ian Tuckey
Title: Fernandes is the finished product and Greenwood’s catching up fast as Man Utd’s fearsome frontline KO Villa
Sourced From: www.thesun.co.uk/sport/12081091/man-utd-ratings-aston-villa-premier-league/
Published Date: Thu, 09 Jul 2020 21:21:09 +0000
