Manchester United continued to climb the Premier League table with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday, thanks to a late goal from substitute Scott McTominay.
Erik ten Hag’s United remain sixth with 41 points in the Premier League after their third consecutive victory, five points behind fifth-placed Villa, who would have moved up to fourth with a win.
Manchester United are six points from fourth place and a Champions League berth next season.
“Every game you win is massive for taking a step forward and confidence for the boys,” McTominay told Sky Sports, whose seven goals make him the highest-scoring substitute in the league this season.
“It is all positive but it is about repeating it and not getting too far ahead of ourselves when we win a few. We’ve got to repeat it now.”
Rasmus Hojlund scored his fifth Manchester United goal in five consecutive league games — and 11th in all competitions — to put United ahead in the 17th minute, knocking in Harry Maguire’s header from close range through keeper Emi Martinez’s legs.
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana made several spectacular stops to keep Villa out until Douglas Luiz equalised in the 67th minute.
Onana made another spectacular save to deny Clement Lenglet, but Luiz was there to score the rebound, celebrating with a shoulder shimmy in front of Onana’s goal.
But United got the last laugh, with Scotland’s McTominay coming on in the 73rd minute and scoring the winner in the 86th, jumping to head Diogo Dalot’s excellent cross past Martinez.
“I feel like as long as I’m fit and healthy I can come on to the pitch and perform. I don’t take it personally, I just want to come in and try and do the best I can for this. Long may it continue,” McTominay said.
“It was an unbelievable cross to be fair, whipped with a lot of pace. I just needed it to hit my head and get it on target. Full credit to the boys, we created a lot of good chances which may go unnoticed.”
Villa had 10 shots on target to United’s five and had 55.9% of possession.
“Great spirit and fight to come back and Scott is the match-winner again,” Manchester United defender Maguire told Sky. “It’s an amazing feeling but we’d like to make it a little more easy for ourselves.
“Scott has come on in numerous games this year and made the difference for us. We had to dig deep in the second half; I think we did in the end and deserved the win.”
