MAN UNITED 1, ASTON VILLA 0
Marcus Rashford is almost single-handedly keeping Manchester United in the hunt for a Champions League place.
The 18-year-old striker was the Reds’ matchwinner as his seventh goal in 11 first-team appearances relegated Aston Villa who had to win at Old Trafford to prolong their agony.
Rashford again delivered when it mattered in a game that will not live long in the memory – it was an awful spectacle.
And most of the entertainment game was the gallows humour from the visiting fans who were determined to enjoy themselves before embarking on life in the Championship.
At the end they unfurled banners – ‘From Rotterdam to Rotherham’ in reference to the Dutch city where Villa won the European Cup in 1982.
There was also ‘4 managers, 3 wins, 2 CEO, 1 AVFC’.
United manager Louis van Gaal admitted his side was not at its best, but the result was more important than the performance.
He explained the five changes made were because of the intensity of the FA Cup tie at West Ham in midweek. And he said he would also tempted to rest Rashford.
“I wanted to change Rashford as he has played a lot of matches, but I also wanted to profit from his momentum, but he was positive and wanted to play,” explained van Gaal.
The Dutchman was glad he went with Rashford as he came up with the vital finish conceding the move was one rare moment of magic in the game.
“It was a marvellous move and switch of play by Wayne Rooney and Antonio Valencia picked the right time to pass to Rashford,” he explained.
“I have to agree with you (a question) we have to give more entertainment to the fans. Te most important thing today was to win the game.
“We made it clear we wanted to win, but we didn’t see the best match of Manchester United’s season.”
The Dutchman was disappointed with his side’s performance saying: “I was surprised we could not lift ourselves and we played with too slow tempo.
“We knew it would be difficult playing against a very defensive team and knew we would have to play very quick, and trained that way.”
Van Gaal made five changes from the side that started the midweek FA Cup win, though Ander Herrera’s absence was enforced through injury.
Anthony Martial was given a rest as were Michael Carrick, Jesse Lingard and Tim Fosu-Mensah in a new-look team.
Rooney returned to the starting line up for the first time in two months since he was ruled out through a knee injury while there were recalls for Valencia, Memphis Depay, Juan Mata and Morgan Schneiderlin.
It was a low-key opening in which the banter from the small contingent of Villa fans, who knew they would be relegated if they lost, provided the bulk of the early entertainment.
On the field it was lacklustre as the only flickers of excitement in the opening 25 minutes were a header from Marcos Rojo that went over the bar while Joleon Lescott almost scored an own goal slicing a clearance into the side netting.
The breakthrough came in the 32nd minutes through wonder-boy Rashford’s seventh goal of the season from only 11 appearances.
Rooney’s raking cross-field pass released Valencia on the right and he cut the ball back to Rashford who fired low past keeper Brad Guzan from eight yards.
And Rashford had a chance to double the lead early in the second half but shot narrowly wide under pressure.
Mata also forced a save from Guzan with a near-post shot as United looked for a second goal.
United made their first change midway through the second half when Rooney made way for Lingard and then with 14 minutes left Martial took over from Rashford.
Villa brought on Rudy Gestede with eight minutes left and he made an immediate impact.
Within two minutes he had a goalbound shot blocked and from Ashley Westwood’s resulting corner Gestede headed against the upright.
The ball was scrambled behind for a corner, again from Westwood, and this time Ciaran Clark’s header forced a diving save from David De Gea.
United made their last change in the final minute as Fosu-Mensah came on for Juan Mata.
They had a chance to score a second goal in stoppage time when Martial set up Depay whose shot was deflected by Guzan on to the upright, a rare moment of excitement in a game that was as dull as dishwater.