Scott McTominay achieves vital late win for Manchester United at AstonVilla | first division

On nights like this, Erik ten Hag must feel like he has the golden touch. Not without a now usual annoyance, but manchester united They claimed a fourth successive win for the first time this season, and a powerful late header from substitute Scott McTominay helped them reduce the gap on the top four to six points.

Probably the biggest question on fans' lips and what's on Ten Hag's mind is: why did it take him so long to get into this groove?

McTominay assisted Rasmus Højlund, who opened the scoring, with a piggyback ride as the United players celebrated in front of the visiting fans. Højlund showed off his predatory instinct and scored his sixth goal in his last seven games. But Douglas Luiz disallowed that goal midway through the second half, by which time Aston Villa certainly had United on the ropes.

It wasn't the late show United required at Wolves Ten days earlier, McTominay scored in the 86th minute, but it certainly tasted just as sweet for Ten Hag.

Was this the night United attacked their rivals? It certainly felt like a significant result: United finally won on the road against another team competing for a place in the Champions League. It seemed that they also perceived the importance of victory. Villa, which fell to fifth place after Tottenham's last victory against Brighton, appears trapped in the mud, the wheels of Unai Emery's machine spin but without much result. From lose to United on Boxing DayThey have taken seven points from the last 18 available, and their two victories came against teams entrenched in the relegation zone such as Burnley and, more recently, Sheffield United.

In the absence of Lisandro Martínez, it was Harry Maguire's turn to play as a left centre-back alongside Raphaël Varane, who was promoted to the starting eleven. Maguire and Varane are predominantly right-footed, but Ten Hag selected the former to play alongside Luke Shaw given the relationship they have built between England and United. Shaw was replaced by Victor Lindelöf at half-time, a precaution given his injury history, and Villa took advantage of Lindelöf's vulnerability at left-back.

Gareth Southgate was among those in the stands who will surely have been encouraged by Maguire's assured performance. He made a smart block to deny Jacob Ramsey a clean shot on goal as Villa increased the pressure in search of an equalizer midway through the first half, making a long barrier with his right foot, and had a key hand in Højlund's goal in the 17th minute. Maguire eluded his marker, Boubacar Kamara, and beat Diego Carlos to head in a Bruno Fernandes corner and an unmarked Højlund struck from a couple of yards.

Maguire and United had to do their fair share of defending. A couple of minutes into the second half, André Onana repelled Ollie Watkins' first shot after a Matty Cash cross, the Villa striker got ahead of Varane, and in the first half Onana had to make a two-handed save to clear John McGinn after The Villa captain hit a violent shot at goal with his laces. Leon Bailey shot wide after cutting in from the right and Ramsey missed after being slipped by Àlex Moreno on the left. Emery grimaced as the chances piled up.

United had the advantage but not as much control. Fernandes earned a high-five from Maguire after making a block on the edge of United's 18-yard box. Villa found it too easy to bypass United's midfield and swarmed the pitch. It was no surprise when Onana's net finally waved, Douglas Luiz sweeping in a Bailey cross. Varane cleared a corner, but Villa recycled the ball and Douglas Luiz side-footed the ball before celebrating wildly in front of the United defender.

“We can't relax, we have to improve our game,” said Ten Hag. “When we were winning the game, we gave them the initiative. “We kept them alive and were punished for it.”

It was McTominay, again, who provided the relief. The Scottish midfielder has scored crucial goals this season against Brentford, Chelsea and now Villa. Mainoo cleared Ramsey and passed the ball to Diogo Dalot, who shone at right back. Dalot sent in a delightful first-time cross and McTominay headed straight into the six-yard box, where he beat Cash and headed past Emiliano Martinez. Cash pulled his socks over his knees as McTominay walked towards the ecstatic away support, who made sure to let his feelings be known.

Emery's first question in the post-match press conference gave the Villa boss the opportunity to lay out the positives. He highlighted the number of chances created by his team (they had twice as many shots on goal as United) and called this his team's most complete performance of the season, if not for their win here against Manchester City.

Then, almost 90 seconds later, came the telling line. “But the result was not good and we have to accept it,” Emery said.