THE NOTEBOOK: Super substitute Scott McTominay’s heroics continue, red-hot Rasmus Hojlund goalscoring streak goes on… and Aston Villa fans target Bruno Fernandes with chants
Scott McTominay scored a later header as Manchester United continued their recent resurgence with a 2-1 win over Aston Villa.
Erik ten Hag‘s side took the lead in the 17th minute through the inform Rasmus Hojlund, who swept the ball home from close-range.
Douglas Luiz turned home Aston Villa’s equaliser after 67 minutes before McTominay’s powerful header four minutes from time secured the win for United.
The results sees United go five points behind Unai Emery‘s side in the race for the Champions League spots.
Mail Sport’s Chris Wheeler picks out some of the things you may have missed.
Scott McTominay (R) scored a later header as Manchester United continued their resurgence
Erik ten Hag’s side are now five points behind Villa in the race for Champions League football
The McTominay impact
Scott McTominay is emerging as an unlikely supersub for Manchester United this season. The Scotland midfielder’s late winner here at Villa Park was the third time he has climbed off the bench to score a crucial goal for Erik ten Hag.
McTominay snatched an injury-time double to beat Brentford at Old Trafford in October, and he also came on to score at Wolves earlier this month as United emerged victorious in a 4-3 ding-dong.
He is now the joint-highest scoring sub in the Premier League this season with Joao Pedro of Brighton, while his six league goals are more than in his previous three seasons put together.
McTominay might not be an automatic starter but his decision to turn down a move to West Ham last summer and stay at his boyhood club has certainly paid off for Ten Hag.
McTominay is now the joint-highest scoring sub in the Premier league this season
In-form Hojlund
Rasmus Hojlund’s hot streak continues. The Dane’s opening goal at Villa Park was his sixth in seven games in all competitions for United since breaking his Premier League duck in the corresponding fixture on Boxing Day.
Hojlund hasn’t been able to stop scoring since then with goals against Tottenham, Newport, Wolves, West Ham and now another one against Villa, plus two assists.
United’s £72million summer signing from Atalanta is the second youngest player to score in five successive Premier League games behind Nicolas Anelka. The Frenchman was 19 years 239 days when he did it for Arsenal in 1998. Hojlund turned 21 earlier this month.
Rasmus Hojlund s the second youngest player to score in five-straight Premier League games
Villa fans target Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes was the target for abuse from the Holte End each time he went over to take a corner in the first half.
‘He’s going to cry in a minute,’ was one of the kinder chants directed his way. The United captain got his own back when his set-piece led to the opening goal as Harry Maguire headed down Fernandes’ corner for Hojlund to score.
Bruno Fernandes was the target for abuse from the Holte End each time he took a corner
Quick catch-up
Old Leicester City team-mates Jonny Evans and Youri Tielemans took an opportunity to catch up shortly before half-time when the United and Villa substitutes warmed up on the touchline.
Evans and Tielemans spent three-and-a-half years together at Leicester, winning the FA Cup in 2021 when Tielemans scored the only goal in the final against Chelsea, and they had a good old chinwag as the match was going on.
Former Leicester team-mates Jonny Evans and Youri Tielemans (L) took an opportunity to catch up
An unlikely pairing
The knee injury that has ruled Lisandro Martinez out for eight weeks meant that Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire started a Premier League match for the first time under Erik ten Hag.
United last started with this central defensive partnership in the league against Brighton in May 2022. Martinez’s absence is certainly a blow for Ten Hag and the United boss had another setback at Villa Park when Luke Shaw was forced off at half-time.
Southgate watches on
Gareth Southgate was back at his old club to watch this one, and no doubt the England manager kept a keen eye on Kobbie Mainoo after heaping praise on United’s rising star in midweek.
‘He’s had a fabulous start to his career and it will be good to monitor him as we go forward,’ said Southgate, and he witnessed another assured, mature performance from the teenage midfielder.
England boss Gareth Southgate was back at his old club to watch the match at Villa Park
Anniversary ruined!
Unai Emery’s 100th Premier League game in charge wasn’t lacking in entertainment, and Villa were worthy of at least a point.
But after 20 wins and one defeat at Villa Park in 22 games in all competitions, they have now lost the last three at home.
