ten Hag: 'He is a super sub but he can also start'

PREMIER LEAGUE

ASTON VILLA 1 

MANCHESTER UNITED 2

A SEASON that for so long spelled disaster for Manchester United could yet end in the most unlikely of successes, thanks to goalscorers Rasmus Hojliund and Scott McTominay, two players whose seasons sum up the vast inconsistencies shown by Erik ten Hag’s team.

The winner came from McTominay four minutes from time, his seventh of a season in which he was not even expected to be at the club, with ten Hag prepared to let him leave Old Trafford last summer.

Those seven goals leave the midfielder atop the United league goalscoring charts, with all having come in wins, although Hojlund is fast approaching him after his opening goal at Villa Park made it five consecutive league outings with a goal.

The net result was a win that left Villa out of the top-four places and dragged United to within five points of Unai Emery’s side. Tottenham stand one point ahead of Villa, currently in fourth, but with three straight league wins behind them, a United place in the top four, and in next season’s Champions League, somehow seems possible.

"It is a massive win for us,” said ten Hag. “We've got closer and that was the aim for today. That was absolutely our target and we've done it.

"I never think about negative situations. I'm thinking positive, we have to catch up but we are not there yet.

“We are in a good mood and we have to keep this process going but there is so much space for improvement. There are many games left to play and we'll see what happens."

The win was sealed four minutes from time when Kobbie Mainoo fed Diogo Dalot in space and the full-back’s lethal cross had enough hang time for McTominay to ghost in front of Matty Cash and head home.

"He is a super sub but he can