Dean Smith called his strikers into a video session this week to show them how to run smarter and finish sharper. But Mason Greenwood gave them a demonstration of his own at Villa Park, scoring a goal of rare class to propel
Manchester United closer to the top four and deepen Aston Villa’s relegation fears.
Paul Pogba, with his first goal of the season, crowned the scoring with another immaculate finish and, if others had been as precise, United would have inflicted a heavier toll on their hosts. Although Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s team swaggered to victory in the end, Villa were entitled to fume about the way the visitors took the lead, as Bruno Fernandes began the beating with a contentious penalty. Villa must turn their minds quickly to Sunday’s clash with Crystal Palace, which could be critical to their survival hopes. United, meanwhile, have moved to within one point of fourth-placed Leicester.