Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro's full-time exchange is the mentality Manchester United need

The Aston Villa fans referred to Bruno Fernandes by a word beginning with 'w'. He ended the day as a winner.

Fernandes has never endeared himself to the Villans, still stewing over a dubious penalty he gained against them. They revelled in Fernandes's tantrum after he appeared to be felled by Alexandre Moreno. Moreno would soon be left face down on the turf.

Moreno's attempt to block Fernandes's rebound bounced the ball over Emiliano Martinez. Happily for Fernandes, he scored with the away-dayers a couple of dozen of strides away to his right. He stared them down from the corner flag. The fleeting review by the Video Assistant Referee did not reprieve Villa.

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Fernandes, captaining United again with Harry Maguire back in the squad, was emboldened by the responsibility, barking instructions as he waited to hand the ball for Diogo Dalot to take a throw-in. Erik ten Hag, an unashamed control freak, has a kindred spirit in Fernandes, destined to be appointed his captain officially.

As full-time loomed, Fernandes demanded more backing from the usually mild-mannered denizens in the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand. They responded.

Once the referee blew for full-time, Casemiro confronted Fernandes over a perceived error, as he did after the League Cup final. Fernandes disputed Casemiro's grievance and they ended the debrief with a hug.

Fernandes returned to the right flank, having started there to great influence in the League Cup win in November when he scored one goal and created another. Whenever Fernandes is relocated, he has a profound impact on United's performance.

Constantine Hatzidakis, the linesman whom Andy Robertson felt the sharp end of, might have been sharpening his elbows again