Man United tighten hold on third in the Premier League with win over Villa

MANCHESTER, England, March 15 : Manchester United's Matheus Cunha buried a second‑half strike off a pinpoint through ball from Bruno Fernandes for a club-record 16th Premier League assist in a season to lift the hosts to a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday. 

Casemiro and substitute Benjamin Sesko scored United's other goals in a result that tightened United's grip on third place in the standings on 54 points after 30 games, while fourth-placed Villa have 51 points.

United, who were playing their first game in 11 days, were keen for a victory after interim boss Michael Carrick's seven-game unbeaten run ended in a 2-1 loss to 10-man Newcastle United on March 4.

With 22 points from a possible 27 under Carrick's leadership, Sunday's win will invariably lead to more questions about his chances of becoming United's permanent manager.

"It was a slightly different game today going into it being so close in the league and making the small jump we could if we won, off the back of a defeat," Carrick said. "It was a small test and we haven’t really had that.

"The boys dealt with it really well, had a really good week and applied themselves well. Everything is so so encouraging. We’ve got a lot to play for."

The game looked headed for a draw before Cunha scored from the left side of the box in the 71st minute, with Fernandes recording his 100th assist for the club across all competitions.

With eight games left, Fernandes is also four shy of matching the Premier League record for assists in one season of 20 held by Thierry Henry (2002-03) and Kevin de Bruyne (2019-20).

"He's had so many big moments, to score a goal, to make a pass," Carrick said of Fernandes. "Training or games, he’s always there. Really good with the corner. The pass