Manchester United highlighted their biggest strength again in Aston Villa win

Following the 4-0 defeat to Brentford back in August, the thought of Manchester United heading into the final month of the season with more Premier League clean sheets than anyone else was unthinkable.

Less than a week after losing their first game of the Erik ten Hag era, going down 2-1 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on the opening day of the season, United were beaten up and spat back out again by the Bees, leaving them bottom of the Premier League table. It resulted in Ten Hag cancelling his players' scheduled day off the following day and forcing them to run 13.8km in sweltering conditions.

Since Ten Hag made that decision, United, with the exception of one or two bumps in the road, have not looked back, making undisputed progress, ending their six-year wait for a trophy and being on course for a top-four finish. They have also made it to their first FA Cup final since 2018.

READ MORE: Erik ten Hag hails Casemiro following Aston Villa victory

But before United can get caught up in the hype and excitement that surrounds the first-ever all-Manchester FA Cup final at Wembley on June 3, Ten Hag and his players must complete this season's main objective: secure a top-four finish. Sunday's 1-0 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford ensured the Reds have moved one step closer towards achieving that ambition, although nothing is mathematically secured just yet.

Bruno Fernandes scored the only goal of the game, finding the back of the net a few minutes before half-time to seal a slender, though fully deserved, victory for Ten Hag's troops. It was their fourth win in their last five league matches, highlighting that the Reds are finding form at just the right time.

Furthermore, although the performance required United to