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Fernandes’ 15th goal of the season resolved a high-quality game on New Year’s Day after Bertrand Traore canceled Anthony Martial’s first game for the hosts.
Liverpool continue to lead United on goal difference, but after a faltering start to the season, Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s side have had an impressive run in the league.
A third straight win at home and seven wins in the last nine has seen United rise through the league to their highest position at the turn of the year since the last season of Alex Ferguson’s reign as coach in 2012-13, when he won the English title. last won by the Red Devils.
Solskjær was delighted with the victory, but has been downplaying his team’s title chances.
“It’s early in the season and we shouldn’t get carried away with three points,” he told Sky Sports.
“We have improved and we are improving in the league and the season is going to be tight, so we just have to keep working and improving as a team.”
With Jack Grealish pulling the strings, Villa, so close to being relegated last season, is a transformed team this season. It took a brilliant block from Eric Bailly to deny substitute Keinan Davis at death to preserve United’s lead.
Villa remains in sixth place, seven points behind the leaders, but with one game less.
Villa manager Dean Smith was unhappy with his team’s performance in the first half, as United accelerated with Martial, Fernandes and Paul Pogba making good efforts before Martial put the locals ahead just before. halftime.
Pogba and Marcus Rashford combined in midfield to send off Aaron Wan-Bissaka, whose cross was finished off by the Frenchman at the near post, his first goal in open play this season.
John McGinn’s strike was the closest Villa came to scoring in the first half, but the visitor was the first to hit in the second when a quick free kick found Grealish for Bertrand Traore to control and shoot home.
The sides were level for just three minutes when Pogba made his way into the area and Douglas Luiz tripped him up with the slightest of touches from behind.
Referee Michael Oliver signaled the point, but a new verification video from the assistant referee was required to confirm the penalty.
Smith said after the game that he believed it was the wrong decision, but Fernandes was right with the penalty that beat Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, his 11th goal in the league this season.
When the game opened, Pogba couldn’t convert from close range, Fernandes had a shot off the crossbar and Rashford fired just over the back corner.
Villa also threatened and Tyrone Mings headed wide off a Grealish free kick, while Anwar El Ghazi was denied by an extended punt from Wan-Bissaka.
Bailly’s heroic deeds saw him surrounded by teammates at the end before the final whistle sounded with United holding on to three precious points.
Boost to West Ham
Previously, West Ham ended Everton’s recent hot streak with a 1-0 win at Goodison Park thanks to a late goal from Tomas Soucek.
He followed a deflected shot from Aaron Cresswell to score his fifth of the season in the 86th minute, guiding his shot past Jordan Pickford.
Scoring opportunities at Goodison were few and far between with only one shot on goal in the first half, while the second half offered little else in terms of entertainment.
The best chance was for West Ham’s Pablo Fornals, but he headed weakly from a good position.
Colombian James Rodriguez came in as a substitute in the second half after an injury break, but was unable to spark a revival at home before the Hammers made the late breakthrough.
West Ham manager David Moyes was claiming his first win against the team he previously coached, while Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton remains fourth, four points off the top.
“Really good pro work,” Moyes said, praising his team for ending a three-game-in-six-game streak with such force.
Covid uncertainty
Meanwhile, the current Covid-19 crisis could affect Sunday’s games with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, revealing that he will not have five players for the key planned clash with Chelsea.
City said on Christmas Day there were four positive cases at the club, including Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus, causing Monday’s game with Everton to be postponed on short notice.
Further tests yielded more positive cases, including three more members of the squad whose identities have not been revealed.
Fulham’s game against Burnley is also in doubt, as the results of his team’s further tests are awaited.
Their London derby on Wednesday against Tottenham Hotspur was called off on short notice, a decision called “unprofessional” by Spurs manager José Mourinho as he prepared his team for a home game against Leeds United on Saturday.
