Paul Pogba 8; Mason Greenwood 8; Jack Grealish 4: Aston Villa v Manchester United players ratings

Solskjaer's side extend their unbeaten streak to 17 games in all competitions with 3-0 win at Villa Park

ASTON VILLA RATINGS: Pepe Reina - 6: Good save down low in the first half from a Greenwood drive and blocked well with his leg to deny Rashford late on. No chance with goals and was let down by poor defending in front of him. AFP

Ezri Konsa 6: Swung over a couple of beautiful crosses from the right in the first half, one of which Grealish should have done better with a volley. Can feel hard done by with the penalty after Fernandes made the most of an innocuous challenge. AFP

Kortney Hause 7: Stuck to his task well up against an in-form United attack. AFP

Tyrone Mings - 5: Got to do better with United's second goal when he should have closed down Greenwood instead of allowing him a free shot at goal. A key moment in the match. AFP

Neil Taylor - 6: Left-back worked his heart out, one fantastic last-ditch tackle to deny Martial in second half. AFP

Douglas Luiz - 6: Usually Villa's most consistent player, confidence seemed to drain out of the midfielder once United went two-up. Unusually slack with his passing. Looked tired. Getty

John McGinn - 6: Scottish midfielder tried to make things happen but his passing radar veered between spot on and well off target. AFP

Anwar El Ghazi - 6: Some moments in the first half but disappeared the longer the game wore on. AFP

Trezeguet - 6: Unlucky in first half when the Egyptian stole the ball off Pogba before clipping a side-foot shot onto the base of the post. EPA

Jack Grealish - 4: The player linked with a big-money move to United flattered to deceive for Villa. Plenty of running but was constantly playing too deep or two wide to hurt United. Had chance to open the scoring in first half but could only volley first-time shot over the bar. A poor lack of urgency to close down Pogba for the Frenchman's goal. Getty

Mbwana Samatta - 4: No suggestion that he is the answer to Villa's lack of goals. The Tanzanian never looked like scoring and failed to hold the ball up which is a big problem when you're a lone striker. No surprise he was hooked before the hour mark. AP

SUBS: Conor Hourihane - (On for El Ghazi 58') 6: Had Villa's only real chance of the second half by his shot was deflected for a corner by WIlliams. Getty

Keinan Davis - (On for Samatta 59') 5: Villa were non-existent as an attacking threat in the second half and Davis was given little or no support. EPA

Marvelous Nakamba (On for McGinn 59') 6: No real impact but United were in total control by the time he came on. Reuters

MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea - 7: No real mistakes and a clean sheet. EPA

Aaron Wan-Bissaka 6: Shaky start at back post. Yellow card for needless challenge on Samatta who was moving away from goal. Gets so far forward, which is exactly what his manager wants. Reuters

Victor Lindelof - 7: Held position well which meant Trezeguet’s early shot had to come from distance. PA

Harry Maguire - 7: Fine under pressure with Villa’s high early press. Miscue to Samatta give Villa a rare opening. AFP

Luke Shaw - 7: Started last 17 games in all competitions. Not always steady but wonderful cross for Fernandes’ header before half time. AP

Nemanja Matic - 7: Aged 31, wears 31, happy with his new 31 year contract. Played deep, booked for clipping Jack Grealish’s 3.1cms shin pads. As busy as traffic on the nearby M6. Getty

Paul Pogba - 8: Beautiful cross-field pass for Rashford showed his incredible range of passing. Plus a lovely curled low shot for United’s third – and his first of the season. More touches than any player on the pitch. AFP

Bruno Fernandes - 8: Won and converted the controversial penalty with a Zidane-style turn for United’s opening goal. Four penalties in his eight MUFC goals. Headed over just before half time and a couple of poor balls. AFP

Marcus Rashford - 7: Brilliant start to second half with a Cruyff turn to set up Wan Bissaka. Whipped a fine corner too, but quiet in first half and still not quite on it. AFP

Mason Greenwood - 8: Bringer of joy amid the pain on planet Earth. The most exciting teenager in football right now.gh. AFP

Anthony Martial - 8: Beautiful early touches and runs to be United’s main early threat. Won ball off Mings to set up United’s second. Smashed underside of cross bar in second half. Only second to Fernandes as United’s best player in this run.. AFP

SUBS: Brandon Williams - (On for Wan-Bissaka 66') 6: Brought plenty of energy. Getty

Scott McTominay - (On for Matic 66') 6: Same as Fred. Comes on to hold the fort in the second wave and holds it well. Reuters

Fred - (On for Fernandes 71') 6: Would rather be starting, but he’s fine in an important supporting role and pulled off a bit of trickery. Getty

Daniel James - (On for Greenwood 79'): NA: Energetic. Reuters

Odion Ighalo (On for Martial 79') NA: Graft. PA

Manchester United kept up their chase for a top-four spot in the Premier League with a comfortable 3-0 win at relegation-threatened Aston Villa.

Bruno Fernandes' contentious penalty – after he appeared to tread on Ezri Konsa – gave the visitors the platform for victory at Villa Park.

Referee Jon Moss gave the spot-kick and his decision was backed up by VAR official Graham Scott, much to Villa's disbelief and fury.

Mason Greenwood's missile and Paul Pogba's first goal for 453 days then saw United extend their unbeaten run to 17 games in all competitions in another statement of intent.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men closed the gap on fourth-placed Leicester to a point. Fifth-placed United go to the King Power Stadium on the final day of the season.

Pogba said: "We are really pleased with ourselves because we know we have to carry on.

"We talk before the game, in training, Manchester is a big club and we want to keep the level up always. The performances of the past few weeks are Manchester United."

Villa raged about the penalty but defeat was another hammer blow to their dwindling hopes of avoiding the drop.

Manager Dean Smith said: "I can understand Jon [Moss, referee] getting it wrong but I don't know what VAR are looking at. It's a disgraceful decision.