​Manchester United guaranteed a Premier League top-four finish and ensured rivals Manchester City must wait to be crowned champions as they came from behind to beat Aston Villa at Villa Park.

​Having sealed their place in the Europa League final despite a 3-2 second-leg defeat by Roma on Thursday, second-half goals from Bruno Fernandes, Mason Greenwood and substitute Edinson Cavani - followed by West Ham's loss to Everton - sealed a Champions League place for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side.

​A win for Villa would have clinched the title for leaders City - beaten 2-1 by Chelsea on Saturday - and Bertrand Traore's emphatic finish into the top corner midway through the first half threatened to do just that.

​Emiliano Martinez was equal to attempts from Greenwood and Marcus Rashford as United struggled to respond initially, while Dean

Henderson kept out Ollie Watkins' strike to deny Villa a second before half-time.

​United levelled shortly after the restart when Fernandes calmly slotted in a penalty after Douglas Luiz needlessly fouled Paul Pogba, and Greenwood completed a four-minute turnaround when his low strike found the bottom corner.

​A VAR check for handball against Greenwood was dismissed after Luiz headed the ball onto the arm of the United forward and the visitors successfully resisted late Villa pressure despite the loss of captain Harry Maguire to injury, before Cavani confirmed victory in the closing stages.

​In a frantic finale, Villa forward Watkins also received a red card for a second booking for simulation when under pressure from goalkeeper Henderson.

​United are 10 points behind champions-elect City but will have the chance to move within four points as they face Leicester and Liverpool before the leaders next play.

​With poacher Cavani benched after scoring twice on Thursday, United initially struggled to test Martinez despite encouraging build-up play.

​But they were rewarded for a much-improved second-half display, with Fernandes' spot-kick setting the tone for a side totally unfazed by falling behind.

​Greenwood made his latest claim to be included in Gareth Southgate's European Championship plans with his fifth goal in five Premier League games, though Maguire's early departure following a collision with Anwar El Ghazi will be a concern for both the England boss and Solskjaer.

​But Cavani's accurate header from Rashford's cross ultimately capped a positive week for United.

​Villa unable to end United hoodoo
​
Victory over an Everton side seeking to keep their European hopes alive last week was further evidence of how far Dean Smith's side have progressed this season, even if results since the turn of the year have dipped.

​Last term, a 3-0 home defeat by Manchester United with four games to go left Villa second-bottom and four points from safety, before they rallied to survive by a single point.

​Battling on without injured captain Jack Grealish for a 12th successive match, a resolute defence denied United clear chances and Martinez looked comfortable when Greenwood and Rashford offered tests.

​Traore's lack of defensive support for right-back Matty Cash appeared an early concern as Luke Shaw found joy out wide, but he demonstrated his quality in the opposite half as he spun past Lindelof before unleashing a powerful drive into the far corner.

​But once Luiz's trip on Pogba allowed United a foothold, Villa faced an uphill task as the visitors made it 22 Premier League visits to Villa Park without defeat.

​Villa remain 11th and have a top-half finish to aim for in their remaining four matches of a much-improved second season back in the top-flight.
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