United made a promising start to proceedings when in just the second minute of the game a scramble in Villa's box could have easily been converted had one of the many deflections gone their way. Things continued widely in the same vain for much of the first-half with Villa resigned to playing counter-attacking football against United's attacking onslaught.
Villa were not without chances and forced de Gea to make an acrobatic save to stop a header in his own six-yard box in what was a standout game for both keepers.
Martial put the Red Devils ahead just before the break with a diving header after a mistake from Tyrone Mings saw the defender fail to block Bissaka's cross into the penalty area.
The second half saw a much more balanced game with Villa tieing up the scoreboard from with Traore's shot inside the area not being covered by the United defence in a chaotic, pressing attack from Villa.
Just two minutes later in the 60th minute of the game Pogba was tripped in the area and after a short VAR review the penalty was given. Fernandes, lacking his usual penalty taking style, stepped up to score a fantastic penalty, low and into the corner. Unstoppable.
It was enough to see the game out for a win for United against a Villa that mounted a great attempt at a comeback but it was too little too late as United survived a five minute stoppage time onslaught to go level on points with Liverpool.