Manchester United 1-0 Aston Villa: Barclays Premier League - as it happened

Full-time: Manchester United 1-0 Aston Villa

All over at Old Trafford. Aston Villa are relegated from the Premier League courtesy of Marcus Rashford's first-half strike.

It's another brilliant day for the teenager; it's the worst day in Aston Villa's recent history. They will be playing Championship football next season.

That's all we have from the game in Manchester, but if you wish to follow the evening game in the Premier League, you can do so here.

Have a good night!

Memphis Depay misses a golden chance for the hosts. Well, to be more accurate, Guzan makes a top save from the Dutchman, who appeared certain to score after being put through on goal.

Three minutes of added time being played.

Where has this attack-minded Villa been for the previous 80 minutes or so? They are pushing hard for an equaliser at the moment, but it may be a case of too little too late.

Villa are minutes from being relegated from the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Timothy Fosu-Mensah is introduced at the expense of Juan Mata, who trudges off.

Amazing. Villa should have levelled the score!

From absolutely nowhere, the away side are starting to dominate and from a corner kick, Gestede hits the post with a snap-shot with DeGea rooted to the spot. What a dramatic moment that would've been.

Villa finally decide to make a switch now. Richardson is the man being replaced, and he receives a nice round of applause on the way from the field.

And again Mata is unmarked at a corner. His cross ultimately comes to nothing. But that defending was woeful from Villa, and sums them up, to be honest.

Ten minutes left at OT - the away side stand on the cusp of relegation from the Premier League.

Another change for United, with one youngster replacing another...

United are engaging in a bit of keep-ball at the moment, which reflects the current mood of the game. It's definitely lost some of its fizz for the time being.

That being said, Anthony Martial is warming up.

Just over 20 minutes left for Villa to pull off a shock. Can they do it? It doesn't look like it at the moment.

Memphis takes a freekick from distance, but his effort fizzes over the bar. And here comes the expected change...

A tired-looking Wayne Rooney makes way for Jesse Lingard. It's been a decent run-out for the skipper, who is slowly working his way back to full fitness.

Juan Mata almost doubles United's lead! The Spaniard ghosts into the box at a corner and, totally unmarked, shoots straight at Brad Guzan. That was awful defending.

This game is becoming increasingly stretched, which is bad news for Villa. You sense there are more goals in this for United if they can make the right decisions in the final third. There's half an hour to go until full-time.

Memphis Depay performs some more magic down the left side but no-one can quite get a toe-end on his cross. That was brilliant from the young Dutchman, who has flattered to deceive for the most part this season.

Ah, Rooney ruins a potential goalscoring chance with a heavy touch. He was put in by Memphis Depay but as he tried to move the ball into more space, he allowed the defender to clear the ball. Villa survive.

I wonder how much longer Rooney will last this afternoon, given he has only just returned from injury. The England captain has been decent this afternoon, without being anywhere near his very best.

I fancy we may see him make way for Martial or another of United's attacking talents around the hour mark. Then again, Louis van Gaal is known to spring the occasional surprise.

Another chances falls Rashford's way. Mata picks him out with a neat pass but his effort goes just wide.

Goalkick given, although it looked like the Villa defender got a block on it.

We're back under way at Old Trafford. Villa have 45 minutes to stave off the inevitable: relegation from the Premier League. Can they do it?

Half-time: Manchester United 1-0 Aston Villa

A dominant United side lead at Old Trafford thanks to another goal from 18-year-old sensation Marcus Rashford, who scored from an Antonio Valencia cross just after the half-hour mark.

Villa are sliding towards relegation unless they produce something stunning in the second-half.

Every time Rashford has the ball at his feet, there is a sense of anticipation that goes up around the ground. His pace and skill would cause problems to any defence, whether that be in the Premier League or further afield.

Less than five to go until half-time, anyway.

Marcus Rashford has made a stunning start to his life in the Manchester United first-team. If he continues at this pace, he might just get himself on the plane to France with the England squad this summer...

Rooney has his first effort on target now, hitting a curling shot from distance into the hands of the Villa keeper. United appear to be in complete control at the moment.

It's a depressingly familiar tale for a relegation-bound Villa team, who have barely posed a threat of their own.

GOAL: Manchester United 1-0 Aston Villa (Rashford)

United lead and it's that young man again!

Antonio Valencia makes a run down the right side. From there, the right-back crosses the ball along the deck and Rashford calmly sweeps it home.

Villa have a shot at goal through former United player Kieron Richardson, but his effort passes harmlessly over the bar.

It's pretty sterile stuff at Old Trafford at the moment. The game is lacking a bit of spark and inspiration - who can/will provide it?

For all of United's undoubted dominance so far, the Red Devils have struggled to fashion any clear-cut chances. They are still lacking a bit of speed and cutting-edge in their play, which has been a common complaint this season.

Juan Mata goes down in the box, looking for a penalty. There's nothing doing, though, despite the Spaniard's protestations.

That all came from a cute-looking pass from Marcus Rashford, who slid the ball between a couple of Villa defenders. As has become the norm, the 18-year-old striker has been one of United's better players in the opening quarter of the game.

Another opening for Marcos Rojo. On this occasion, Memphis Depay makes a run up the left side and cuts the ball back across the goal.

However, the Argentine's goal-bound effort is blocked by a Villa defender and the visitors survive again.

Rooney has been pretty lively in the opening 15 minutes or so, running the channels and trying to make things happen.

In the past, it has taken the United captain some time to get back up to full speed following an injury lay-off, but he appears to be OK so far.

United are having corner after corner at the moment. The Villa goal is already under siege.

The away side need to get a bit of possession, because they're pinned inside their own half at the moment.

Ten minutes gone at OT and I'm not sure Villa have touched the ball in the United half, such has been the dominance of the home team.

Not sure Villa will survive very long if they continue with these defensive-minded tactics, in all honesty.

First chance of the game falls to Marcos Rojo. The Argentine gets his head on the end of a right-wing cross from Memphis Depay, but his header sails harmlessly over the bar. He should have done better.

It's one-way traffic at the moment, with United looking for an opening in behind the Villa defence.

For the moment, though, they are being kept at bay by the away side. Feels like a matter of time until United score, mind you.

United have started with Memphis Depay on the left side, with Juan Mata on the right. Marcus Rashford is up top and Wayne Rooney has slotted into the number 10 role.

It's been a quiet opening so far, though. No real chances to speak of.

We're under way at Old Trafford, with United controlling the game in the early moments, patiently passing the ball from side to side.

Villa appear happy to sit behind the ball and look for something on the break.

There's a decent atmosphere inside the ground, by the way - the home fans must have been encouraged by their midweek win against West Ham.

The players are making their way out onto the pitch now. It's a pleasant day in Manchester and perfect weather for some eye-catching football - can these teams deliver that, though?

Villa, remember, stand on the cusp of relegation from the Premier League.

In case you missed it earlier, Anthony Martial has to make do with a place on the bench this afternoon. The Frenchman has played nine consecutive 90 minute games for United. He's probably due a rest.

Lots of fans will be keen to compare and contrast the performances of Wayne Rooney and Marcus Rashford, who could be a surprise inclusion in Roy Hodgson's England squad for Euro 2016.

Rashford scored a stunner for United against West Ham in midweek and has been one of the bright sparks in United's season.

A quick transfer line...

Prior to today's game, it has been reported that Swiss youngster Nishan Burkart is set to sign for Manchester United. The 16-year-old striker is preparing to move from FC Zurich to Old Trafford, having failed to agree a new contract with his current club.

Indeed, the father of the sought-after player has confirmed the Red Devils are the club he has chosen to join.

"We have decided to leave the club in the summer. Nishan switches to Manchester United. He just has different ideas, that's what business is like," Stefan told Blick about his son's impending move to United.

The players are out on the pitch at the moment, going through their last-minute preparations.

Wayne Rooney is back on the pitch at Old Trafford today, of course. He'll be keen to remind everyone of his qualities and also move one goal closer to breaking Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time goalscoring record for Manchester United.

The game gets under way in a little over 20 minutes...

For Aston Villa, relegation appears to be an inevitability. The Midlanders have endured a woeful season and their fans probably cannot wait for it to end.

Defeat at Old Trafford this afternoon will seal their fate.

In a season of few positives for United, Chris Smalling has been one of the brightest spots. The central defender has emerged as a solid, dependable force at the back, having taken some time to emerge from the shadow of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

He is named in the starting line-up again today and is set to celebrate a landmark in his United career...

Wayne Rooney has scored 13 Premier League goals versus Aston Villa. The United captain has, in fact, only netted more versus Newcastle in the competition (14).

Rooney will be hoping to get on the scoresheet on his return to the starting line-up.

In total, United have made five changes from midweek: Valencia, Schneiderlin, Mata, Memphis and Rooney replace Fosu-Mensah, Carrick, Herrera, Lingard and Martial.

A wise move on behalf of Louis van Gaal? We're about to find out... It will be interesting, though, to see how Wayne Rooney plays alongside Old Trafford's new hero, Marcus Rashford.

Breaking team news:

Subs: Richards, Sanchez, Gil, Bunn, Lyden, Gestede, Grealish

Breaking team news:

Manchester United: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Schneiderlin, Fellaini, Mata, Rooney, Memphis, Rashford

Subs: Romero, Darmian, Fosu-Mensah, McNair, Young, Lingard, Martial

The big news from a United viewpoint is that Rooney has been returned to the starting line-up, with Anthony Martial being dropped/rested. The 20-year-old Frenchman has to settle for a place on the bench.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who excelled against West Ham in the week, is also on the bench, with Antonio Valencia coming in a right-back.

Louis van Gaal has been speaking about the possibility of players leaving Old Trafford in the summer.

The Dutchman claims that even if the Reds fail to qualify for the Champions League, the club's biggest players are unlikely to look for the exit door.

"There is no player who wants to go away, I think. When another club wants to pay the figures that the board of Manchester United demand then it is possible," Van Gaal said, as quoted by Manchester Evening News.

"But that is dependable on the decision of the board if the player can go. I don't think so. But of course you have to ask the players."

"I have said for the club it is much more important that we are ending in fourth spot. For the club it is more important because the Champions League is the highest level. A club like Manchester United has to show its abilities and qualities at the highest level."

Speaking of Fosu-Mensah, the youngster has been approached by Ghana, who hope to convince him to represent their national team instead of the Netherlands.

A spokesman from Fosu-Mensah's agency Stellar Group told Dutch publication Algemeen Dagblad: "They called us. Ghana indeed wants to drive him to choose Ghana."

In the more immediate term, however, the 18-year-old defender will be hoping for another start this afternoon. We'll have the all-important team news for you in around ten minutes.

Although United have endured a frustrating campaign, fans of the Red Devils will take some heart from the recent performances of their young players.

The likes of Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Marcus Rashford have come into the first-team fold in recent months and have been among the team's better performers.

Manager Louis van Gaal has been talking about his well-known willingness to put his faith in young players prior to this afternoon's game.

"That is our policy," the Dutchman said. "Manchester United believe in youngsters and Louis van Gaal also believes in youngsters. That was one of the arguments why they have selected me.

"It is not new for me that this is happening but I am very happy that we have the ability to pick youngster from our academy."

Team form

Manchester United

• Last five: W L W W D
• Last result: West Ham United 1-2 Manchester United

Aston Villa

• Last five: L L L L L
• Last result: Aston Villa 1-2 AFC Bournemouth

Preview

Villa have been without a win in their last eight matches and they continue to struggle this term.

In those fixtures, they have managed to score only three goals and went without scoring in the remaining five matches.

Preview

The Red Devils progressed to the semi-final of the FA Cup after their 2-1 victory over West Ham United in the replay at Upton Park.

It was Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini's goal that helped the Red Devils make it to the last four of the competition.

Louis van Gaal's side will face Everton at Wembley and it is their best shot of winning silverware this term.

Good afternoon and welcome to IBTimes UK's live coverage of the Premier League clash between Manchester United and relegation-bound Aston Villa.

United come into this match on the back of their uplifting FA Cup win against West Ham United in midweek. The question is, can they keep the feel-good factor going today with another win?

We'll have all the team news and plenty of pre-match coverage for you over the next little while.