Martinez sees red as Manchester United beats Villa
Aston Villa's Champions League hopes crumbled as it had Emiliano Martinez sent off in a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United.
Amad Diallo and Christian Eriksen were on target at Old Trafford, where Martinez was sent off at the end of the first half after he wiped out Rasmus Hojlund.
United took a deserved lead when Diallo headed home Bruno Fernandes's excellent left-wing centre in the 76th minute.
Eriksen, playing his last United game, added a second from the penalty spot as the beaten Europa League finaliss signed off a poor domestic season with a win that sees it finish 15th.
Villa, though, will have to settle for sixth and a spot in the Europa League after defeat here meant it missed out on the top five despite Newcastle United’s loss to Everton.
Martinez made four saves in the opening 10 minutes alone and Diogo Dalot crashed the left-hand post.
But Martinez saw red when he bodychecked Hojlund after a poorly judged back pass from Matty Cash.
United continued to dominate after the break and Casemiro clipped the outside of the right post, before Morgan Rogers thought he had a legitimate goal ruled out when he appeared to beat Altay Bayindir to the ball – referee Thomas Bramall disagreed, though.
Shortly after, Diallo rose highest to meet Fernandes' pin-point cross at the back post and he then drew the foul inside the penalty area from Ian Maatsen, which Eriksen smashed down the middle to round out the win.
