Man Utd, Leicester in top-four “battle royale”

The Premier League’s top-four battle looks set to go to the wire, with Manchester United and Leicester set to meet on the final day to decide who finishes fourth. Leicester City boosted their chances with a vital 2-0 win over Sheffield United while Manchester United earned a 1-0 away win at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace.

Marcus Rashford scored for Manchester United, courtesy of another assist by Bruno Fernandes. Rashford fumbled his initial control but steadied himself to hit the bottom corner just before half-time.

Anthony Martial added the second in the 78th minute to bring Man United back level on points with Leicester in 4th. United still remain in 5th position on goal difference, however.

Crystal Palace appeared to have equalized when Jordan Ayew connected Wilfried Zaha’s low cross to the far post but a VAR check eventually ruled he was offside – by a toe’s length.

Jordan Ayew in his reaction on BT Sport: “We’re just unlucky at the moment, I’m not going to comment. We’ll keep pushing and working hard.

“We played really well. We’re unlucky not to come out with a point. We’ll try and win the next two games so we can start next season better.

“There’s some games where we played well. Home against Chelsea and Man Utd today. We gave them a good game. I’m not going to cry and complain, we just need to keep pushing.”

Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford told BT Sport: “Every game for us now (is) a big game, we were scoring goals for fun before Southampton and the last two have been difficult games, we have to work double hard to win today.

“I am trying to be clever inside the box and find half a yard to get a shot off. We have been improving in our pattern of play. The beginning of the game was very tough.

“With VAR you do not know what to expect. It can be difficult at times for both teams.

“Anthony Martial has done a lot work today and makes himself available to receive the ball. It is always good when your strikers can score.

“We have to go and win every game, that has been the goal for the past few weeks but today has been good to refocus.”

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told BT Sport: “It is a tight game and didn’t get the rhythm in our passing but two fantastic goals won it for us.

“The finish was great for Marcus Rashford’s goal but there was quick inter-changing passing in the build-up. We did not do it enough because they are a handful to play against, they have to trust themselves more.

“It looked like Victor Lindelof kicks the ball first and it is a tight decision but probably the same on Anthony Martial. I don’t think it was a penalty.

“When we go the second goal, that is when they started strutting about. It is tight scheduling but we cannot afford starts like this.

“Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are enjoying themselves, when they go out onto the pitch for a shift, they go out with a smile and they defend each other too.

“We need to smile and go into this, we have earned this right, no-one thought in January that we would be in with a shout for top four. We have done fantastic since the restart. These are the games that matter. That is the thing at Manchester United, you have to step up and show your personality.”

Leicester manager, Brendan Rodgers was delighted and he told Sky Sports:

“I thought we were brilliant, Sheffield United deserve so much credit for how they have worked and how Chris Wilder has got them playing, but we were outstanding.

“We have played well since we have come back but not been consistent enough. Tonight we were able to do that. A very good performance.

“The result gives us the second-highest finish in Leicester’s history. We have two games to go to create some more history.”

His opposite number, Chris Wilder:

“We were way off of it. We have taken some enormous steps forward this season, but the goalkeeper kept us in the game. We never deserved anything form the game – off it from the first minute to the 90th, no excuse from us. Technically very poor, physically out-fought.

“We have done a job on a couple of teams recently but their fight was bigger than ours and they wanted the result more.

“They were sharper, quicker in thought and in action. We have helped them get going again.”

In the night’s earlier games, Southampton drew 1-1 Brighton with Maupay on target for Brighton and Danny Ings drew the Saints level with his 20th goal of the season and at Goodison Park, Everton salvaged a late equalizer from Theo Walcott as they finshed 1-1 with Aston Villa whose Premier League survival hangs in the balance.