In a game of few clear-cut chances at Old Trafford, the Red Devils youngster came up trumps again
Manchester United put the final nail in Aston Villa's coffin on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors got a stay of execution earlier in the afternoon when Sunderland beat Norwich at Carrow Road.
But Marcus Rashford 's first-half goal at Old Trafford means they must now face up to life in the Championship.
It was hardly a vintage performance from the Red Devils , for whom Wayne Rooney returned to the starting line-up after a spell on the sidelines.
Here are five things we learned:
1. Rashford can do no wrong
Fresh from his stunning finish in United's 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final replay win over West Ham in midweek, 18-year-old Marcus Rashford was at it again, continuing his heroics by scoring the opener for his seventh goal in 12 games.
2. Rooney sharp on his return
United skipper Wayne Rooney made his first start following a two-month injury lay-off and looked lively on his return. United's opener owed everything to Rooney's quick free-kick delivery and fine execution to dispatch a 50-yard diagonal ball to Antonio Valencia, who set up Rashford.
3. Memphis fails to shine once again
Memphis Depay was handed his first Premier League start since March 2, with Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial consigned to the bench. But the £25m midfielder failed to convince once again, failing to score when through on goal in added time.
4. United dismal even against rock-bottom Villa
If there was one team United would be expected to run riot against, it was Villa, doomed to the Championship after a wretched season. But United toiled against them, winning by the slenderest margin, their lack of ambition and turgid approach doing nothing to endorse Louis van Gaal's fading hopes of seeing out the final year of his contract.
5. Villa fans retain a sense of humour
Despite their relegation being confirmed, Villa fans showed they can still laugh at themselves, breaking into a chant of “It's still 0-0, how s*** must you be, it's still 0-0” a minute into the game. They even managed a laugh at Joleon Lescott's ill-advised decision to tweet a picture of his expensive new car, on the same day Villa lost, the fans signing “Joleon Lescott, he's got a new car”. Admirable spirit in the face of such a dismal campaign.
Player ratings
Man United: De Gea 6, Valencia 7, Smalling 6, Blind 7, Rojo 6, Fellaini 5, Schneiderlin 6, Mata 6, Rooney 7 (Lingard 66, 5), Memphis 5, Rashford 7 (Martial 76, 5)
Aston Villa: Guzan 5, Hutton 5, Clark 6, Lescott 4, Cissokho 5, Sinclair 5, Westwood 6, Gueye 5, Bacuna 6, Richardson 5 (Gestede 82, 6), Ayew 5
Man of the Match: Rashford
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