Rasmus Hojlund struck a brace as Manchester United recorded a 2-1 win over Luton Town in Sunday's Premier League clash at Kenilworth Road.
The Red Devils opened up a two-goal lead inside first seven minutes, before Carlton Morris halved the deficit in the 14th minute, but despite a host of opportunities at both ends, there were no more goals on the afternoon.
Man United have now won their last four Premier League matches, which has left them sixth in the table, three points behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and five from Aston Villa in fourth.
Luton, meanwhile, sit 17th in the division, just one point ahead of 18th-placed Everton in the battle to stay out of the relegation zone.
Hojlund made the breakthrough inside the first minute at Kenilworth Road, with the Denmark international collecting a terrible back-pass from Luton defender Amari'i Bell before rounding goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski and picking out the back of the net.
Marcus Rashford should have doubled Man United's advantage in the fifth minute when he was presented the ball outside the box, but his powerful drive was kept out by Kaminski.
The Red Devils did manage to score a second in the seventh minute, though, with Alejandro Garnacho's strike being expertly chested into the bottom corner of the net by Hojlund for his second of the match and eighth in his last eight appearances.
Man United were flying, and Rashford fired just wide of the target in the 10th minute, before Garnacho tested Kaminski with another strike in the 14th minute after excellent work from Kobbie Mainoo.
Luton, again the run of play, had one back in the 14th minute, though, with Morris heading home from close range after Tahith Chong's deflected effort fell kindly for the centre-forward.
Morris headed over the Man United crossbar in the 24th minute, with Luton more than matching their opponents after a poor start, and the chances had started to dry up for Erik ten Hag's side.
A mistake from Harry Maguire presented Cauley Woodrow with a chance to level the scores in the 31st minute, but the striker's effort was deflected wide of the post by Raphael Varane.
© Reuters
Morris then just missed the target with a powerful strike in the 37th minute, before Casemiro was fortunate to escape a second yellow card for a late challenge on Ross Barkley in the middle of midfield.
Alfie Doughty had another big chance in the closing stages of the first period, but he missed the target with a low strike, before Luke Shaw was forced off once again due to injury, with Victor Lindelof on at left-back.
Man United made a further two changes at the break, with Jonny Evans and Scott McTominay introduced for Casemiro and Maguire, who were both booked in the first period.
Kaminski did well to smother at Diogo Dalot's feet early in the second period, before Man United goalkeeper Andre Onana made a save to keep out Woodrow during an open start to the second 45 minutes.
Luton's goalkeeper then did brilliantly in the 57th minute to keep out a rasping effort from Rashford, with the visitors having a rare chance to counter-attack after coming under a host of pressure.
Barkley whistled another effort wide just before the hour, before Albert Sambi Lokonga made a goal-saving block on Fernandes after the Portugal international had rounded Kaminski, who then kept out Garnacho.
Man United again had Kaminski rounded in the 67th minute, this time through Garnacho, who went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but the Argentine was pushed too wide and just could not finish it off.
Kaminski then did well to keep out a free kick from Fernandes in the 70th minute, before Garnacho had one deflected wide during a difficult period for the home side.
Onana managed to gather the ball inside the box in the 77th minute after Varane had blocked a strike from Luton's Gabriel Osho, before Kaminski kept out Hojlund down the other end in another one-on-one.
Fernandes flashed one just wide of the Luton goal in the 88th minute after a poor pass from Kaminski, before Luton almost levelled in the final exchanges through a header from Barkley, but his effort came off the top of the crossbar, as the Red Devils navigated their way to yet another three points.
Man United will continue their league season at home to Fulham on Saturday, while Luton face a trip to Anfield on Wednesday evening to tackle the leaders Liverpool.
No Data Analysis info
