After a quiet first 45 minutes, second-half goals from Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko helped us to a 3-1 win over the Villans, with Ross Barkley's equaliser at 1-1 rendered little more than a consolation goal.
That saw us establish a three-point cushion in third and, after our crosstown rivals Manchester City drew away at West Ham United a day earlier, reduced the gap to second to seven points.
Those results have given our captain the confidence to start looking further up the table.
"At the end of the day, we'll see where we finish, and if we can finish second, even better," our captain told MUTV after the game.