The saying goes that the darkest hour is just before dawn, and most Manchester United fans will agree that there have been few bleaker moments in the club's recent history than August's shellacking by Brentford.
United had already succumbed to Graham Potter's Brighton at Old Trafford on the opening day of the season, and the four goals David de Gea shipped inside 35 minutes in West London extinguished any optimism for the campaign that remained from July's encouraging four-game tour of Thailand and Australia.
United won three matches and drew one on the other side of the globe, but after losing to Atletico Madrid and drawing with Rayo Vallecano days before the Premier League season began, the defeat by Brentford marked a fifth winless game for United under their new manager.