A response to a setback and back in the top four. Manchester United have form for following up egregious performances with character-building wins and this was another.
This was far from vintage from United but it was never likely to be against such obdurate opponents. Brentford, back in the top flight after a 74-year absence last season, have still lost fewer Premier League fixtures than United this term.
Erik ten Hag resorted to introducing a third centre half, Victor Lindelof, for the dying embers and the Swede lost his first aerial duel. Lisandro Martinez's size has seldom mattered since his chastening afternoon at Brentford in August and the Argentine approached the tunnel as United's man of the match for the umpteenth time.
Read more: United player ratings vs Brentford
Ten Hag was imploring United to press as full-time loomed in a humdrum atmosphere. One United fan hollered, "Come on, Martial" and there was polite dissent from a Brentford staff member at "only" four minutes of stoppage time.
David de Gea, Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial were all dispossessed in the 93rd minute yet Brentford were harmless. The United supporters sounded so assured of victory they chanted about a return to Wembley later this month.
A liability with his feet, De Gea is reliable with his hands. On a night he was heckled with a rendition of 'you're just a s--t David Raya' by the Brentford away-dayers, his denial of substitute Kevin Schade was pivotal.
United owe a number of points to De Gea's goalkeeping this term and these can be added to the tally. Schade craftily nipped in ahead of Raphael Varane but his penultimate touch was a tad heavy and he still had the gall to attempt to dink De Gea. The United goalkeeper stayed upright and United stayed 1-0 up.
For all those cat-like reflexes, it is when De Gea is in possession that United fans have kittens. The Brentford manager Thomas Frank clapped a modest press that caused Diogo Dalot to panic from a De Gea pass and launch the ball into touch. De Gea eschewed short goal kicks until the second half and his dithering invited the onrushing Ivan Toney, whose block bounced wide.
One pinged pass from De Gea almost played Jadon Sancho earned warm applause from Bruno Fernandes. De Gea was perhaps eager not to be outdone by his compatriot and opposite number, David Raya, one of the Spain goalkeepers who has ousted the United mainstay from the national squad. Raya, likened to a playmaker by Jurgen Klopp, entered the United half with the ball in open play.
Brentford were obliging opponents, dining off their denuding of United almost eight months ago. Having been repeatedly deprived of the ball at Newcastle, United hogged it for more than 73 per cent in the first half alone.
Ten Hag had animatedly gestured at Antony early on and collared him again during the stoppage for Muslim players to break their fast. Within minutes, Antony's lofted pass was nodded down by Marcel Sabitzer for Marcus Rashford to clinically execute.
Brentford's analysts in the press box were crestfallen upon discovering Ethan Pinnock had not pushed up with the alacrity of his teammates and had played Sabitzer onside. Sabitzer's positioning was vindication for Ten Hag, who selected the same midfield axis but switched their roles, with McTominay the sentry.
McTominay has played in defence, in midfield and in attack for his country. He is, as he always has been, a stop-gap of a defensive midfielder in red but it is the role he should solely be assigned as long as he is at his boyhood club. McTominay intervened twice inside a minute as Brentford belatedly threatened the United goal.
Rashford's 28th United goal of the campaign was their first in 326 minutes in the Premier League, a drought that dated back to Jadon Sancho's effort against Leicester on February 19. Rashford's haul is the joint-best from a United player in a single season since Robin van Persie hit the 30-goal mark a decade ago.
It was not a coincidence United were on target again with Wout Weghorst on the bench for the first time, ending a run of 19 successive starts. Weghorst was not used whatsoever though the more subdued striker should be Martial.
That Ten Hag did not turn to Martial, who returned to squad training four weeks ago, as a starter was additional confirmation he has run out of patience with a player United intend to offload in the summer. Martial was tepid in his 20-minute cameo.
United displayed more positive intent in the first five minutes than the whole of the 90. They won five corners in 20 minutes and made adjustments to counter Brentford's obdurate back three by allowing Luke Shaw to advance into midfield. That congestion freed up space for Dalot and his tandem with Antony fashioned an opening for McTominay on the half-volley.
Rashford was more accurate.
READ MORE:
