As referee Andre Marriner put his whistle to his lips to signal the end of the first half, there probably wasn't a more relieved man inside the Brentford Community Stadium than David de Gea.
The Manchester United goalkeeper, not for the first time this season, had spared his team-mates' blushes and kept them out of jail, producing a string of important saves, not least the one he made with his feet to thwart Brentford midfielder Mathias Jensen just past the half hour mark.
As has been a common and continuous theme for United this season, highlighting their troubles, De Gea was proving to be their best player on the pitch, with his heroics ensuring they headed into half time with the scores, much to the relief of the travelling contingent of away supporters, level at 0-0.
