Manchester United climbed back into the Premier League’s top four by overcoming Brentford at Old Trafford.
Marcus Rashford’s 15th Premier League goal of the season – and 28th in all competitions for his club – secured the win.
It took United back above Tottenham in the race to qualify for the Champions League, and was the response manager Erik ten Hag needed following Sunday’s defeat at Newcastle.
Brentford, who are chasing European qualification, lost for only the second time in 17 Premier League matches.
Scott McTominay and Antony went close before Rashford finished from close range, with a headed assist by Marcel Sabitzer, after the Bees failed to deal properly with a corner.
Brentford, flat for large parts of the first half, were much better after half-time and United were relieved to hear the final whistle.
Home goalkeeper David de Gea needed treatment after making a crucial save to keep out substitute Kevin Schade.
United are level on 53 points with third-placed Newcastle – and three ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham, who have played one more game than their rivals.
Brentford stay ninth – three points behind sixth-placed Brighton, having played two more games than the Seagulls.
Nervy Man Utd secure the points
Manchester United had a eight-point cushion on fifth spot after defeating Leicester on 19 February but Sunday’s defeat – coupled with Tottenham’s draw at Everton on Monday – left them outside the top four for the first time since December.
Manager Ten Hag recalled Jadon Sancho in an attempt to provide the team with more energy yet United were hanging on towards the end against a Brentford side that grew in confidence.
Sabitzer tested David Raya after half-time while Fred blazed another opportunity over the bar but United were forced to endure several nervous moments before full-time after failing to add to their tally.
De Gea’s save from Schade was a huge moment in the game, the Spaniard keeping his composure to thwart the Brentford player who was clean through with only the keeper to beat.
Questions will remain about United’s over-reliance on Rashford for goals but Ten Hag will hope United will build on their first Premier League win since winning the Carabao Cup.
Season to remember for Bees
Brentford have spent the past few months making a mockery of second-season syndrome.
Having finished 13th last season following promotion from the Championship, the Bees are just three points away from equalling last season’s tally of 46 points – which secured them 13th spot – despite defeat at Old Trafford.
They followed up their 4-0 thrashing of United in London on 13 August with statement wins over Manchester City and Liverpool and they so nearly came close to snatching a point here only for De Gea to produce the save of the game.
Thomas Frank’s side entertain in-form Newcastle – 5-1 winners at West Ham – next but it is a testimony to the efforts over the past eight months that they are still in with an outside chance of Europe at the business end of the season.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Manchester United
Starting XI
-
Squad number1Player namede GeaAverage rating
6.39
-
Squad number20Player nameDiogo DalotAverage rating
6.05
-
Squad number19Player nameVaraneAverage rating
6.45
-
Squad number6Player nameLi MartínezAverage rating
6.52
-
Squad number23Player nameShawAverage rating
6.23
-
Squad number39Player nameMcTominayAverage rating
6.55
-
Squad number8Player nameBruno FernandesAverage rating
5.58
-
Squad number21Player nameAntonyAverage rating
5.63
-
Squad number15Player nameSabitzerAverage rating
6.25
-
Squad number25Player nameSanchoAverage rating
6.11
-
Squad number10Player nameRashfordAverage rating
7.09
Substitutes
-
Squad number2Player nameLindelöfAverage rating
5.92
-
Squad number9Player nameMartialAverage rating
5.73
-
Squad number12Player nameMalaciaAverage rating
5.97
-
Squad number17Player nameFredAverage rating
6.03
Brentford
Starting XI
-
Squad number1Player nameRaya
Average rating6.04
-
Squad number30Player nameRoerslev
Average rating5.70
-
Squad number18Player nameJansson
Average rating5.77
-
Squad number5Player namePinnock
Average rating5.92
-
Squad number16Player nameMee
Average rating6.08
-
Squad number3Player nameHenry
Average rating5.94
-
Squad number24Player nameDamsgaard
Average rating5.93
-
Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
Average rating5.95
-
Squad number8Player nameJensen
Average rating6.00
-
Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
Average rating5.96
-
Squad number17Player nameToney
Average rating6.59
Substitutes
-
Squad number2Player nameHickey
Average rating6.59
-
Squad number9Player nameSchade
Average rating5.63
-
Squad number10Player nameDasilva
Average rating5.63
-
Squad number11Player nameWissa
Average rating5.60
-
Squad number26Player nameBaptiste
Average rating5.59
Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 20Dalot
- 19Varane
- 6Li Martínez
- 23ShawBooked at 24minsSubstituted forMalaciaat 37′minutes
- 39McTominayBooked at 42mins
- 8Bruno FernandesBooked at 59mins
- 21AntonySubstituted forLindelöfat 86′minutes
- 15SabitzerSubstituted forFredat 71′minutes
- 25SanchoSubstituted forMartialat 71′minutes
- 10Rashford
Substitutes
- 2Lindelöf
- 5Maguire
- 9Martial
- 12Malacia
- 17Fred
- 27Weghorst
- 28Pellistri
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 31Butland
Brentford
Formation 5-3-2
- 1Raya
- 30RoerslevSubstituted forHickeyat 75′minutes
- 18Jansson
- 5Pinnock
- 16Mee
- 3Henry
- 24DamsgaardBooked at 50minsSubstituted forDasilvaat 62′minutes
- 6NørgaardBooked at 61minsSubstituted forWissaat 75′minutes
- 8JensenSubstituted forBaptisteat 62′minutes
- 19MbeumoSubstituted forSchadeat 62′minutes
- 17Toney
Substitutes
- 2Hickey
- 9Schade
- 10Dasilva
- 11Wissa
- 13M Jorgensen
- 14Ghoddos
- 22Strakosha
- 26Baptiste
- 33Stevens
- Referee:
- John Brooks
- Attendance:
- 73,309
Match Stats
Live Text
-
Match ends, Manchester United 1, Brentford 0.
-
Second Half ends, Manchester United 1, Brentford 0.
-
Scott McTominay (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Ivan Toney (Brentford).
-
Offside, Manchester United. Fred tries a through ball, but Tyrell Malacia is caught offside.
-
Attempt missed. Ivan Toney (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
-
Anthony Martial (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Foul by Pontus Jansson (Brentford).
-
Attempt missed. Aaron Hickey (Brentford) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Josh Dasilva.
-
Foul by Fred (Manchester United).
-
Ben Mee (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Ethan Pinnock.
-
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Rico Henry.
-
Substitution, Manchester United. Victor Lindelöf replaces Antony.
-
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Bruno Fernandes.
-
Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Kevin Schade (Brentford).
-
Attempt missed. Fred (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Marcus Rashford.
-
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Ethan Pinnock.
-
Attempt missed. Antony (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Tyrell Malacia.
- Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before – here’s everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment