Manchester United withstood a nervy finish to overcome Brentford in a crucial Premier League clash in the battle for European places.
Casemiro scored his third goal in his past three matches at Old Trafford with a fine header in the 11th minute, after an electric start from the home side.
There were chances aplenty for both sides in an intense first half, and it was United who were firmly on top going into the break after a late second from Benjamin Sesko, ably assisted by Bruno Fernandes. The captain’s 19th top-flight assist of the season put him one behind the record shared by Kevin de Bruyne and Thierry Henry.
It was a very different story in the second half as Michael Carrick switched to a Ruben Amorim-esque formation to shut down Brentford – but the pragmatic approach worked well, save a stunning Mathias Jensen strike in the 88th minute, which set up a grandstand finish.
But United clung on to seal all three points and remain third in the table, 11 clear of Brighton in sixth level and increasingly well placed to earn a berth in next season’s Champions League. Brentford meanwhile remain ninth in a congested middle of the pack.
Follow all of the latest from the Premier League clash with our live blog below:
Brentford miss out on chance to make history
Before tonight Brentford had won their last two league matches against Man United and were going for the league double over Carrick’s side.
It would have been the first time they’d achieved since the 1936-37 season – when United were relegated.
Carrick says back three switch was planned:
“We were going to make it anyway and then we scored the second goal. There were just certain spaces that we needed to cover better. It was purely a tactical decision. In the position we were in at half time, we wanted to see the game through.
“The way the boys managed it – it’s a tough league to get results in. To get the amount of wins we have, we are delighted with that.”
Michael Carrick tells Sky Sports:
“It was quite an open game. I thought we started fantastically. We should’ve been at least another goal up, maybe more. Credit to them, they’re a good team and have a really good mix of threats.
“We tweaked things second half and for the most part had decent control. I thought the spirit and effort was fantastic. We could’ve scored more but at this time of the year it’s a results business.”
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher says Carrick will be given permanent job
He says: “He’s going to be Manchester United manager next season, no doubt about it. You can’t say he doesn’t deserve it. They have put a run of results of a title winner although they haven’t got European football to contend with. I don’t think anyone could have come in and done better results-wise. Performances haven’t been great but it’s not a great Man Utd team and he’s still getting big results.
“The biggest criticism of Ruben Amorin was that he never adapted, Carrick has shown he can adapt.”
Keith Andrews tells Sky Sports:
“Anyone that watches us will see we are a team with a lot of spirit. We have a nice click around the group. We fight hard but you have to earn results in this division. We have been on a really good journey this year that allows us to come to a ground like this and play in that manner.”
The Brentford boss is asked about going six games without a win and whether there is still confidence as the final run-in for a European place hots up.
He says: “I saw a lot of confidence tonight. I saw personality, a team that is striving and doing everything it can to get results.”
Keith Andrews tells Sky Sports:
“Pleased with the performance. They started better than we did and we were on the back foot. But after that a top reaction. I thought we were outstanding for large parts of the game but we couldn’t take our opportunities.
“I enjoyed watching us play in every aspect after that first 10 minutes. The bravery and courage we showed, to come somewhere like this and play in that manner shows a good step in the right direction. The next step is being clinical and ruthless.”
Harry Maguire tells Sky Sports:
“I think the formation change has helped us a lot, to be honest. I think the results spoke for itself. So I think we’re comfortable that we can play both formations.
“But I think we didn’t cover the pitch well enough in the in the last 20 minutes of the first half, and was letting too many balls into the box, and then they were putting a lot of numbers in the box as well.
“I think it was good that the manager recognised that, and we changed the second half, and I felt like it was a lot more comfortable.”
Jamie Carragher backs Michael Carrick for permanent job
Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko scored while Mathias Jensen pulled a consolation goal back to set up a nervy finish, which United rode out to seal all three points.
Carragher said on Sky Sports: “He’s going to be Manchester United manager next season, no doubt about it. You can’t say he doesn’t deserve it. They have put [together] a run of results of a title winner, although they haven’t got European football to contend with.
Harry Maguire on Casemiro:
“I’ve played in in a lot of teams where I get one, two players marking me, and all the focus is on myself. I think now all the teams are respecting that Casemiro is a massive threat as well. So they have to take a lot of eyes on him. They have to put a good defender on him, rather than putting two on myself at the moment.
“It frees us both up. Our record when we both play together, when I play, I think Casemiro gets more goals and when he plays I get more opportunities as well. It’s good that we have two big targets, two good threats in in the attacking box. And I think it makes a lot harder for the opposition.”
How United can secure Champions League
United have four games remaining and just need two points to guarantee a Champions League berth next season.
They can be helped out by Brighton or Bournemouth this weekend; if either of those two teams fail to win before United face Liverpool, they will mathematically be unable to match the Red Devils’ 61-point haul over the rest of the season, and will confirm a spot for Carrick’s side at the top table in Europe.
