Manchester Utd 2-1 Brentford

Casemiro (11′) Sesko (43′)      Jensen (87′)

Manchester United moved one victory from Champions League qualification after edging out Brentford at Old Trafford.

The hosts established a two-goal lead in an entertaining first half to deliver Michael Carrick’s ninth win as interim head coach.

Casemiro headed the opener in the 11th minute from a narrow angle, after Harry Maguire kept a deep cross alive. Benjamin Sesko doubled the lead after a swift counter-attacking move. The Slovenian showed poise to finish high into the net after collecting a pass from Bruno Fernandes on the stroke of halftime

Brentford offered their own threat in the first half. A last-ditch Ayden Heaven tackle, and several stunning saves by Senne Lammens denied Igor Thiago from netting his 22nd goal of the league season.

Keith Andrews’ side set up a nervy ending for United after a powerful Mathias Jensen strike from 25 yards, but the hosts would eventually see out proceedings, taking another positive step forward towards the promised land of the Champions League.

Manchester United: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw (Yoro 73′) Casemiro, Mainoo, Mbuemo (Mount 74′) Fernandes, Diallo (Mazraoui 46′) Sesko (Zirkzee 88′)

Brentford: Kelleher, Kayode, Van den Berg, Collins, Lewis-Potter, Yarmoliuk, Jensen, Damsgaard, Schade (Nelson 73′) Ouattara, Thiago