Man United v Brentford LIVE: Carragher backs Carrick for permanent job after ‘run of a title winner’ | OneFootball

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.