Manchester United see off Brentford to close in on Champions League return

This swashbuckling Manchester United victory moves them to within two points of Champions League qualification and is prima facie evidence of the job Michael Carrick has executed since his appointment as interim manager.

The performance is also a fair calling card for the permanent role as United bettered a doughty Brentford by simply being better.

Kobbie Mainoo was smooth in midfield, Casemiro scored again, and Bruno Fernandes’ assist for Benjamin Sesko’s clincher was a 19th of the competition. Even if he does not equal or best the record of 20, Fernandes must be the favourite for player of the year.

Next is Liverpool here on Sunday, a trip the champions will hardly fancy because Carrick’s unit is clicking precisely when it needs to – further testament to the 44-year-old’s abilities.

Brentford arrived as the draw specialists, doing so in five of the six-game unbeaten run they kicked off seeking to extend. Yet in United – and Mainoo, particularly –they encountered a host who began in aggressive mode.

Collecting inside Brentford’s half the midfielder scattered defenders and served the ball up to Amad Diallo, who was a few yards from Caoimhín Kelleher’s goal. The Ivorian surely could not miss but he did, the shot hitting Sepp van den Berg and rebounding for the first of two corners.

Here was an urgency not always present in United under Carrick. It continued as Harry Maguire’s header was cleared off the line and Bryan Mbeumo burst along the right and won another corner. From this, Casemiro scored.

In what seemed a training ground move, Fernandes’ delivery from the right was swung deep onto Maguire’s head. As he moved to leap Casemiro darted to the back post, the defender headed across and up went the Brazilian to outjump Dango Ouattara and nod home.

This was Casemiro’s ninth league strike of his swansong campaign. Yet after a pronounced kiss of the badge United had to defend against a defiant Bees who now dominated.

Keane Lewis-Potter found space and swept the ball over from the left: Luke Shaw missed the interception and Igor Thiago might have equalised but failed to connect. Then Michael Kayode’s swivel and shot drew a corner.

United suffered and were unable to transfer play to the other end as Keith Andrews’ men showed why they were so long without defeat, an equal partner in what was a bright, open spectacle.