Man Utd 2-1 Brentford LIVE – Sesko and Casemiro goals enough for the victory

“Champions League is one thing but it’s not something we should be over-celebrating. We want to be finishing higher up the league really, challenging higher up the league and getting more points.

“Our season doesn’t come to a close when that happens. It’s something we need to try and achieve, we’ve put ourselves in a great position in this moment but there’s still more work to be done.”

Man Utd boss Michael Carrick: “It’s a big three points. It’s that time of the season where results are crucial and winning again is a good habit to get used to.”

Brentford boss Keith Andrews praises his side despite the defeat: “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.”

Benjamin Sesko on team-mate Casemiro: “He’s a work machine, he never stops. We are pleased that we have him and we are going to use it until the last minute before he leaves. He helps us very much.”

United hold on and get the job done. It was far from a perfect performance but Carrick’s side take all three points and strengthen their grip on third place.

Brentford will surely feel that they could have got something from that game but they leave empty-handed. Perhaps if their goal had come earlier it would have been a different story. It’s a blow to their European dream, but all hope is not lost yet.

For the second time in quick succession, a Brentford long throw in is prevented by Casemiro throwing himself to the ground and winning a free-kick.

Collins is furious and earns a yellow card for his reaction.

Zirkzee makes a tackle before kicking the ball away and receiving a yellow card.

Brentford have the opportunity to deliver a long throw into the middle.

Five minutes of injury time have been added on.

Brentford will throw everything at this now as United try to hold on.

A cross is floated into the middle and it is a golden opportunity for Damsgaard.

He keeps his effort on target but Lammens is able to make the save.

Sesko looked to have an issue and is now withdrawn.

Zirkzee is on to replace him.

Brentford finally get one back and it is a brilliant strike from Jensen.

He has plenty of time and space and drills into the bottom corner from outside the area. The visitors now have three minutes to salvage something from this game.

United have been pinned back on the edge of their own area for almost five minute straight here.

Brentford are still searching fora way back into this game, but they may run out of time soon.

A nice passage of play from the hosts results in Casemiro striking from range.

The midfielder hits it well searching for the bottom corner, but it goes just wide and Brentford have a goal kick.

Thiago brings down Heaven, after the youngster got away from him.

The Brentford striker is shown a yellow card.

Carrick makes a double substitution.

Mbeumo and Shaw, who had an issue, are replaced by Mount and Yoro.

Brentford make their first substitution of the night.

Schade makes way for Nelson.

Ouattara is booked for attempting the overhead kick.

Replays show there was no contact with Maguire who continues to hold his face.

Another chance for Ouattara as a corner comes all the way through to him at the back-post. He steers the header towards goal but can only find the post.

He attempts to overhead kick his rebound but Maguire goes down holding his face and a United free-kick is awarded.

A miscommunication between Maguire and Lammens allows Thiago to get the ball inside the United box.

He pulls it back to Ouattara in a dangerous position but his effort is blocked.

Mbeumo gets in behind and has the opportunity to run at goal.

However he is let down by his touch and Kelleher is able to collect.

A big chance for Brentford as the ball drops to Ouattara inside the penalty area.

However, he gets it wrong and drags his effort wide.

Following that half-time change, United are now lining up with three at the back, with Shaw and Dalot playing as wingbacks.

It is a system that the players will be used to after setting up that way for more than a year under Ruben Amorim.

A United corner finds Maguire who heads at goal.

However, he is denied again by Kelleher who makes another good stop.

Fernandes takes the kick-off for the hosts.

We are back underway in the second half.