Man Utd beat Brentford to close in on Champions League football

• Manchester United edged closer to securing Champions League football after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brentford on Monday.
• The win at Old Trafford saw Michael Carrick’s side solidify their grip on third place, establishing an 11-point lead over sixth-placed Brighton with just four matches remaining.
• Bruno Fernandes proved pivotal once again, delivering his 19th assist of the campaign for Benjamin Sesko’s goal. This places the Portuguese playmaker just one assist shy of the single-season record of 20, jointly held by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry.
• Casemiro had earlier opened the scoring with a header, continuing his impressive run of form.
• Despite United’s clinical edge, Brentford pushed for an equaliser, with Igor Thiago threatening and Dango Ouattara hitting the post. Mathias Jensen’s late long-range strike for the Bees set up a nervy conclusion, but Carrick’s men held firm to claim the crucial three points.