Staff Reporter.
Manchester United climbed back into the Premier League’s top four by overcoming Brentford Football Club 1-0 at Old Trafford.
Marcus Rashford’s 15th Premier League goal of the season – and 28th in all competitions for his club – secured the win.
It took United back above Tottenham in the race to qualify for the Champions League, and was the response manager Erik ten Hag needed following Sunday’s defeat at Newcastle.
Brentford, who are chasing European qualification, lost for only the second time in 17 Premier League matches.
Scott McTominay and Antony went close before Rashford finished from close range, with a headed assist by Marcel Sabitzer, after the Bees failed to deal properly with a corner.
Brentford, flat for large parts of the first half, were much better after half-time and United were relieved to hear the final whistle.
Home goalkeeper David de Gea needed treatment after making a crucial save to keep out substitute Kevin Schade.
United are level on 53 points with third-placed Newcastle – and three ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham, who have played one more game than their rivals.
Brentford stay ninth – three points behind sixth-placed Brighton, having played two more games than the Seagulls.
Meanwhile a series of defensive lapses from West Ham United saw Newcastle United claim a 5-1 thumping win at London Stadium.
Elsewhere Frank Lampard is set to be appointed interim Chelsea manager until the end of the season – just over two years after the club sacked him.
The ex-Chelsea and England midfielder previously managed the Blues from July 2019 until January 2021, when he was replaced by Thomas Tuchel.
The Blues are 11 points outside the top four, despite having spent more than £550m on new players this season.
They travel to Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday and face Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on 12 April.
In his previous managerial spell at the club, Lampard guided Chelsea to the FA Cup final in his first season in charge, having joined from Derby County.
Lampard – the club’s record goalscorer – led them to 44 wins from 84 matches, but picked up five defeats in his last eight league games, as many as in the previous 23.