What Manchester United did at Carrington last week to prepare for Brentford fixture

Man Utd came into their Premier League fixture against Brentford on Saturday needing a win and they got it thanks to some late heroics from Scott McTominay.

Manchester United’s players were determined to show the world that they are a “proper team” ahead of their thrilling comeback win against Brentford, with a sense of unity on show at Carrington after a disastrous start to the season.

Successive Old Trafford defeats by Crystal Palace and Galatasaray had cranked up the pressure on a United side who had lost six of their first 10 games this season and for most of Saturday afternoon, it looked like the Bees would make it three home defeats in a row in all competitions for United for the first time since 1962.

But trailing 1-0 in injury time, Scott McTominay scored twice to lift the roof off Old Trafford and buy Erik ten Hag and his players some breathing space during the international break. When McTominay’s second goal hit the back of the net in the 97th minute, 10 United players celebrated together in front of the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, while Diogo Dalot sank to his knees on the edge of the penalty area and punched the turf in a mixture of delight and relief.

After another difficult week, Dalot revealed the mood had remained upbeat at Carrington since Tuesday and that there was a desire to show they remain a team on Saturday, something epitomised by McTominay, who only came onto the pitch in the 87th minute.

“We did a lot of things together. Everyone got together and was focused on what we had to do,” Dalot explained of the process at Carrington since the 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray.

“Tactically we always do that but especially coming into the game feeling that we had to be a proper team. We controlled the game, created chances, we could have scored goals. The most important thing for me was that we fought until the end and that the fans are with us, they have been all the way, and we have to continue like this.

“When you win a game like this you get to the dressing room excited and you can look at everybody and everybody was… you could see that they gave everything. At half-time we kept calm and we listened to what the manager said, trying to change a few things.

“We kept fighting and then when Scott came in with the energy and mentality he has it shows we are a proper team and I am really happy for him.”

It was a red-letter day for McTominay, with the 26-year-old bringing his heroic goalscoring form for Scotland to his club. After coming off the bench with the situation looking desperate, he fired in a smart equaliser after 93 minutes before heading in the winner, from a Harry Maguire assist, in the 97th minute.

The passion with which McTominay celebrated showed what the club means to him, having been affiliated to United since he was five years old, and Dalot praised the match-winner for making the most of his opportunity.

“Since I arrived I look to Scott and I see a lot of myself in him because he is a player you can always count on, if he starts or is on the bench for a few games, he always comes in and gives his best for the team,” he said.

“He is a fantastic player, he could have played easy every weekend with us and he shows that, not just Scott but everyone who stepped on the pitch showed that they want to have an important role in the team and games like this to show that.”

McTominay’s magic moment was particularly satisfying for a midfielder who could have easily left the club in the summer. Ten Hag gave consideration to selling the academy graduate and had West Ham raised their offer or Kobbie Mainoo not been injured in pre-season, then he could have departed.

With Mainoo back in first-team training and Sofyan Amrabat used in midfield for the first time on Saturday, McTominay still faces a fight for his place in the side, but Dalot knows his commitment will never waiver.

“I think if you are a Manchester United fan you know that Scott will always love the club and will always fight for his place,” he said. “I don’t know what was in his head but I am sure that once he decided he has to stay he gave 100% and now we have to help him to