Scott McTominay was the hero on Saturday after coming off the bench to score two late goals as Manchester United beat Brentford 2-1.
United welcomed the Bees to Old Trafford off the back of six defeats from 10 games in all competitions, signalling their worst start to a season for 39 years. Erik ten Hag needed to get a win under his belt before the international break but saw his side concede a calamitous opener midway through the first half.
Casemiro gave the ball away in midfield and Victor Lindelof’s poor clearance fell to Mathias Jensen, whose relatively weak effort squeezed under Andre Onana. United looked to have been heading towards defeat, until McTominay’s introduction in the 87th minute.
The midfielder fired home an equaliser in the third minute of added time, and then sent Old Trafford into rapture with a winner in the 97th minute. It was an excellent afternoon off the bench for McTominay, who has fallen out of favour under Ten Hag amid a feeling he doesn’t have a clear role within the team.
United have been unable to get the best out of McTominay, especially since Ten Hag’s arrival. But one place the 26-year-old has consistently impressed in with Scotland. Back in March, he enjoyed a similar performance with both goals in a 2-0 win over Spain.
“As a kid, I was an attacking midfielder, then I became more of a sitting midfield player,” McTominay told Viaplay after that win. “But I like to do both, I like to get in the box but I also like to help my team-mates defend as well.
“For me, I’ve got to keep doing that, I know I can add more goals and assists to my game, and I think the last two games are a good example of that.”
Ten Hag might be minded to take that message on board, having seen a glimpse of what McTominay can offer as an all-action central midfielder on Saturday. The boyhood Red may not possess the technical quality of Bruno Fernandes or Christian Eriksen, but can bring energy to a team that had badly lacked it all season.
Erik ten Hag hints he got lucky as unheralded Man Utd transfer call reaps benefits
Erik ten Hag found an unlikely hero in Scott McTominay as the Manchester United star scored twice to see off Brentford having been linked with the exit door in the summer
Erik ten Hag last night thanked his lucky stars he didn’t sell Scott McTominay after the Scottish star scored two injury time goals against Brentford to hand his Dutch boss a priceless win.
Ten Hag admitted he’d have let Manchester United’s match-winning hero go in the summer if someone had stumped up the cash. United wanted £45 million for the 26-year-old star but bids fell short, leaving McTominay down the pecking order at Old Trafford.
But as United trailed to a first half goal from Mathias Jensen yesterday he climbed off the bench in the 87th minute and struck twice to ease the heat on Ten Hag.
“Every player has his price but he has a big value, sporting and also economic. No-one matched that value and I am happy to have a player like Scott McTominay in the squad. He is Man Utd in every way. Every minute he will fight for the team.”
McTominay was mobbed by delighted team-mates at the end of the game saying : “That might be one of my favourite moments on a football pitch. It was very loud when I came on, the fans were roaring us on so I couldn’t fully hear but the manager probably said something like: ‘Go on and score,’ which I did.
“There were no nerves, just never give up no matter the situation. At United it’s demanded that you never throw the towel in. I have been brought up here since I was five, I know that better than anyone.
Scott McTominay bagged a brace to land Man Utd three points (
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
“Two goals at the death was incredible, but I am just happy to be able to contribute and show people that I can do it.
“It’s a massive win. Everyone knows we are in a difficult period at the minute, but we have fighters in the group that want to keep going right until the end. Hopefully we can build on that from here.”
Added Ten Hag : “These games give fuel to the dressing room. They know how far they have to go to get results. In football it is eat or get eaten. Too many times in the first half of this season we got eaten by opponents who are more hungry. This can’t be, it has to go away.
“Every player has to deliver that in every second he is on the pitch. That is the demand. We were not always determined on every occasion in games, and you get hammered for it. This has to change.”
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