Erik ten Hag handed major reprieve as Man Utd survive Brentford scare - 5 talking points

Rasmus Hojlund was the comeback king for as 's side got back to winning ways with a much-needed victory at home to .

The Red Devils, who started the day 14th in the table and were without a win from their last three five games in all competitions, found themselves behind on the brink of half-time. Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock , as United centre-back was forced off by the referee with a bloody head injury, despite pleading with the officials to let him carry on.

's men weren't in the ascendancy for long, though, as two minutes after the break, and Alejandro Garnacho combined to draw level. The comeback was complete 15 minutes later, as finished with aplomb and made sure that United came out of a dramatic afternoon with all three points, allowing the under-fire Ten Hag to breathe a sight of relief.

Here are five talking points from Old Trafford.

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1. Martinez the makeshift

Somewhere among the pile of United's problems is the left-back position, as it's been all season. Long-term injuries to and Tyrell Malacia prompted Ten Hag to sign Noussair Mazraoui from in August, forcing the versatile Diogo Dalot to shift across to the left.

After Mazraoui underwent minor heart surgery during the international break, the Moroccan was only fit enough for the bench against Brentford. That forced Ten Hag to get his thinking cap on and used the left-footed Lisandro Martinez to plug the gap, meaning that Jonny Evans partnered De Ligt in the centre.

Martinez almost made the breakthrough in the 21st minute after Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken had a near-calamity with the Argentine's header, with Hojlund lurking. It was Brentford, though, who enjoyed the better start, as Andre Onana most notably needed to save well from Christian Norgaaard to avoid United going behind.

2. Furious Ten Hag made to pay for De Ligt gamble

As if Ten Hag didn't have enough defensive issues to contend with, especially with now in the stands thanks to an injury before the international break, the sight of blood gushing from De Ligt's head after just 11 minutes was a major concern. £43million signing De Ligt had headed the outstretched knee of Kevin Schade and it looked as if Victor Lindelof would be coming on to replace him.

But the Dutch centre-back didn't want to be subbed, nor did Ten Hag want to bring him off - a gamble which didn't pay off. Although De Ligt was fine for most of the first half, blood started to pour down his face again in added time.

United's medical staff did their best to stop the flow but the wound soon opened up again after the 25-year-old came back on, so by law referee Samuel Barrott couldn't allow him to continue. That was at a Brentford corner and once you saw De Ligt's protests about the potential danger his team-mates were now in, you knew what was coming next.

As Mikkel Damsgaard swung in his delivery, Ethan Pinnock easily got away from Dalot and capitalised on the space, thumping a header past Andre Onana. As De Ligt, Ten Hag and his coaching staff complained to the fourth official, boos rang out around Old Trafford from the Red Devils' disgruntled supporters, having also seen their team surpass 300 minutes with a Premier League goal during another miserable opening 45 minutes.

The pressure was on.

Get involved! Should the referee have allowed Matthijs de Ligt to play on? Have your say in the .

3. Rashford and Garancho waste no time

Any fans who took a bit too long finishing their half-time pie or pint maybe didn't that think they'd miss much given United's lack of goals. Rashford and Garnacho had other ideas, though, shifting the momentum with a brilliant combination. Rashford picked the ball up on the right and producing a pinpoint lobbed pass over the top of Brentford's defence for Garnacho to run onto.

Speeding in from the left, the United star had no option but to volley the ball first time and he got it spot on, leaving Flekken with no chance and making it 1-1. The Red Devils continued to push on second goal, with Garnacho going close again before Casemiro tested Flekken. Ten Hag's men had produced the desired response.

4. Hojlund the hero

Suddenly, United weren't looking like a team who've been sorely lacking goals this season. The tempo was up, Brentford were pinned and Hojlund's goal epitomised their turnaround.

Martinez picked up a loose clearance just beyond the halfway line before Christian Eriksen fired the ball to Fernandes 25 yards from goal. Instead of taking it for himself, the Red Devils captain produced a deft flick for Hojlund to latch onto.

United's No.9 was being closed down by the cap-wearing Flekken but showed his composure with a chipped finish, putting the hosts ahead in style.

5. Zirkzee's concerning cameo

Once Hojlund, who's only recently returned from an injury in pre-season, had gone off, Ten Hag was hoping for £34m signing Joshua Zirkzee to help see out the game and potentially grab a third. Unfortunately for the Red Devils boss, Zirkzee continued in the same vein as his previous appearances.

His first act was to give the ball away in his own half and put Brentford on the attack, only for United's defence to quickly snuff it out. Zirkzee then had it on a plate to wrap up the three points when Rashford provided him with a clear-cut opportunity, but the former Bologna striker somehow couldn't control the ball and the chance went begging.

Brentford then began their onslaught, testing the valiant De Ligt and veteran Evans at the heart of the Red Devils' defence. United lost Casemiro in the closing stages with a suspected calf injury, as Manuel Ugarte came on to see out the victory.

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