Brentford held firm in the face of a late Manchester United onslaught to emerge with a 4-3 victory in front of their home fans on Sunday afternoon.

Ruben Amorim confessed that “pride” is all United can still salvage from this disappointing Premier League season. “We have nothing [else] to fight for,” he lamented. Late goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo slightly redeemed their reputation, even though United were outperformed for significant portions of a deserved loss.

With the club’s attention firmly set on next week’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Athletic Club, Amorim fielded the youngest starting XI in United’s Premier League history. Mason Mount, one of the more seasoned players in the lineup, surprised the hosts by scoring early in the first fifteen minutes, but Brentford soon clawed back into the game.

The Bees took the lead with two goals scored just six minutes apart in the first half. Mikkel Damsgaard leveled the score for Brentford with a long throw, unintentionally deflecting the ball past Altay Bayindir with Luke Shaw accidentally getting in the way, before Kevin Schade put the hosts ahead with a header while Matthijs de Ligt lay on the field seeking medical attention.

All 11 United players were on the pitch and upright by the time Schade headed in his second goal after 70 minutes, although, once again poor Tyler Fredicson was the only blue shirt anywhere near the German goalscorer. Yoane Wissa added a fourth four minutes later at the sharp end of a flowing move.

Garnacho and Amad restored some credibility with a pair of scorching efforts in the closing stages, although the pride that Amorim is chasing over the remainder of this domestic campaign remains thoroughly elusive.

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

Subs not used: Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson (GK), Ben Mee, Ethan Pinnock, Yunus Konak.

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

Subs not used: Tom Heaton (GK), Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund.