(Football news) Manchester United beat Brentford 3-0 as goals from Bruno, Cristiano and Raphael Varane sealed an important victory for them. Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic were given starts by departing interim coach Ralf Rangnick in what is their final season with the club, while Edinson Cavani, who is expected to leave, came off the bench to bid his farewell to the Old Trafford crowd. United took the lead in the ninth minute when Bruno Fernandes tapped in from the centre of the area after a blistering run from Anthony Elanga who then managed to put in a cross as United looked to solidify 6th place in the table. 

Bruno Fernandes snapped an eight-match Premier League goalless streak with the first goal as they were playing their last match of the 2021-22 season at Old Trafford. The goal was Fernandes' 50th goal for the Red Devils. Ronaldo was on fire yesterday as he looked to have doubled the lead just before half-time, but the goal was ruled out for offside just before the half time break. David De Gea, as he has done all season, kept his side in the match with some amazing saves  from Christian Eriksen and Ivan Toney in the opening 15 minutes of the second half.

Ronaldo then finally got his much deserved goal after he won a penalty and then calmly converted from the penalty spot to make it 2-0 for the home side. Raphael Varane then got into the act by scoring his first goal for the club and left no doubt about the three points when he scored from a corner kick and beat Brentford keeper David Rayato. Mata was subbed off shortly after the third goal to a rousing ovation from the home crowd, with this being his last match for the club ahead of an expected move away from the club this summer. With this result United are on 58 points from 36 matches, six ahead of West Ham United who have a game in hand

Rangnick said the win over Brentford was a vast improvement when compared to their recent form "We were in control for most parts," Rangnick said. "In possession, that was one of our best performances this year. It was the type of performance we wanted to show to our supporters.

"We played with Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic, and that gave us some quality in midfield. It was not too easy for Brentford to take the ball away from us.

"In the first half we played too many square and back passes but in general it was a good performance

"We didn't really turn up," Brentford defender Pontus Jansson said. "We started well but gave away the first goal. We gave away too many chances and we shouldn't have conceded a penalty, or from a corner like we did in the second half."

"The last game of the season at home, we wanted a good result and a good performance," United captain Fernandes said after scoring his 50th goal for the club. "We know our standard has not been at [the level] everyone expects and our own expectations were bigger than this.

"The club has to get back at the level it deserves. There will be a time to meet the new coach [Erik ten Hag] and learn the way he wants to play, but first we must finish the season well."

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