Ten Hag's positive day

Image source, Getty Images

  • Author, Simon Stone at Old Trafford
  • Role, Chief football news reporter

It was a good day for Erik ten Hag.

Quite often recently, the Manchester United manager has been a beleagured figure, making arguments that don't quite make sense to defend his team or make them appear to be something they are not.

There is a lot of work ahead before the current 'crisis' can be regarded as being over. Peril is everywhere, starting with a meeting with former United boss Jose Mourinho in Istanbul on Thursday.

But, other than maximising their chances, which still didn't happen against Brentford, and defending the corner where the visitors scored their goal better, United did well.

They were reasonably in control in the first-half despite Thomas Frank arguing Brentford were the better team, and they never really looked in danger in the second, even though their advantage was slight.

Bizarrely, that is three games without defeat now - or one defeat in seven. What they have to do now is string a run of victories together.

Today was a start. United deserve credit for it. But they need to do much more.