Diogo Dalot has urged Manchester United to use Saturday's dramatic 2-1 win over Brentford as a "turning point" after a difficult start to the season.
United looked set for a third successive home league defeat for the first time since the 1970s when Brentford led at Old Trafford at the end of 90 minutes. However, a quickfire Scott McTominay double in injury time earned Erik ten Hag's side a much-needed three points.
It has been a frustrating campaign so far for United, who have lost half of their eight Premier League games and suffered back-to-back defeats in the Champions League to leave an uphill task of qualifying for the knockout stages.
But Dalot said the win against Brentford showed the fighting spirit of the squad, and insisted that United can use the result as a springboard for the rest of the season.
“It shows that we are here to fight, to suffer together,” the Portuguese full-back said. “I think the fans were behind us every step today and I think this can be a turning point and we want to look at this as a turning point. We know it will be difficult but that’s what it’s like being a Manchester United player and I think today was good proof that we can fight to the end.”
After McTominay struck the winner, Old Trafford erupted. However, earlier at halftime, with United again trailing, Dalot said the mood had been very different but controlled.
“We kept calm and we listened to what the manager said, trying to change a few things, to find more spaces on the full backs and trying to switch the game," Dalot said. "They [Brentford] were really tired at the end and that shows we kept them running in their own half and when it’s like that, it’s really difficult to get to the end of a game without being tired.
"We kept fighting and then when Scott [McTominay] came in with the energy and mentality he has, it shows we are a proper team and I am really happy for him. When you win a game like this you get to the dressing room excited and you can look at everybody you could see that they gave everything.”
McTominay came on the pitch in the 87th minute and only had four touches of the ball, two of them goals.
Man United v Brentford player ratings
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Manchester United ratings. Andre Onana: 4/10 - A few nerves when he played balls forward - and with good reason - since he’s become a liability in the last month. One of several culpable for the first goal against a side with three draws and two defeats from their last five games. Tipped over from Maupay on 82 and Norgaard on 83 minutes. EPA -
Diogo Dalot: 6/10 - Cleared off the line with Wissa waiting in front of him on 55 minutes. Struck over on the hour. One of the better players going forward, which isn’t saying much for a team short of goals. Getty -
Harry Maguire: 7/10 - First Premier League start and a winning one. Defended a 37th minute Brentford ball in. More than anything, he set up the winner by heading in a ball for McTominay. That was a huge moment and one United hope will be a turning point. PA -
Jonny Evans: 6/10 - Beat Mbeumo to an early ball to loud cheers at Old Trafford, then blocked from Wissa. Death stare at Onana for poor first half ball. Tired pass gave Maupay a chance on 83 minutes, but played well. AFP -
Victor Lindelof: 5/10 - Deputised at left back and started well, winning a ball near the Brentford box on 14. Roerslev had a lot of space in front of him. Reuters -
Sofyan Amrabat: 5/10 - Played in his more natural holding midfield role for the first time. Fortunate not to get a booking on 25 minutes. Dropped to base of a diamond at the break, but didn’t move the ball quickly enough. AP -
Casemiro: 4/10 - Gave the ball away before the first goal. He's had a couple of decent games recently, but his drop-off overall this season has been alarming. Getty -
Mason Mount: 5/10 - Advanced central midfield role against Brentford’s defensive 5-3-2, but difficult as Brentford sat back and defended their lead. Average. AP -
Bruno Fernandes: 5/10 - Played on the right and had four shots on target. Free kick towards goals on 41 minutes was headed away. Moved to front of a diamond in the second half. Strike on target on 70 minutes. AFP -
Marcus Rashford: 5/10 - Beaten to a poor Strakosha clearance by Norgaard. Right-footed shot towards near post on 36 minutes. Moved up front with Hojlund at half-time. Made positive runs, but too little movement around him. Applauded when he came off. One goal in 10 this season. Getty -
Rasmus Hojlund: 6/10 - Found it tough against Ethan Pinnock and a Brentford side content to defend, more so when they had their lead. Shot into side netting on 63. United controlled a lot of the game but created few chances. Kept trying. AP -
Man United subs. Eriksen (Casemiro, 45'): 6/10 - On for Casemiro at the break and showed much-needed urgency with an early drive on target. Floated a free kick 10 metres ahead of every other teammate on 65 minutes. AP -
Garnacho (Rashford, 63'): 7/10 - Fans were chanting his name as early as half an hour in. Excellent play on the left in the run up to the second goal. “Those games give fuel to a dressing room,” said Ten Hag. AP -
Antony (Mount, 63'): 6/10 - Tried to affect change on the right, with little effect, though United camped around the Brentford box in the last 10 minutes. Getty -
Martial (Lindelof, 71'): 6/10 - Sprinted forward on a counter attack, but his early ball towards Hojlund didn’t work. Threw himself down to try and get a penalty. Shot on target on 95 as United went for a winner. Reuters -
McTominay (Amrabat, 87'): 9/10 - On for Amrabat to a muted reaction. It was anything but when he equalised five minutes later. And the old stadium exploded in noise with his 97th minute header giving United three very welcome points. Hero. Getty -
Brentford ratings. Thomas Strakosha: 5/10 - Solid enough game for 90 minutes but then spilled late shot back into the danger area leading to equaliser and might have done better with winner. EPA -
Kristoffer Ajer: 7/10 - Impressive display on the right of Brentford's back three. Couple of surging runs down the flank to relieve the pressure on his side. PA -
Ethan Pinnock: 8/10 - Such a determined defensive performance. Headed, cleared and blocked everything. But after all that lost McTominay for the winner. AP -
Nathan Collins: 7/10 - Another solid performance as part of an organised and resolute Brentford backline. Reuters -
Mads Roerslev: 6/10 - Provided some width down the right and defended well right up until Garnacho got the better of him to create the equaliser. AFP -
Christian Norgaard: 7/10 - Defensive midfield anchor was crucial to the Bees' gameplan. AFP -
Vitaly Janelt: 7/10 - Reliable utility man screened effectively in front of the defence. Went close with speculative effort early in the game. Reuters -
Mathias Jensen: 8/10 - The one Brentford midfielder granted a bit of attacking freedom scored the opening goal. Decent on the ball and made intelligent forays forward. Getty -
Aaron Hickey: 6/10 - Booked early after giving the ball away and then dragging down Bruno Fernandes. EPA -
Yoane Wissa: 7/10 - Livewire presence on the break for the Bees. Caused havoc in the United defence in the prelude to Jensen's goal. AP -
Bryan Mbeumo: 7/10 - Powerful and willing runner for Brentford. Carried the ball effectively to help his team get up the pitch. Getty -
Brentford subs. Maupay (Wissa, 70'): 6/10 - Couldn't offer much of an outlet late on but did bring a save out of Onana from distance. Booked. Getty -
Onyeka (Janelt, 70'): 5/10 - Didn't offer the same stability as the man he replaced. Ghoddos (Jensen, 83'): N/A.
“Since I arrived I look to Scott and I see a lot of myself in him because he is a player you can always count on if he starts or is on the bench for a few games,” Dalot said. “He always comes in and gives his best for the team and he is a fantastic player. He could have played easy every weekend with us and he shows that, not just Scott but everyone who stepped on the pitch showed that they want to have an important role in the team and games like this.”
McTominay could have left in the close season, with reported interest from West Ham, but no club met United’s valuation.
“I think if you are a Manchester United fan you know that Scott will always love the club and will always fight for his place,” said Dalot. “I don’t know what was in his head [in the summer] but I am sure that once he decided he has to stay he gave 100 per cent and now we have to help him to get along every day with us and be with us as a team.”
The victory ended a difficult week for United, following a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League last Saturday and a 3-2 loss to Galatasaray in the Champions League – both at Old Trafford.
“We did a lot of things together [this week],” said Dalot. “Everyone got together and was focused on what we had to do. Tactically we always do that. But especially coming into the game feeling that we had to be a proper team. We controlled the game, created chances, we could have scored goals. The most important thing for me was that we fought until the end and that the fans are with us, they have been all the way, and we have to continue like this.”
Brentford, like Crystal Palace last weekend, went ahead and defended their lead from deep. It was a tactic that looked to have once again worked until McTominay's late heroics.
“It’s difficult because they are teams which defend very well,” said Dalot. “Brentford is a team that defends with five at the back and big centre-backs. All that they want is that you cross balls and that is their game.
"When they have a set piece they put balls in the box and this is the type of game where we cannot concede first. We have to control the game and the spaces will open up. But when things don’t go as you expect, you have to find ways to win and I think we found a way to win today.”
