Scott at the double in Fergie time to lift gloom at Old Trafford

ERIK ten Hag was crouching down and almost on his haunches in the second half. United were on their knees. Scott McTominay stood up.

- SAMUEL LUCKHURST

Those supporters who had stayed with their team all afternoon were rewarded. They got one goal. Then they got another.

With the grieving Sir Alex Ferguson not present, his fellow Scot paid the ultimate homage in Fergie Time. McTominay, unsatisfied with a sharp 93rd-minute equaliser he rifled in, rose to nod in a 97th-minute winner.

What catharsis for McTominay, the subject of a rejected £30million offer from West Ham. He slid on his knees in front of the stand named after Ferguson.

The Stretford End serenaded Ferguson, singing 'Every single one of us loves Alex Ferguson' two days after his wife, Cathy, passed away. The absent Ferguson will have loved the tributes on the terraces and on the pitch.

United have ended a galling losing streak and avoided breaking unwanted records dating back to the year Neville Chamberlain entered No.10 Downing Street.

There was no third successive home defeat for the first time since October 1962 and no third successive home league defeat since February 1979. This was not Brentford's first victory at Old Trafford since 1937. Within four minutes, United rose from 13th in the Premier League table to ninth. It is still not where they intend to finish yet this has to be the kick-starter.

For most of the afternoon, Ten Hag looked more agitated than ever in the technical area, tapping his watch as time ticked away. "You're getting sacked in the morning, crowed the Brentford fans. He will not be.

Ten Hag stood with his hands stuffed into his pockets during that rendition but cut loose when Bruno Fernandes lofted the ball into the area one last time.

United embarked on something akin to a lap of honour at fulltime, such was the elation at a first home league win in six weeks.