Manchester United defeat Brentford, Michael Carrick praises team's mentality.

Manchester United defeated Brentford 2-1 at Old Trafford in a midweek Premier League match early Tuesday morning WIB. This victory solidified the position of Michael Carrick's team in third place in the Standings with 61 points from 34 matches.

Amid pressure from Liverpool, trailing by just three points in fourth place, the Red Devils demonstrated their mentality. Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko made the difference in a challenging match.

Brentford threatened several times through Igor Thiago. However, a combination of poor finishing and the resilience of Goalkeeper Senne Lammens thwarted the momentum of the visiting team.

United punished the opponent's lapse in concentration in the 11th minute. Starting from a corner kick, Harry Maguire directed the ball to the far post before Casemiro seized it with a sharp header. The hosts led 1-0.

That goal was Casemiro's ninth goal in the Premier League in his final season with Manchester United after it was confirmed he would leave at the end of the season.

Brentford nearly equalized minutes later, but Lammens again showed alertness. The visitors continued to press, while MU mostly waited for counter-attacking opportunities.

When Brentford failed to maximize their chances, MU demonstrated more clinical finishing quality. Two minutes before halftime, Bruno Fernandes delivered a precise pass to Benjamin Sesko who calmly converted it to make the score 2-0.

That assist was Fernandes' 19th assist of the season, cementing his role as MU's main attacking engine.

Entering the second half, Brentford continued to pose a threat. Dango Ouattara had two golden opportunities, including one shot that hit the post in the 71st minute.

Brentford finally reduced the deficit in the 87th minute through a beautiful goal by Mathias Jensen. The Danish midfielder unleashed a curling shot from about 20 meters out, beyond Lammens' reach.

However, that goal came too late. MU managed to protect their lead and secure three vital points at home.

"The match was open at times. We started the game very well. They are a good team and we knew that," said MU Manager Michael Carrick after the match to Sky Sports.

"They started to take control of the game for a period and were in a pretty good position at halftime. Because of that, we made a few changes in the second half," he continued.

Carrick asserted that this victory was determined by the team's character when under pressure in the final stages of the match.

"At the end of the game they had a few chances, but I saw the spirit, hard work, and togetherness of the players was really outstanding. At this stage of the season, the most important thing is the result, and we had to get the points," he emphasized.

With four matches remaining, the victory over Brentford could be one of the most crucial results for Manchester United in maintaining a top-three position until the end of the season.