MANCHESTER United need just two more points to secure a Champions League return after first-half goals from Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko were enough for them to win an entertaining encounter with Brentford.
Casemiro nodded home from an acute angle after Harry Maguire had guided a header to the far post after 11 minutes.
Bruno Fernandes then claimed his 19th assist of the season, one short of equalling the Premier League record, when he teed up Sesko three minutes before the break.
Michael Carrick’s side have four games left to complete the task set them by technical director Jason Wilcox in the immediate aftermath of Ruben Amorim’s dismissal in January.
Yet they might have done it before they get to half-time in their game against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday if Brighton and Bournemouth drop points in their weekend games.
The result is a blow to Brentford’s hopes of securing European qualification for the first time and extends their winless run to seven in all competitions.
Keith Andrews’ side only had themselves to blame though. In the first half in particular they had four clear chances to score and Dango Ouattara hit the post from inside the six-yard box in the second.
Mathias Jensen eventually scored with a thunderous effort three minutes from time but the equaliser would not come as Mikkel Damsgaard’s late header went straight to United goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
There is a lively debate raging about who should be awarded the main player of the year prizes.
Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Gabriel have their supporters, so too Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo. Two of that quartet will finish the season as Premier League champions. Bernardo Silva is the sentimental choice before he leaves English football. Ryan Cherki the bolter.
But no attacking player has been more effective, so consistently this season than Fernandes.
At times it has felt he has carried United.
Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne are two of the Premier League’s all-time greats. It is surely only a matter if of time before Fernandes eclipses them with the most assists in a season.
He is now one behind, with four games left.
His 19th – and seventh in as many matches – almost brought a look of apology for Bryan Mbeumo, so keen to make an impact against his old club.
Instead, as Fernandes streaked to the edge of the Brentford box, he passed left instead of right and Sesko scored the 11th goal of his debut campaign in English football.
That proved to be enough as it turned out. But before it all, Kobbie Mainoo had produced a wonderous mazy run into the Brentford area, then set up Amad Diallo, who missed.
At the end, Casemiro used all his experience to win a couple of free-kicks in the home penalty area as Brentford presser to find a leveller.
The Casemiro-Mainoo midfield pairing has been the standout improvement from the Ruben Amorim era. Casemiro has four games remaining of his Manchester United career. He will be badly missed.