Raphaël Varane seals Manchester United’s easy victory over Brentford

There are only two ways Manchester United can ease this miserable season. Win the last three matches and, if not, at least play some sparkling stuff that offers hope for the future along the way. Tonight they achieved the first part of the quest to claim all their available final points, and also the second: this was as good as Ralf Rangnick’s team have performed during his interim stewardship.

It was crowned by Raphaël Varane’s 72nd-minute goal, from a corner, 60 seconds before a walkout from the constituency disgruntled at the Glazer family. This was not observed in the numbers hoped for by the organisers: a sure sign of how the on-field product pleased home fans.

United, though, might still end with a new lowest Premier League points total and, this term, have had three managers and hired a new incoming one – Erik ten Hag. Barring a near-miracle there will be no Champions League qualification and the post-game lap of “appreciation” following this final home outing was one, surely, that caused all players embarrassment.

Game number 27 of Rangnick’s troubled interim managerial tenure began with an XI that had Juan Mata making a first league start this year – in place of Marcus Rashford, another sign of how his star has fallen. Cristiano Ronaldo, of course, has burnished his reputation following his return to the English game and there was no surprise when he jinked in behind Brentford’s rearguard and chested down a cute Diogo Dalot cross. Now, though, came a collector’s item: the usually clinical No 7 went to fire past David Raya and slipped, letting the visitors off the hook.

This came after Thomas Frank’s side nearly scored barely three seconds after kick-off when Bryan Mbeumo ran on to Christian Eriksen’s laser-like