Manchester United eased the pressure on beleaguered manager Erik ten Hag as the Red Devils came from behind to beat Brentford 2-1 at Old Trafford, while Tottenham got back on track with a 4-1 rout of West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday.
Ten Hag had defiantly slammed “fairy tales and lies” about his United future on Friday as the Dutchman insisted he was not in danger of the sack.
But the 54-year-old coach is widely believed to be fighting to save his job after presiding over United’s worst start to a top-flight season since 1989-90.
Ten Hag was surely teetering on the brink of being dismissed after Brentford pounced to take the lead in first-half stoppage time when Ethan Pinnock met a corner with a powerful header.
The goal sparked a furious reaction from Ten Hag, who was booked for protesting about Matthijs de Ligt’s enforced absence to have treatment on a bloodied head wound.
But Alejandro Garnacho started United’s revival in the 47th minute as the Argentinian met Marcus Rashford’s angled pass with a superb volley into the top corner.
Rasmus Hojlund bagged the decisive second goal in the 62nd minute, taking Bruno Fernandes’ clever flick and clipping a composed finish over Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
United’s first win in six games in all competitions was only their third victory in eight Premier League matches this term.
They sit 10th in the table ahead of an intriguing week, featuring a Europa League trip to Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce and a visit to West Ham.
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Tottenham, on the other hand, scored three goals in eight second-half minutes against the Hammers to ease the pain of their recent collapse in a 3-2 loss at Brighton.
Mohammed Kudus’ opener for West Ham was cancelled out before the break by Dejan Kulusevski.
Tottenham ran riot after the interval thanks to Yves Bissouma’s strike, an own goal from West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, and a fourth from Son Heung-min.
It was a third win in four league games for Ange Postecoglou’s men, heaping pressure on new West Ham coach Julen Lopetegui after his side’s spluttering start to the season.
Brighton moved up to fifth place with a 1-0 victory at Newcastle on a day of mixed emotions for Danny Welbeck, who scored the 35th-minute winner but was later stretchered off with a back injury that left him needing an oxygen mask.
Leicester also staged a stirring fightback to snatch a dramatic 3-2 victory at winless Southampton.
Fourth-placed Aston Villa extended their unbeaten run to nine matches in all competitions with a 3-1 win at Fulham.
Everton clinched their first away win in 16 games in all competitions with a 2-0 victory against Ipswich.
Third-placed Arsenal will go top of the table if they win at Bournemouth in Saturday’s final match.
On Sunday, Liverpool, currently in pole position, host sixth-placed Chelsea, while champions Manchester City travel to Wolves.
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