Bruno Fernandes: Brentford boss Keith Andrews analyses Man United star

Brentford were excellent for large stretches of the match, cutting through United’s defence at times with incisive precision. If Brazilian frontman Thiago had remembered to pack his shooting boots, Carrick’s men would have endured a much more difficult evening. Instead, where the London side were wasteful, the Red Devils were ruthless, converting two of their three best chances in the first half to go 2-0 up before the interval.

The third, a bullet header by Harry Maguire, required Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to make a fantastic save to claw it away. While it was not Fernandes’ best performance of an imperious campaign, it is a testament to his consistency and quality that he still ultimately made the difference, as his pinpoint delivery helped create Casemiro’s opening goal, while his rampaging run through the heart of Brentford’s defence set up Sesko for the second. It puts the Portugal international on 19 assists for the season, just one away from equalling the Premier League record , held jointly by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

With four games remaining, momentum suggests there will be a new record holder at the end of May. Momentum is also building for Fernandes to be crowned Player of the Year, with no other contender coming close to the level he is operating at, even if his team will not challenge for any major honours. There is precedent for winners coming from sides who have not won anything themselves, however.

United’s Talisman Andrews, who took charge of Brentford last summer, was asked whether Fernandes deserved the award in a press conference after the match. And while the 45-year-old Irishman did not answer specifically, he described the United captain as a “talismanic figure”, suggesting he was a worthy winner. “He is a top player and has been for a number of years for United, a talismanic figure and he has been at the forefront of what they have done.