Defender Raphael Varane has scored his first Premier League goal, as Manchester United returned to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Brentford on a night of potential farewells at Old Trafford.
Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo - the latter with a penalty - also scored in the last home fixture of a difficult campaign for United.
Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic were given starts by departing coach Ralf Rangnick in probably their final season with the club, while Edinson Cavani, who is also expected to leave, came off the bench.
United remain in sixth place with 58 points from 36 games, five behind fourth-placed Arsenal, after playing two more matches. Brentford have 40 points from 35 games and may need one more win to ensure they not dragged into a relegation fight.
Fans reportedly planned to walk out of the stadium in the 73rd minute in protest of the Glazer family owning the club for 17 years, but there was no mass exit, as most stayed to watch a rare commanding performance by United in recent months.
United had won only one of their previous seven games in all competitions and seen their hopes of playing Champions League football next season fade, but played with confidence and no shortage of quality from the first outset.
They opened the scoring on nine minutes with a well-worked goal, as Diogo Dalot fed Anthony Elanga with a superb pass on the right and the latter's cross was met on the volley by Fernandes.
Mata fired wide, after being teed-up by Ronaldo, and then returned the favour, with an excellent break on the left to feed the Portugal international, whose goal was disallowed, after he had strayed offside.
But Ronaldo won a clear penalty on the hour, when he was barged over in the box by Rico Henry and stepped up to convert a clinical spot-kick to settle any lingering home nerves.
Varane then scored his first goal for United, as he volleyed home from an Alex Telles corner just a minute before the walkout of fans was supposed to start, perhaps bursting that protest bubble.
Reuters
