Diogo Dalot calls for Man United to make their dramatic late win over Brentford a ‘turning point’ after suffering a poor start to the season – and insists the club must prove its fighting spirit under Erik ten Hag

Diogo Dalot has called on his Manchester United team-mates to show their comeback win against Brentford is a ‘turning point’ and not a false dawn when they return from the international break.

Scott McTominay came off the bench to hit two goals in stoppage time to rescue what appeared three unlikely points for United, ensuring they did not lose three consecutive home games in all competitions for the first time since 1962.

Dalot made no secret of the fact that the frustration of the fans – there were jeers and some boos after defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray – has weighed on players, but they must now use McTominay’s late show as a springboard to get their ailing season back on track.

‘I think it means a little bit more than three points for us after these last couple of weeks,’ the Portuguese full-back said.

‘I think the way that we won. Obviously I didn’t mind to score a few goals earlier than the 90 minutes but I think it shows we are here to fight, we are here to suffer together.

Scott McTominay scored two injury time goals to see United beat Brentford 2-1 at Old Trafford 

Dalot believes the frustration has played on players minds but says the club showed fight 

‘I think the fans were behind us every step of the way and I think this can be a turning point for us and we want to look at this as a turning point and we know it’s going to be difficult. That’s how it’s meant to be to be a Manchester United player and today I think was proof we can fight until the end.’

Brentford took a not-so-surprising lead through Mathias Jensen in the first half when a series of defensive errors was compounded by a poor save on the finish from Andre Onana.

At half-time Erik ten Hag called for calm and Dalot believes that game-plan to tire Brentford out eventually paid dividends.

‘When you win a game like this you get to the dressing room obviously excited and you could look at everybody and everybody… you could see that they gave everything,’ he said of the full-time celebrations.

‘At half-time we kept calm and listened to what the manager had to say, trying to change a few things and I think we did it.

‘We tried to find a little bit more space on the full-backs because I think the free space was there, and tried to switch the game a lot of times.

Erik ten Hag celebrates the win over Brentford after call for calm from his players at half time 

‘I think they were really tired at the end and that shows we played in their half, kept them running and when it is like that it’s very difficult to get to the end of the game without being tired and we kept fighting and fighting. When Scott comes in, with all the energy that he has, the mentality, that shows that we are a proper team and I’m very happy with the result.’

United go into the international break sat in 10th in the Premier League table after four wins and four defeats from their opening eight league games.

They return to Premier League action away against Sheffield United on October 21 before a heavyweight Manchester Derby against rivals City at Old Trafford a week later.

‘The most important thing for me was the way we fought until the end, the way the fans showed the support for us and that shows they are with us,’ Dalot concluded.

‘They have been with us all the way and we have to give [back] like this.’