IT took a bang on the head to give them a kick up the backside and drag Erik ten Hag back from the brink at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag was plummeting towards more Manchester United mayhem after a hugely controversial call from referee Sam Barrott helped Brentford to a half-time lead.

Rasmus Hojlund leads celebrations after his Man Utd comeback winner

Hojlund lifted United’s second classy goal of the second period

Alejandro Garnacho angled the Red Devils level

Yet it also finally fired up a lethargic United, who hit back with second half strikes from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund to nick the points.

Goals that may also prove vital in easing some of the pressure on under-fire Ten Hag, who would have faced a whole new world of trouble had the Reds crashed once again.

And boy, didn’t he look to be heading there after an incredible moment when referee Barrott left United a man light on the brink of the break by sending Matthijs de Ligt to the sideline.

Ethan Pinnock nodded a controversial opener for Brentford

Mind you, until they were left spitting the dummy and crying foul, precious little else looked like firing the Reds into producing a match-winning performance.

For the team which reappeared after the break was a million miles away from the one which had staggered and stuttered throughout a pretty dismal and dreary first half.

Well, a pretty mundane opening 45 minutes until referee Barrott lit the touchpaper with that “get-off-and-get-it-sorted” command to De Ligt.

Ninety seconds after the restart they were level, courtesy of Alejandro Garnacho’s exquisite far post side-footed volley, after Marcus Rashford’s swinging cross.

And to think it was Brentford who had claimed the benchmark for quickfire openings, after rapid-fire goal-scoring kick offs in each of their last four games.

Yet once United were level yesterday, you never really expected any other outcome than a home victory. On 63 minutes it was a giant stride closer, too.

A glorious moment for Rasmus Hojlund, the striker so in need of a Premier League goal, and also for Bruno Fernandez, the engine room wizard whose magic had gone missing.

Christian Eriksen paved the way by drilling a pass to skipper Fernandez – who set Hojlund haring in on goal with the most magnificent of disguised flicks.

You would never have imagined that the United striker, who has only scored once in the Europa League this season, was the one who kept his composure to dink over Mark Flekken to score.

You have to give him credit for another massive slice, or even a rasher, of irony at this hot moment.

Perhaps it was written in the stars that a Danish man would be the one to rescue Ten Hag’s bacon.