As referee Andre Marriner put his whistle to his lips to signal the end of the first half, there probably wasn't a more relieved man inside the Brentford Community Stadium than David de Gea.
The Manchester United goalkeeper, not for the first time this season, had spared his team-mates' blushes and kept them out of jail, producing a string of important saves, not least the one he made with his feet to thwart Brentford midfielder Mathias Jensen just past the half hour mark.
As has been a common and continuous theme for United this season, highlighting their troubles, De Gea was proving to be their best player on the pitch, with his heroics ensuring they headed into half time with the scores, much to the relief of the travelling contingent of away supporters, level at 0-0.
Without stating the obvious, the times that De Gea has bailed United out this season is now becoming impossible to remember, with his performances, when others' have faltered, gone up through a seemingly never ending chain of gears.
Although the headlines will centre around the likes of Anthony Elanga and Mason Greenwood for their second half contributions in front of goal, De Gea's importance in contributing to United's first away win since December 11 cannot be forgotten. If it wasn't for him, they would have headed back to the dressing room at the break two or three nil down and staring down the barrel at a second Premier League defeat in their last three games.
With the Spaniard's performance levels continuing to improve, and his importance becoming all the more obvious, United need to soon commit to the idea of tying the former Atletico Madrid man down to a new contract, with his current deal, although he does have the option of an additional year, poised to expire at the end of next season.
At the time of his current deal reaching its conclusion on June 30, 2023, De Gea will be 32-years-old, an age that usually, for a goalkeeper, marks the beginning of their peak years between the sticks.
Although he has had to stand up to his fair share of critics during his Old Trafford career, not least former United captain Roy Keane, De Gea deserves to be recognised and rewarded for his performances this season, even if United's decision to offer the Spaniard a new deal will almost certainly force Dean Henderson to push harder for an exit.
Whilst Henderson is still considered as United's future No.1, De Gea has made the No.1 shirt his own for all the right reasons this season. There is no denying that.
On current form, United, one would think, are guaranteed to activate the option in the Spain international's current deal by a further year, taking him through until the summer of 2024. But considering that he would only be 33 by that time, you would expect De Gea to still have plenty left in the tank, even though no guarantees, especially in football, can be made.
Nevertheless, De Gea's heroics against Brentford, yet again, underlined his importance to this current United team. Without him they would, undoubtedly, be facing even more criticism than they have had to endure this season.
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