The Reds were good value for the 3-2 victory, despite going down to 10 men in the first half when Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu was sent off in the first half.
Harry Maguire's header proved the difference after the break and the dogged display, appreciated by the Old Trafford crowd, yielded three important points to lift morale in advance of Sunday's Emirates FA Cup tie against Fulham.
ENCOURAGING STUFF
"It's really good for a coach to see that. It's one thing passing that moment to have a performance like this, when the performance is like this, it's not perfect, but we suffer a goal with one mistake.