Copyright thescottishsun
MANCHESTER UNITED donned their new black kit, inspired by the strip Eric Cantona donned for his kung fu kick. Brentford put the boot in. United are still unable to secure back-to-back Premier League wins in a single season, an unedifying streak that dates back to May 2024. Worse yet, it is three defeats from six league games. Erik ten Hag was gone after four defeats in nine last October. The clocks have not gone back yet and time is ticking for Ruben Amorim. He warned United would have a “big problem” if they squandered the momentum of the victory against Chelsea. They have. All sides of the ground chanted, “Sacked in the morning” in added time. The United end quickly emptied amid another empty feeling. For the second month running, Bruno Fernandes misfired from the penalty spot. The four-minute wait between its award and Fernandes’ strike will not have helped as the VAR took an eternity to analyse a possible red card for Nathan Collins. United were convinced Collins, who deliberately tugged Mbeumo’s shirt, had denied a goalscoring opportunity. Collins was reprieved and ‘keeper Caoimhin Kelleher did his research by refusing to commit. What could have been a double boost ended demoralisingly. Amorim was as agitated as ever. The United coach frequently shook his head, usually in disbelief at the ease with which Brentford caused chaos in their opponent’s penalty area. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko started together for the first time, £207.12million. Fifty-nine minutes in, United’s away-dayers’ patience snapped as they roared, “Attack, attack, attack”, appalled by the lack of urgency with the team trailing. Altay Bayindir was scolded more than once by United fans for not releasing the ball quickly enough. That used to happen to Andre Onana last season. BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK There was more outcry from the away corner over United’s tame pressing. Bayindir was busier than opposite number Kelleher and kept United in it with an admirable denial of Dongo Ouattara. When the cavalry arrived, Amorim remained wedded to his 3-4-2-1 system and opted for another in-game change at centre back. Substitute Mason Mount – a playmaker – was on the left wing. “Bryan, Bryan, what’s the score?” the Brentford fans crowed. A minority booed Mbeumo but he was largely afforded a grateful welcome on his return as some Brentford fans applauded him during the pre-match warm-up. Sesko broke his duck at the third time of asking, denied in quick succession by Kelleher before his persistence paid off from close range. Harry Maguire had one of his worst days with United in the 4-0 drubbing at Brentford three years ago and he regressed to that low ebb for Brentford’s first goal. Maguire attempted to catch Igor Thiago offside from Jordan Henderson’s hoik from inside his third. The casualness of United’s retreat suggested their defenders were convinced the linesman’s flag would be raised. It wasn’t. Cunha protested, convinced he was fouled up the other end seconds before. He was in a huff for a good while after and received a ticking off from Fernandes. Cunha complained again to the referee when the teams re-emerged. Often overemotional, Cunha’s mood was not helped when Dalot bumped into him and the ball rolled out less than two minutes into the second half. Ralf Rangnick is the only United manager to have claimed three points at the Gtech Stadium and Thomas Frank claimed Brentford “smashed” United that night. They were under the cosh again. Bayindir, who handled an awkward early throw-in cleanly, briefly kept the scoreline down with two superb saves within 30 seconds until he parried the ball into Thiago’s path for a second on 20 minutes. Hardly an error. He then cracked in added time for Mathias Jensen’s clincher. Fernandes and Diogo Dalot started arguing. Dalot, back in the side after a four-week absence through injury, inexplicably abandoned his station when Aaron Hickey’s long punt dropped in United territory. Dalot raised his hand apologetically early in the second half when his intended pass for Fernandes went into touch. The gesture could have applied to his overall performance. Kevin Schade outsprinted him to get the ball in the first seconds of the contest and it happened again in the 64th minute. Amorim had little choice but to recall Dalot compatriot, with Noussair Mazraoui out until after the October internationals and Amad granted compassionate leave following a family bereavement. An irate Fernandes soon rounded on referee Craig Pawson, pointing out his apparent inconsistencies. His frustration boiled over with a high challenge on Dango Ouattara that drew a booking. The exasperation travelled to the away section, where the 1,725 United fans aired their impatience with Bayindir as he delayed a restart. The mood changed when Sesko pounced. Shaw and Maguire rushed to Amorim for a rethink while others congratulated Sesko. Maguire soon started dominating the aerial duels as United took the sting out of Brentford’s attacks. The trouble was United offered little in attack and their followers quietened quickly in the second half until Collins pulled Mbeumo back. Fernandes’ mood was soon as black as the colour of his shirt.
