Manchester United slumped to another damaging defeat on Saturday as Brentford ran out 3-1 winners at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Igor Thiago’s early brace had the home side two goals up inside 20 minutes, and though Benjamin Šeško struck his first United goal to reduce the deficit, Bruno Fernandes saw a second-half penalty saved before Mathias Jensen sealed the Bees’ win in stoppage time.
It was another afternoon that summed up United under Ruben Amorim – flashes of promise undone by poor defending, missed chances, and a system that continues to invite as many questions as it answers.
Thiago Punishes Early Chaos
Brentford were in front after just eight minutes. Jordan Henderson’s lofted ball from deep caught United’s back line square, with Harry Maguire gambling on an offside that never came. Thiago surged through and lashed beyond Altay Bayindir.
The Brazilian struck again soon after. Some comedic defending and Kevin Schade’s cross-shot was spilled by Bayindir, and Thiago reacted quickest to poke in from close range. Two goals in 12 minutes, and United were reeling.
Micah Richards, on Match of the Day, called the defending “shambolic.” It was hard to disagree. Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 left gaps everywhere, with Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt unsure whether to step up or drop.
SeSko’s First United Goal
There was at least a brief response. Patrick Dorgu’s looping cross caused chaos and Sesko pounced, bundling home after Kelleher had twice denied him. The £74m forward celebrated with relief, finally off the mark in United colours.
United grew into the game with more possession, but Brentford were happy to sit compact and counter. The hosts looked the more coherent outfit, while United’s new-look front line of Mbeumo, Cunha and Šeško often left the midfield two of Fernandes and Ugarte outnumbered.
Bruno misses but officials have shocker
The chance for redemption came midway through the second half. Bryan Mbeumo was hauled down by Nathan Collins inside the box, United had a penalty.
The caveat was that – almost unbelievably – a VAR check deemed the challenge unworthy of a red card as Mbeuno didn’t ‘have control’ of the ball. Bear in mind, this was a pull back that stopped the Cameroonian having a tap-in from about 8 yards out. An utterly baffling decision. This was after Matheus Cunha was clearly fouled in the build-up to Brentford’s first goal -a poor, poor display from the officials.
Brentford were also wrongly allowed to wrongly make subs before the penalty was taken. Bruno Fernandes waited almost five minutes to take it, and when he finally did, his low strike was read by Kelleher. Relief for Brentford, despair for United.
It was Bruno’s second miss of the season from the spot, and his confidence visibly drained. The team didn’t really push on from that moment and looked unlikely to equalise.
another mistake leads to the brentford third
With United pushing late on, gaps appeared.
In stoppage time Kobbie Mainoo had a relativey easy pass to Bruno Fernandes on his left, but dithered on the ball and was eventually dispossessed. Some slick one-touch passing allowed substitute Mathias Jensen to drive forward before smashing a swerving effort past Bayindir. 3-1, game over, and boos rang out from the travelling section.
Brentford deserved their win. They were aggressive, organised, and clinical, everything United were not. Amorim, meanwhile, has now overseen just 34 points from 33 league matches and is still without back-to-back league wins nearly a year into his reign.
Player Ratings & MOTM
Bayindir – 5: Some smart stops but at fault for Thiago’s second and beaten too easily late on.
De Ligt – 5: Looked lost in Amorim’s system, never sure of his positioning.
Maguire – 4.5: Culpable for opener, slow and exposed throughout.
Shaw – 5: Overworked trying to cover wide areas, caught out often.
Dalot – 4: Offered little going forward, defensively poor.
Ugarte – 3: Overrun by Brentford’s midfield three, dispossessed on the turn and when dithering on the ball time and time again.
Bruno – 4: Penalty miss summed up a miserable display – surely must be dropped from the central midfield pairing.
Dorgu – 5.5: Provided the cross for Šeško’s goal but faded.
Mbeumo – 5: Won the penalty, otherwise subdued against his former club.
Cunha – 5: Never got going, anonymous in final third.
Sesko – 6 & MOTM: Took three bites at it but finally grabbed his first United goal. The one positive.
Subs:
Mainoo – 5: At least tried to carry the ball, but at fault for the third goa.
Yoro – 5: Didn’t shore things up.
Mount – 5: Energy but little quality.
Zirkzee – 5: Barely touched it.
Looking Ahead
United are now winless in eight away league games, their longest run since 2019. The problems remain obvious: defensive lapses, a midfield that gets outnumbered, and poor execution in wide areas.
Amorim insisted afterwards he is “not concerned” about his job, but with Sunderland at Old Trafford next and fixtures against Liverpool, Brighton and Spurs looming, the pressure is intensifying.
Unless results turn quickly, the chants of “sacked in the morning” from Brentford fans may soon be echoed by United’s own.