Brentford vs Manchester United LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight
Follow all the action from the Brentford Community Stadium as the Red Devils look to head back into the top six
Was this the attitude Cristiano Ronaldo demanded? Whatever about refusing to accept criticism, Manchester United’s new generation refused to accept anything other than victory. It was certainly the response, and the result, Ralf Rangnick and his team needed. On a night when they were often second best to Brentford, and mere days after Ronaldo gave such a pointed interview about the attitude of younger players, three of the club’s youth graduates scored to secure a crucial 3-1 win in the race for fourth. The table looks that bit better for United. The mood is that bit improved.
That’s the spirit of youth, that feels all the more special when another new academy player scores. The 19-year-old Anthony Elanga was no mere detail in adding to United’s long list of historic teenage goalscorers, though. He offered the most important moment of the game at Brentford Community Stadium, brilliantly improvising on a hopeful cross to give United a lead they scarcely deserved.
Neither he or the team looked back. They were instead racing away, especially for the two moments that clinched it. Mason Greenwood slid in the second on the break before substitute Marcus Rashford thrashed in to score his first goal since October. The angry nature of the finish made it seem like Rashford was proving a point.
Follow all the live reaction after Brentford vs Manchester United below:
Manchester United’s young stars provide clinical touch to down wasteful Brentford
Brentford boss Thomas Frank ‘flattered’ by Christian Eriksen talk
Aaron Wan-Bissaka set to miss two more Manchester United games through illness
Ralf Rangnick’s stance on Paul Pogba’s Manchester United contract is risky but realistic
Brentford 0 - 3 Man Utd
80 mins: 10 minutes to go with Brentford trying to wrestle the momentum away from the visitors. Telles heads a cross from the left side behind for a corner. The set piece is swung into the box but Fernandes wins the initial ball and heads it to the back of the box. Toney collects the loose ball and attempts to set up a shot from outside the box but McTominay is out quickly to clear the danger.
GOAL! Brentford 0 - 3 Man Utd (Rashford, 77’)⚽️
77 mins: Points secured. McTominay wins the ball in midfield then shakes off two tackles before driving up the pitch. He feeds the ball to Fernandes who carries it up to the box and then lays it off to Rashford. He’s just got the goalkeeper to beat and fires a right footed strike past Lossl to give United an unassailable lead.
Brentford 0 - 2 Man Utd
76 mins: Mads Roerslev lifts a cross over to the far post but Dalot has it covered and knocks the ball out of the box. Brentford recover the ball and attack down the left. A pass comes across to Ivan Toney who shoots but has his effort blocked by Varane in the penalty area.
Brentford 0 - 2 Man Utd
73 mins: United have gone to a back three now with Maguire, Varane and Lindelof. Ralf Rangnick obviously doesn’t want them to surrender another two goal lead.
Telles swings a free kick into the box for the visitors but can’t pick out a teammate and Brentford work it away.
Brentford 0 - 2 Man Utd
70 mins: Ralf Rangnick makes a double change for Manchester United with Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire coming on for Mason Greenwood and Cristiano Ronaldo.
That second change hasn’t gone down well with the United fans. Ronaldo himself isn’t happy about it at all.
Leicester 2-3 Tottenham⚽️
90+7 mins: Serious carnage happening at the King Power Stadium! Steven Bergwijn draws Spurs level again before winning the game for the visitors in stoppage time! What has gone on there?!
It’s full-time and Tottenham take all three points
Brentford 0 - 2 Man Utd
65 mins: Shandon Baptiste and Rico Henry are on for Brentford with Sergi Canos and Vitaly Janelt the two men replaced.
Bruno Fernandes lifts a pass into the box for Ronaldo who collides with one of the Brentford centre-backs and goes down in a heap of theatrics. Referee Andre Marriner just ignores him.
GOAL! Brentford 0 - 2 Man Utd (Greenwood, 62’)⚽️
62 mins: It’s two! Ruthless stuff from Man Utd. Scott McTominay wins the ball in the middle of the pitch and chips it up to Cristiano Ronaldo. He chests the ball in behind the Brentford back line as Bruno Fernandes storms through the lines. He collects the ball drives into the penalty area and squares it across to Mason Greenwood for a tap in.
Brentford 0 - 1 Man Utd
60 mins: It will be interesting to see how Brentford play this now. Against Liverpool at the weekend they threw men forward after conceding the first goal but that opened up their defence and they conceded two more goals without reply. Will they do the same tonight with the belief that United aren’t as clinical as Liverpool?
Brentford 0 - 1 Man Utd
58 mins: Chance! Scott McTominay drives forward for the visitors and blasts a shot from range. It bounces just in front of Lossl who manages to turn it wide of the right-hand post.
Fernandes swings the resultant corner into the box for Man Utd but Brentford boot the ball back down the pitch.
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