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 - 0 Man Utd
42 mins: Pontus Jansson wins the ball and boots it long to Mbeumo. He tries to take on Varane but can’t weave around the centre-back. Fernandes sprints back to help out anf the visitors force Brentford to retreat with the ball.
Brentford 0 - 0 Man Utd
39 mins: Alex Telles challenges for an aerial ball and knocks it out for a throw in but lands awkwardly. He’s off the pitch for treatment as Mads Bech Sorensen chucks another long throw in into the United box but Greenwood heads it away. Brentford quickly recover the ball but the pass back into the box isn’t great and goes behind for a goal kick.
Brentford 0 - 0 Man Utd
36 mins: United press high up the pitch and whip crosses into the box from both sides but can’t pick anyone out in the middle. A clearance drops to Fred who blasts one from range and has his effort blocked from inside the area before Brentford eventually clear the danger.
Brentford 0 - 0 Man Utd
33 mins: Save! A brilliant counterattack from Brentford sees them burst down the right side before firing a diagonal ball over to Toney on the left. Jensen is up with the striker and Man Utd have just one man back to defend. Toney takes it into the box and slides a pass across to Jensen. He opens himself up to guide a shot to De Gea’s left but the United goalkeeper gets a leg to the ball again to deny Brentford an opener!
Brentford 0 - 0 Man Utd
30 mins: Canos fouls Telles on the left wing deep in Brentford’s half. Telles himself swings the set piece into the box but Ivan Toney gets to it first and bobbles the ball up for his goalkeeper to push over the crossbar!
Fernandes takes the corner but can’t beat the first man and Brentford work it clear.
Brentford 0 - 0 Man Utd
27 mins: Lovely build-up play from Man Utd allows them to work the ball through the centre of the pitch. McTominay to Fernandes who takes it to the edge of the box. Mason Greenwood is in space on the right but Fernandes’ pass is too soft and Sergi Canos boots it out play.
Brentford 0 - 0 Man Utd
24 mins: Chance! Dalot drifts inside from the right wing and receives a pass from McTominay. He decides to go for goal and hits a dipping shot towards goal. He connects well but the effort is slightly off target and Jonas Lossl watches it go wide of the target.
Leicester 1-1 Tottenham
Over at the King Power Stadium the teams have made it to half-time with the scores level. Patson Daka and Harry Kane have both scored in what is turning out to be an interesting contest between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
Brentford 0 - 0 Man Utd
21 mins: Twice Bruno Fernandes attempts to chip the ball into the Brentford penalty area but put too much power on both passes. Fred collects the ball in midfield and goes on fine run through the inside right channel before attempting to slip Anthony Elanga into the centre of the box. He underhits his pass and Brentford intercept the ball before it reaches the forward.
Brentford 0 - 0 Man Utd
18 mins: Cristiano Ronaldo presses Mads Roerslev and wins the ball deep in Brentford’s half. He slots it back to Bruno Fernandes and then gets hit with a late challenge from Roerslev winning United a free kick.
Bruno Fernandes flicks the set piece into the box but Brentford deal with it well.
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