Manchester United vs Brentford LIVE: Premier League result as Rasmus Hojlund completes turnaround
Manchester United 2-1 Brentford: Erik ten Hag’s side came from behind to claim their first win in six attempts
Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund got on the scoresheet as Manchester United bounced back after conceding a controversial goal to beat Brentford 2-1 at Old Trafford for their first victory in more than a month.
The win meant United climbed to 10th in the standings on 11 points after eight matches, and eased some of the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag, whose job has been the subject of media speculation. Brentford are 12th on 10 points.
United had 10 men on the pitch when Ethan Pinnock headed in Brentford’s goal from a corner deep in first-half stoppage time after referee Sam Barrott instructed Matthijs de Ligt to go to the touchline to stem the bleeding from a gash on his head.
United came out of the break fired up and Garnacho latched onto a cross from Marcus Rashford to fire home from the left side of the six-yard box into the far corner in the 47th minute.
Hojlund put the home side ahead in spectacular fashion in the 62nd when Bruno Fernandes found him with a back-heel pass, and the Dane chipped the ball over goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
Manchester United vs Brentford
Casemiro has a go from range, and the sun-blinded Flekken saves again! The cap-wearing Dutchman didn't look too sure where that was, yet he does well in the low sunlight.
Manchester United vs Brentford
Garnacho nearly gets a second! Van den Berg is allowing the winger too much space and he jinks in from the left to fire low. Flekken tips it from the bottom-left corner in agile fashion.
Manchester United vs Brentford
Brentford have conceded three goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Only West Ham United (four) have conceded more in the Premier League this season.
Manchester United vs Brentford
Rashford and Hojlund link up superbly on the edge of the Brentford box and the latter runs inside, yet Pinnock slide tackles superbly.
Manchester United vs Brentford
We're back underway at Old Trafford as United have work to do.
Manchester United vs Brentford
With that showing, Manchester United have now failed to score a first-half goal in seven of their eight games, more often than any other team in the Premier League this season. Something has to change for Ten Hag if he wishes his keep his job. United's half chances have culminated in a lowly xG of 0.28. Although Brentford have largely operated on the counter, their xG of 0.83 hints at far more positivity going forward, and their decisive nature in front of goal has illustrated they're not just early goal gimmick-chasers. United can't play victim for too long in this one, otherwise Brentford could pull away.
Manchester United vs Brentford
The interval arrives and Brentford lead 1-0 here at Old Trafford as United are incensed. A relatively non-descript game had panned out to this point with Flekken and Onana only really tested by Garnacho and Norgaard efforts, respectively. Yet, the drama arrived in the final knockings. Earlier in the match, De Ligt for some reason opted to use his head to tackle Schade's knee and was off the pitch on numerous occasions to get the wound on the top of his skull sealed up. However, as he cleared a late cross from the visitors, it opened up again, and thus he was called off for treatment. Brentford took the corner and Pinnock rose best to head into the top-left corner, and it's fair to suggest that even with De Ligt on the pitch, that goal still goes in. Dalot didn't follow the defender's run and now an offensively blunt United trail with only themselves to blame.
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