Brentford Stuns Man Utd 3-1: Red Devils' Defensive Nightmare Strikes Again in Shocking Upset
Manchester United's defensive frailties were exposed once again as they suffered another Premier League loss on Saturday afternoon, with Bruno Fernandes failing to convert from the penalty spot in their 3-1 reverse against Brentford.
The Red Devils were behind at halftime in London, as Igor Thiago's quick-fire double sent Ruben Amorim and his squad spiraling back into turmoil. Benjamin Šeško netted his maiden strike for the team to cut Brentford's advantage in half, but woeful defending ultimately cost United during a frenetic opening 45 minutes.
Fernandes was presented with an excellent chance to secure a valuable point for United at the Gtech Community Stadium, but couldn't find the net from his second-half penalty attempt. Mathias Jensen's thunderous late strike added insult to injury for the Red Devils, who endured their third Premier League loss of the campaign.
Below are three key observations as mounting pressure surrounds Amorim in his managerial role.
Amorim Falls Short of Consecutive Premier League Victories
A tempting achievement awaited Amorim in west London, as the manager could have achieved consecutive Premier League wins for the first time by overcoming Brentford. He had celebrated his initial back-to-back home league victories by defeating Chelsea the previous weekend and sought to remove another burden from his shoulders.
However, United's task became virtually insurmountable within just 20 minutes in west London, as any momentum gained from the Chelsea victory evaporated. The Red Devils were carved apart relentlessly by their opponents early on, falling two goals behind in rapid succession. Amorim frequently stared despondently at the ground, questioning when—or if—his team will find their rhythm.
The outcome leaves United sitting 12th in the Premier League standings and they risk dropping as low as 17th by the end of Gameweek 6. It represents another unacceptable start to the campaign for the Red Devils.
Debut for Revamped Attack
For the first time this campaign, United fielded all three components of their impressive new attacking trio. Over £200 million ($267.7 million) worth of talent spearheaded the Red Devils' forward line in west London, with Bryan Mbeumo enjoying a positive welcome upon his return to the Gtech Community Stadium—at least initially.
United's calamitous early defending was offset by a reasonably promising offensive display in the opening half. Šeško was positioned perfectly to narrow Brentford's lead and register his first goal for his new club, finishing from close quarters with his fifth shot of the initial 26 minutes. Matheus Cunha and Mbeumo both appeared energetic when collecting the ball in advanced areas, with understanding starting to develop between the three players.
Cunha emerged as United's primary attacking danger after halftime, showcasing his array of skills and touches while linking up with his forward partners. A slick sequence down the right wing saw the Brazilian deliver a cross toward Mbeumo, who earned a penalty after being brought down. Regrettably for the Red Devils, Fernandes couldn't convert from the spot for the second occasion this season.
If there's any positive to extract from another painful loss, it's United's attacking trio. They weren't outstanding against the Bees, but they provided flashes of their tremendous potential. Eventually, they will find their rhythm.
Catastrophic Defending
Amorim had his team working intensively on set-piece defensive drills during pre-match preparations at the Gtech, but it made no difference to United's capacity to handle Brentford's physical approach. Aerial balls dismantled the Red Devils as Thiago scored his early double, with even the towering Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire being outmuscled.
Dead-ball situations remained a persistent problem for United, whether from Michael Kayode's effective long throws or Mikkel Damsgaard's dangerous corner kicks. Both of Brentford's center-backs tested Altay Bayındır between the hosts' first-half goals, with anxiety building each time the ball entered the visitors' penalty area.
United's vulnerabilities from set pieces and aerial deliveries were evident throughout last season and despite having a full pre-season to address the issue, Amorim hasn't been able to resolve his team's obvious weakness. Such inadequate defensive performances will invariably be exploited in the Premier League, a lesson United continue to learn the hard way.