Manchester United enjoyed a much-needed return to winning ways as Alejandro Garnacho’s sublime volley and a cool Rasmus Hojlund finish saw Erik ten Hag’s side come back to beat Brentford.
The under-fire Red Devils boss hit out at “fairy tales” and “lies” about his future on the eve of a match his side could ill afford to slip up in having made their worst start to a Premier League season after seven games.
Ethan Pinnock’s header in first half stoppage time put Brentford on course for a first Old Trafford win since 1937, but Garnacho and Hojlund goals secured a 2-1 triumph and a first victory in all competitions in a month.
We return with a win! 🙌#MUFC || #MUNBRE pic.twitter.com/LA5iXtOvzH
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 19, 2024
The Red Devils had been winless in five matches and were facing a third consecutive home league loss when Pinnock scored from a corner after Matthijs de Ligt was again forced off with his bloodied head.
Despite officials following the rules there was a sense of injustice inside, which perhaps fuelled United’s flying start to the second half as Garnacho volleyed home Marcus Rashford’s brilliant cross in the 47th minute.
United looked reinvigorated and went ahead when Bruno Fernandes’ inspired flick put Hojlund behind to coolly clip over Mark Flekken in the 62nd minute, sealing a third Premier League win of the campaign.
Things could have been different had super starters Brentford struck their latest early blow just 145 seconds in, but Kevin Schade failed to connect with a tantalising cross.
Bryan Mbeumo struck off target before United’s injury-disrupted defence dealt with another blow as De Ligt got attention having headed Schade’s knee.
The defender was patched up and the game continued evenly, with Brentford surviving a scare in the 21st minute.
Flekken flapped after Lisandro Martinez – deployed at left-back – glanced a header on goal, meaning Brentford’s goalkeeper had to quickly react to stop Hojlund’s bundled effort crossing the line.
Andre Onana saved a thundering Christian Norgaard attempt and United were now enjoying a period in the ascendancy, with Garnacho denied before the officials saved Christian Eriksen’s blushes after blazing over.
A flurry of chances followed, including Garnacho slamming off target having been brilliantly found by Rashford.
💥 Boom, @EthanPinnock5 pic.twitter.com/3Dv9wJHR6S
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) October 19, 2024
United’s toothlessness has been costly this season and was punished deep in first half stoppage time with the hosts temporarily down to 10 men as medical staff struggled to stem the bleeding on De Ligt’s head injury.
It meant referee Sam Barrott sent him to the sidelines again, with Mikkel Damsgaard swinging over a corner and Pinnock easily shook off Diogo Dalot to power home a header.
De Ligt raged and boos greeted the officials as they headed down the tunnel.
United returned from the break with the bit between their teeth and levelled within two minutes of the restart.
Impressive Rashford swung over a fine cross from the right to the far post, where Garnacho’s crashing volley flew past Flekken and sent Old Trafford wild.
Buoyed by that goal, the 20-year-old picked the ball up on the left, cut inside and forced Flekken to push his skipping strike wide of the post from distance.
Casemiro tried his luck before Fernandes struck into the ground and across the face of goal, with the skipper soon seeing a driving effort held by Flekken.
The Portuguese was heavily involved and his smart touch led to United taking the lead in the 62nd minute.
Eriksen drove a pass forward to Fernandes, whose flick on put Hojlund through to delicately clip over Flekken.
Brentford’s goalkeeper spread himself to stop Dalot adding another, with Casemiro whizzing wide and Garnacho shooting again as United tried and failed to put the game to bed.
Those missed chances were giving Brentford hope, with substitute Fabio Carvalho dragging wide in stoppage time. Fernandes forced Flekken into a save with the last kick of the game.
Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledged no one at Nottingham Forest expected to be third in April but backed his team to embrace the challenge after they started a huge week with victory at Tottenham.Forest had slipped to sixth in the Premier League after weekend wins for Champions League qualification rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Aston Villa, yet responded with aplomb in the capital.Early efforts...
Chris Wood’s 19th goal of the season fired Nottingham Forest back up to third in the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Tottenham.Forest had slipped to sixth after the weekend’s results, but Nuno Espirito Santo savoured a sweet three points against old club Spurs after early goals from Elliot Anderson and Wood in the capital.It brought Ange Postecoglou’s team back down to earth aft...
Leeds boss Daniel Farke saluted his players for holding their nerve after a 6-0 home win against Stoke helped seal promotion back to the Premier League.Joel Piroe scored four goals, including Leeds’ fastest-ever league hat-trick, with strikes in the sixth, eighth and 20th minutes and added his fourth before half-time after Junior Firpo had put Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.Willy Gn...
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill sent the Clarets back into the Premier League with both goals in a 2-1 win over Sheffield United that also saw Leeds promoted and left the Blades relying on the play-offs.Scott Parker made it three promotions with three different clubs in the space of six seasons as Burnley extended their unbeaten league run to a club-record 31 games, bouncing straight back to the Pr...
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill joked the Clarets had “bored our way to the Premier League” after a 2-1 win at home to Sheffield United confirmed their return to the top flight at the first attempt.Scott Parker’s side have conceded just 15 goals in 44 matches and victory over their promotion rivals ensured they could not be caught with two matches remaining.“I’m speech...
West Brom have announced the departure of Tony Mowbray after the club’s play-off hopes were all-but ended by a 3-1 Championship defeat at home to relegation-threatened Derby.The visitors twice punished the Baggies from set-piece situations when Ebou Adams and Jerry Yates struck from corners in the first half.Adam Armstrong’s goal halved the deficit and made for a nervy final 20 minutes...
Ian Holloway emphasised his pride in his resurgent Swindon side, despite Will Wright’s own goal against Bromley ending their slim play-off hopes.Danny Imray nutmegged Tom Nichols on the byline and fired a low ball into the box which bounced off the hapless defender’s shin in the 88th minute, condemning the Robins to a 1-0 loss.Kabongo Tshimanga had earlier missed a first-half penalty f...
Grant McCann admitted the task ahead for him is to keep his players calm after Doncaster put themselves within touching distance of promotion with a 3-0 win over Colchester.Goals from Harry Clifton, Jordan Gibson and Patrick Kelly saw Rovers power into top spot in League Two.It means a victory over promotion rivals Bradford this weekend will see them promoted to League One but McCann is determined...
Leeds boss Daniel Farke saluted four-goal Joel Piroe after his side thrashed Stoke 6-0 at Elland Road to stand on the brink of Premier League promotion.Piroe fired Leeds’ fastest-ever league hat-trick with strikes in the sixth, eighth and 20th minutes and added his fourth before half-time after Junior Firpo had put Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.Willy Gnonto headed Leeds’ sixt...
Tony Mowbray felt West Brom “lacked a bit of courage on the ball” as their play-off hopes were all-but ended by a 3-1 home defeat to relegation-threatened Derby.The visitors twice punished the Baggies from set-piece situations when Ebou Adams and Jerry Yates struck from corners in the first half.Adam Armstrong’s goal halved the deficit and made for a nervy final 20 minutes until ...
- 1 Jordan Bowery earns Mansfield a point at Rotherham
- 2 Arteta makes exciting Arsenal transfer claim
- 3 Grant McCann to keep Doncaster players calm despite being on brink of promotion
- 4 Four Tottenham stars could leave this summer
- 5 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche
- 6 PL side eyeing summer move for Rashford
- 7 Mentality and spirit unbelievable – Daniel Farke praises promoted Leeds players
- 8 Newcastle continue to impress in absence of Eddie Howe with Crystal Palace rout
- 9 Man City in pole position to secure Morgan Gibbs
- 10 Liverpool interested in signing Mason Greenwood