Brentford handed Manchester United another frustrating defeat on Saturday, capitalising on a dreadful opening spell to seal a 3–1 victory at the Gtech Community Stadium.
United manager Ruben Amorim, fresh from last weekend’s 2–1 win over Chelsea, had hoped for back-to-back Premier League victories to build momentum. Instead, his side crumbled in the first 25 minutes, conceding two sloppy goals and inviting further trouble.
Brentford striker Igor Thiago struck twice, first after just eight minutes and again in the 20th to continue his impressive early-season form. United briefly responded when Benjamin Sesko netted his first goal for the club in the 26th minute, but that was as good as it got for the visitors.
Defensive lapses and a lack of attacking edge plagued United for the rest of the match. Their best chance to level came in the 76th minute when Bruno Fernandes won a penalty, but Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher guessed correctly to push the spot-kick away, which is Fernandes’s second penalty miss in west London this season.
Amorim threw on attacking substitutes, including Kobbie Mainoo, Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount, in a desperate late push. But it backfired when Brentford broke away in stoppage time, and Mathias Jensen sealed the win with a long-range strike that slipped through United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir’s hands.
For Brentford boss Keith Andrews, it was his most significant victory since taking charge. For Amorim, the statistics paint a troubling picture: nine wins, seven draws and 17 defeats in the Premier League so far, a record that keeps United’s search for consistency very much alive.
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