The generally defend the box fairly well, but their rest defence needs a lot of work. A new midfielder will presumably make a difference, not just in putting out fires but in keeping the ball down the other end, but I\u2019d also say they need two new full-backs.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Half-time reading:<\/p>\n Share<\/a>HALF-TIME: Manchester United 2-0 Brentford<\/p>\n A really entertaining first half which could\u2019ve seen five or six goals. But United\u2019s superior quality has made the difference, two good finishes and a couple of fine saves helping them to a two-goal lead<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45+1 min We talked earlier about Amad\u2019s ability to recover the ball \u2013 he\u2019s extremely tenacious for a little lad, and his timing is excellent. As we said, his numbers must improve, but the balance of Carrick\u2019s side is better with him in it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 min We\u2019ll have two additional minutes and Brentford<\/a> again move forward, a pass into the middle meeting the run of Jensen who swats fractionally wide of the left-hand post from the edge of the box, dead centre.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 min Bruno Fernandes, though. We shouldn\u2019t forget he played half of the season in deep midfield, and all of it without a prolific striker to finish his creations. His vision and execution aren\u2019t far off genius level.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Manchester United 2-0 Brentford (Sesko 43)<\/p>\n United come again, Amad winning a terrific challenge on the edge and finding Bruno, who moves through midfield, leading a three v two with Mbeumo to his right and Sesko left. He waits and waits, picks Sesko, delivers the pass, and the delayed, emphatic finish first gulls Van den Berg into sliding off towards the Megastore, then is swept high inside the near post with the keeper expecting the shot to go far. That\u2019s 19 league assists for Bruno, the record of 20 surely soon to go.<\/p>\n Benjamin Sesko fires home to double Manchester United\u2019s lead over Brentford. Photograph: Naomi Baker\/Getty ImagesSesko celebrates. Photograph: Simon Stacpoole\/Offside\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.56 EDT<\/p>\n 41 min For the first time in a while, United move it forward, Mbeumo finding bruno, who slides in to Amad, who finishes off the base of the far post \u2026 but the flag goes up and he\u2019s miles offside. Why did he go so early, especially given the ability of the man seeking to find him.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 41 min Van den Berg pulls Sesko back and is booked.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 40 min The ball did indeed hit Heaven\u2019s arm, but it was in a natural position and not deliberate; United get the corner away, eventually.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 39 min Here come Brentford<\/a> again, Damasgaard pulling left to curve in another delicious pass. It goes over Maguire and Thiago is in between Heaven and Dalot, perhaps getting as hip to it as Heaven deflects with his arm; again, Lammens plunges, throwing up a strong arm to prang the ball behind.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 37 min Damsgaard caresses a gorgeous pass over the top and again, Thaigo is in behind Heaven! he takes a touch but, as he shapes to shoot, a telescopic left foot comes from arounds his body, effectively shooting for him, and Lammens saves from his own man. That\u2019s very good recovery-defending, but Thiago didn\u2019t protect the ball well enough.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.38 EDT<\/p>\n 35 min Outtara marches between Amad and Shaw, then threads a fine pass through the middle for Thaigo and he\u2019s in! But rather than hit it first time, he takes a touch, slips, and Heaven bumps it back to Lammens, just about. Brentford<\/a> are knocking at the door.<\/p>\n Igor Thiago loses his balance before being able to get a shot off. Photograph: Paul Currie\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.44 EDT<\/p>\n 34 min Brentford move it nicely as they look for holes in United\u2019s defence, then Mainoo crunches in on Kayode and the home side clear.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 31 min And here he is now, doing just that to touch off for Bruno who, on the edge, flights a lovely cross over Kayode\u2019s head and again, Amad is in space! But this time, he heads straight at Kelleher \u2026 then the flag goes up.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.35 EDT<\/p>\n 30 min I\u2019m not sure Sesko has had a kick yet. He\u2019s not had great service, but given the players outside him, he can come to the ball and lay it off as the runners motor.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 29 min Amad wins the first header but the ball comes back, and Mainoo does well to hook clear.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 27 min Damsgaard is pulling the strings for Brentford<\/a>, controlling their attacks, and when he slides a pass in behind, Lewis-Potter barges through one tackle, then wins a corner off Dalot.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 26 min Mainoo finds himself on the left wing and again, looks to attack his man, but Kayode is a terrific one-on-one defender and does enough to win the ball.<\/p>\n Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United (centre left) is tackled by Brentford\u2019s Michael Kayode. Photograph: Adam Vaughan\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.46 EDT<\/p>\n 24 min Damsgaard spreads left then, when the ball goes right, Outtara\u2019s cross is blocked.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 23 min Since that early run, Mainoo has been quiet, and that\u2019s been his problem so far \u2013 he must get better at finding the ball and passing it incisively. Chelsea felt like a step forward, but only if he maintains the level<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 22 min \u201cThere\u2019s an unbelievable amount of space in this game,\u201d reckons Tim Stappard, and I agree. Both sides are good at finding it and United are also excellent at leaving it \u2013 a situation I imagine they hope to address in the summer by signing midfielders<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 20 min When United opted to start the season with Andre Onana in net, it was mind-boggling enough, but seeing how solid Lammens is, it makes even less sense. He saves almost everything he should, which alone makes him a massive upgrade, and also plenty he shouldn\u2019t. There\u2019s work to do with his passing and foot-movement, especially when facing long shots, but he\u2019s been a monumental upgrade, and having him there has made a huge difference to United\u2019s defenders.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 18 min The resultant corner comes to nothing, but this is a really entertaining and open game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 17 min oh, he does get a touch because it\u2019s a corner and gain, Brentford<\/a> pick a pass in behind United, Damsgaard sliding in for Kayode as the defence steps up. He looks to send an outswinging finish towards the far side-netting, but Lammens spreads himself well to make the save.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 16 min But then United give it away and Outtara seizes upon the loose ball, slipping a fine reverse-pass in behind for Lewis-Potter, who delivers a perfect low cross into the corridor. Thiago is there, but Shaw slides in and must put him off, because he doesn\u2019t get a touch but the striker can\u2019t land a boot on it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 15 min Brentford come forward and win a corner, the ref taking a moment as the players jostle around Senne Lammens, then the ball comes in and Casemiro, equally adept in his own box, heads clear.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.16 EDT<\/p>\n 13 min That\u2019s now nine league goals for Casemiro; it\u2019s not often you see a player whose timing and execution are both stellar, never mind a defensive midfielder who scored 24 goals in 221 games for Real Madrid.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Brentford (Casemiro 11)<\/p>\n It\u2019s absolutely absurd, it really is. Bruno swings the corner out and Maguire is totally unmarked, nodding back to what was the near post where Casemiro sneaks in behind the defensive line to again deposit an expert headed finish into the roof. How on earth are United going to replace his output?<\/p>\n Casemiro rises high to power a header home. Photograph: Paul Currie\/ShutterstockCasemiro celebrates. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff\/Action Images\/ReutersAs do the Manchester United fans. Photograph: Paul Currie\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.32 EDT<\/p>\n 10 min United fancy Mbeumo in behind Lewis-Potter, another ball setting him away and he\u2019s got a start on Collins, who gets back at him well, conceding another corner.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.11 EDT<\/p>\n 10 min It\u2019s been a really good start \u2013 there\u2019s proper tempo to the game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 8 min Bruno\u2019s corner picks out Mauire at the back post, he arches backwards to make it his, butts firmly \u2026 and Kelleher claws away, just, some of the ball over the line but the rest not.<\/p>\n Manchester United’s Harry Maguire heads at goal. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff\/Action Images\/ReutersBut he\u2019s denied by Brentford keeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Photograph: Paul Currie\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.15 EDT<\/p>\n 8 min United have stared well and Bruno sweeps out to Mbeumo \u2013 seeing the farthest pass first, as Glenn Hioddle said of David Beckham. The eventuating cross, though, is blocked at source.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 7 min \u201cYes, all joking aside,\u201d retyuns Justin, \u201cif readers haven\u2019t ever heard of Eamon Dunphy\u2019s work, he is a very fine sports journalist, well worth checking out. And no, he\u2019s not my uncle or anything. And neither is Chris Kavanagh, tonight\u2019s ref, btw. Only a Game is a classic fly-on-the-wall account of a season in freefall in mid-1970s Cold Blow Lane.\u201d<\/p>\n It starts so positively too, which is why it\u2019s so heartbreaking as it progresses.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 6 min Now Brentford<\/a> counter and Shaw hauls down Schade on halfway; he\u2019s booked.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5 min United win another corner, again cleared, but they\u2019ve started well here.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3 min The corner is cleared to Shaw, who leathers over the top from distance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.05 EDT<\/p>\n 2 min OH MY DAYS HOW HAS AMAD MISSED THIS?! Mainoo gets on the ball and runs \u2013 United have been poor at putting him where he can do what makes him special, beating men in small spaces with such dexterity you barely believe he\u2019s come out with the ball. He sways inside and away from Damsgaard and, now in the box, feints and dips inside Yarmolyuk then Collins. He might shoot, but instead makes sure by squaring for Amad, who punches towards the far corner \u2026 only for the shot to clip Van den Berg\u2019s heel and fly wide. That\u2019s why you go high when faced with a man on the line.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.07 EDT<\/p>\n 2 min United sweep forward with Bruno and Casemiro moving it quickly, then the ball arrives at Dalot inverting; he swipes into touch.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1 min For now, at least, it\u2019s Mbeumo on the right and Amad on the left. I\u2019m not sure why, but perhaps it\u2019s because he badly needs a goal, so is in the position that best enables him to seek that.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1 min Away we go!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Our teams are tunnelled \u2026 and out they come!<\/p>\n Manchester United and Brentford players and the match officials take to the pitch. Photograph: Adam Vaughan\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.11 EDT<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d worry for Keith Andrews\u2019 hair tonight with those ominous-looking storm clouds over Old Trafford,\u201d writes Justin Kavanagh. \u201cThis is hair so great that it gets parodied on Irish TV alongside the bald truth of Liam Brady\u2019s and another guy\u2019s who used to play for Manchester United<\/a> (but mainly Milwall) called Eamon Dunphy.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a work of art. I actually found a book Dunphy\u2019s, Only A Game, in the school library \u2013 it\u2019s a classic \u2013 and his biography of Matt Busby, A Strange Kind of Glory, is absolutely magnificent.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I\u2019m really looking forward to seeing how Brentford\u2019s wide players do. They\u2019ve got serious pace on both sides with Outtara and Schade, but also behind them, where Kayode and Lewis-Potter will be thrusting forward. Neither Luke Shaw nor Diogo Dalot are all that, and if both are pinned back, United might struggle defensively and also for width.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAny idea why the he FA Cup semi was on TNT yesterday?\u201d wonders Dave Estherby. \u201cI give Sky enough money as it is and still miss the Saturday lunchtime game every week, now I have to go the pub for domestic Cup games too? Joke.<\/p>\n On another note, a well-known turf accountant was offering 1500-1 last week on Utd finishing higher than Arsenal; if that ain\u2019t worth a tenner nothing is.<\/p>\n (Not to condone gambling etc\u2026)\u201d<\/p>\n Well they paid for the rights, but yes, it is absolutely the case that, generally speaking, monopolies are bad for consumers, but in the case of televised sport, it means more subscriptions are necessary \u2013 you also need Amazon Prime for Champions League. And it\u2019s particularly egregious in the case of TNT, formerly BT, who used their historic telecoms monopoly to fund their tenders in order to flog broadband.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.46 EDT<\/p>\n So where is the game? United will look to find Bruno Fernandes, who\u2019s recently started pulling wide to feed ball and swing over crosses; a question is whether Mainoo can continue the form he showed at Chelsea, linking play to get his attackers the ball. If his touch volume stays high, he can start controlling play, exactly what United currently lack \u2013 and their front players can score against anyone.<\/p>\n Brentford, meanwhile, will want to flood the middle of the pitch, where Casemiro can\u2019t cover ground, and also look to double-up out wide, putting crosses into the box \u2013 and throws, and corners. For that reason, United will be happy to have Maguire back, but I\u2019d not be surprised if Igor Thiago looks to drag him out to the wings, nor if Shade and Outtara come from out to in, looking to test his pace and get hi facing his own goal.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n This is a pretty big game for Michael Carrick. As we said at the top, his team struggled against Leeds and also lost at Newcastle, despite playing against 10 for a half. Brentford<\/a> will be similarly physical, so it\u2019s up to United to show their manager can combat that kind of opponent.<\/p>\n Manchester United’s interim manager Michael Carrick (right) looks pensive as he high-fives mascot Fred the Red. Photograph: Darren Staples\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.04 EDT<\/p>\n It seems like Benjamin Sesko is now installed as United\u2019s first-choice centre-forward \u2013 though full confirmation will come next weekend, when Liverpool visit Old Trafford, as in previous big games, Carrick has deployed Mbeumo through the middle.<\/p>\n Ultimately, though, the club spent all that money on Sesko because the plan is for him to be a regular, so really, they need to build around him, which means better delivery from wide areas; I wonder if we\u2019ll see whoever plays on the left whip balls for him to the front post, though I also think there\u2019s hay to be made with Mbeumo coming inside to swing those in to the back stick.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s been a difficult second half of the season for Amad who, as a dribbler, offers a threat that no other United player does, and is also an excellent scavenger for possession. But his numbers are nowhere near where they need to be, which is presumably why he was left out at Chelsea.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Either Amad or Bryan Mbeumo will be playing out of position tonight. I\u2019d imagine it\u2019ll be Amad on the right and Mbeumo on the left, as the latter has the pace and power to go on the outside, the former less so.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is in the sky studio, for some reason dressed as Ernst Stavro Blofeld.<\/p>\n Photograph: United Artists\/Allstar As for Brentford<\/a>, Andrews picks the same side for the third match in a row \u2013 partly a facility of those injuries \u2013 but Josh Dasilva is back on the bench after nobbling his knee in February 2024 and missing the entirety of last season. Godspeed, old mate.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So looking at that United XI, Harry Maguire returns after suspension, replacing Noussair Mazraoui, while Amad Diallo is back in with Cunha out. Otherwise, Patrick Dorgu is back on the bench having jiggered his hamstring at Arsenal in January, while Shea Lacey is rewarded for his excellent age-gpoup performances, included on the bench despite playing yesterday.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Now here\u2019s Keith Andrews, and you\u2019ll be delighted to know his barnet is looking lush. Brentford<\/a> have earned the right to go into this match in a confident manner and though they\u2019ve not earned as many points as he\u2019d like in recent weeks, he\u2019s been fairly happy with the performances; though he\u2019s got injury problems, there\u2019s a special togetherness within the group and he wants them to play with personality.<\/p>\n On Ciaomhin Kelleher, he says he\u2019s known him a long time through Ireland, so when he became available, signing him was a no-brainer \u2013 and he felt it\u2019d be a good move for the player.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Before we go over those, Michael Carrick is talking to Sky, telling them he wanted to get Kobbie Mainoo on to the pitch enjoying himself \u2013 he needed to find himself and against Chelsea, he was excellent \u2013 without giving him too much guidance.<\/p>\n On Ayden Heaven, he says he\u2019s got the talent and did so well in the last game, he\u2019s kept his place.<\/p>\n Otherwise, he\u2019s been asked about what business the club needs to do in the summer and however long he\u2019s there, he\u2019s not taking short-term decisions, he wants the best for the football club. However long it goes on, he\u2019s really enjoying working with the players.<\/p>\n Matheus Cunha hurt his hip flexor at Chelsea and improved during the week but they\u2019re not risking him tonight.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Teams!<\/p>\n Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Mbeumo; Sesko. Subs: Bayindir, Dorgu, Malacia, Mazraoui, Yoro, Mount, Ugarte, Lacey, Zirkzee.<\/p>\n Brentford (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Van Den Berg, Lewis-Potter- Jensen, Yarmoliuk; Schade, Damsgaard, Ouattara; Thiago. Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Pinnock, Dasilva, Nelson, Ajer, Donovan, Furo, Shield.<\/p>\n Referee: Chris Kavangh (Ashton-under-Lyne)<\/p>\n![\"dewsbury-hall\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/415.jpg\")
Photograph: Sky SportsShare<\/a><\/p>\n