Manchester United v Brentford Live Commentary & Result, 05/04/23, Premier League

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	MCI Manchester City	38	28	5	5	94	33	+61	89	L D W W W
2	ARS Arsenal	38	26	6	6	88	43	+45	84	W L L W W
3	MUN Manchester United	38	23	6	9	58	43	+15	75	W W W W L
4	NEW Newcastle United	38	19	14	5	68	33	+35	71	D D W D L
5	LIV Liverpool	38	19	10	9	75	47	+28	67	D D W W W
6	BHA Brighton & Hove Albion	38	18	8	12	72	53	+19	62	L D W L W
7	AVL Aston Villa	38	18	7	13	51	46	+5	61	W D W L L
8	TOT Tottenham Hotspur	38	18	6	14	70	63	+7	60	W L L W L
9	BRE Brentford	38	15	14	9	58	46	+12	59	W W W L W
10	FUL Fulham	38	15	7	16	55	53	+2	52	L D W W L
11	CRY Crystal Palace	38	11	12	15	40	49	-9	45	D D W L W
12	CHE Chelsea	38	11	11	16	38	47	-9	44	D L L D W
13	WOL Wolverhampton Wanderers	38	11	8	19	31	58	-27	41	L D L W L
14	WHU West Ham United	38	11	7	20	42	55	-13	40	L W L W L
15	BOU AFC Bournemouth	38	11	6	21	37	71	-34	39	L L L L W
16	NFO Nottingham Forest	38	9	11	18	38	68	-30	38	D W D W L
17	EVE Everton	38	8	12	18	34	57	-23	36	W D L W D
18	LEI Leicester City	38	9	7	22	51	68	-17	34	W D L L D
19	LEE Leeds United	38	7	10	21	48	78	-30	31	L L D L L
20	SOU Southampton	38	6	7	25	36	73	-37	25	D L L L L

That's all from us, we hope you enjoyed the game! Until next time, it's goodbye for now.

Three huge points send United back into the top four, only trailing third-placed Newcastle on goal difference. They're also three points clear of Tottenham in fifth, with a game in hand, and will be looking to kick on from a first league victory since February to cement that Champions League place. Brentford meanwhile remain a comfy ninth in the table, well clear of the all-consuming relegation battle at the league's bottom end, and despite this defeat are still within an outside chance of obtaining a European place.

Marcel Sabitzer's deft header set up Rashford's winner, and the Austrian brought an imperious presence to a dominant Manchester United midfield. The on-loan Bayern Munich playmaker had two attempts at goal, one of which was on target, as well as assisting the only goal of the game with his only key pass. Contesting a team-high 15 duels, Sabitzer won 10, including eight of 10 in the air, and came up with possession on three occasions. Ticker.

The final whistle goes, and that first-half strike from Marcus Rashford proves enough to seal the points for Manchester United! Their dominance continued in the second half, with a plethora of chances from Sancho, Rashford, Antony, Sabitzer and Fred going astray. Brentford did have a smattering of opportunities at the other end, with stoic United defence keeping efforts from Baptiste and Schade out, but overall it was a comfortable victory for United, who re-enter the Champions League places as a result.

90' + 4' FULL-TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 BRENTFORD.

90' + 4' A flurry of late attacks are attempted by the hosts, but Rashford's throughball is cut out, Martial is dispossessed, and Malacia fails to win a free-kick on the edge of the box as the clocks ticks down to full-time.

90' + 2' OVER!! Baptiste weaves his way into the area, beating defenders at will before cutting the ball back for Toney. The striker spots De Gea off his line and tries a chipped shot from the edge of the box, but the ball is always rising as it sails over the bar!

90' We'll play four more minutes at Old Trafford as United close in on a comfortable, if rather nervy, three points.

88' Rashford picks Brentford pockets to race clear with the ball and spark a break down the right. He's in acres of space and looks to cross early for Martial, but Henry steps across to block the ball behind for a corner.

V. Lindelöf

Antony

86' Antony comes off following a bright but goalless performance, as Erik Ten Hag bolsters the defence with the late introduction of Victor Lindelof.

85' Hickey and Schade combine well down the right flank, but the latter's cross to the near post is cut out and cleared by Malacia!

83' Martinez's throughball is flicked on brilliantly by Martial, but Fernandes is dispossessed thanks to a perfectly timed sliding tackle from Brentford captain Jansson.

81' OVER!! A cross-field pass releases Rashford into all sorts of space, and he surges into the box at breakneck speed. With his shooting angle closed, the striker pulls the ball back to Fred, who wastes the chance by firing a first-time shot straight over the bar!

80' BLOCKED!! Wissa brings the ball inside from the left and finds Henry making an underlapping run. The left-back drills a first-time effort across the face of goal, but Martinez slides across in cover to scythe the ball away!

79' United win a corner and Fred plays it short to Fernandes. Upon receiving the ball back, the Brazilian tries the ambitious and curls a shot towards goal, but it's never threatening Raya and is allowed to bounce behind.

78' Rashford makes another burst down the left, but loses his footing on the edge of the box. Malacia recovers possession and switches play to the right flank, where Antony again looks for the far corner but can only send his shot over the top.

77' Brentford won 2-1 at Manchester City earlier this season – the last London side to win away against both Manchester clubs in the same league campaign was Arsenal, all the way back in 1990-91.

Y. Wissa

C. Nørgaard

75' Norgaard is the last substitution for the Bees, and Yoane Wissa comes on to provide some more attacking impetus for the final 15 minutes.

A. Hickey

M. Rasmussen

75' Brentford make their fourth and fifth changes of the game, with Roerslev replaced at right wing-back by Aaron Hickey.

74' The hosts keep possession with ease on the edge of Brentford's box, continually urged to shoot by the raucous crowd. Fernandes eventually obliges, but sends a poor effort high and wide of the target and into the Stretford End.

72' Baptiste advances through midfield for Brentford and links up with Roerslev to his right. He passes inside to Dasilva, who curls an ambitious effort towards goal that hardly troubles De Gea, floating wide of the back post.

Fred

M. Sabitzer

71' United make their first changes of the half, with Fred replacing Sabitzer at the base of midfield.

A. Martial

J. Sancho

71' Anthony Martial also enters the fray, replacing Sancho, and it'll be interesting to see if the Frenchman plays down the left, as Sancho did, or swap positions with Rashford up front.

70' Antony dummies a wide pass from Sabitzer, allowing Dalot to cross from the right. He's aiming for the back post, but neither Rashford nor Sancho can connect and Jansson thumps the ball clear for Brentford.

69' De Gea is finally back to his feet and able to continue, meaning we'll resume play without a substitution. Talk about putting your body on the line for the team!

67' WHAT A STOP!! Schade latches onto a delightful flick from Toney, and bursts past Varane to bear down on goal untouched. De Gea closes the gap well and parries the low effort from the Brentford substitute, but the two collide off the ball and the Red Devils' goalkeeper is down in a heap!

66' BLOCKED!!! A long throw from Pinnock is hurled into the United box, but headed away. The ball drops to Baptiste on the edge of the area, who cracks a shot goalwards which is blocked behind for a corner off McTominay!

64' Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 128 Premier League matches when leading at half-time, dating back to September 2014 against Leicester City and winning 110 of those games. That's some record!

J. Dasilva

M. Damsgaard

62' The booked Damsgaard also comes off for the Bees, with Josh Dasilva joining Baptiste and Norgaard in the engine room.

K. Schade

B. Mbeumo

62' Kevin Schade will also come on, as he replaces Mbeumo to assist Toney in the Bees' front two.

S. Baptiste

M. Jensen

62' A triple change coming from the visitors, the first of which sees Jensen replaced by Shandon Baptiste in midfield.

C. Nørgaard

Yellow Card

61' A Brentford corner is easily dealt with by the hosts, who look to set off on a fast break before Norgaard trips Fernandes on the edge of his own box. United win the free-kick, and Norgaard goes into the book.

Bruno Fernandes

Yellow Card

59' Damsgaard turns and sets off for goal, striding into space down the right. Fernandes quickly closes the gap, but can't win the ball cleanly as he slides in from behind, receiving a yellow card from the referee's pocket.

58' SAVED!!! Rashford finds space once again to give Sabitzer time to shoot from the edge of the box. The Austrian hits a curling effort aimed towards the far corner, but Raya stretches to save and hold the goal-bound shot!

56' CHANCE!! Roerslev's attempted clearance is blocked by Sancho, gifting Rashford possession in the box. He squares for Antony, but Pinnock shows great strength to shield the ball and Raya dives on it to snuff out the chance!

55' WIDE!!! United break at speed as McTominay links with Antony. He drifts inside to the space vacated by McTominay, and drills a low shot towards the far corner which just evades a stretching Rashford as it flies behind!

53' BLOCKED!!! Rashford charges towards the penalty area from the left-hand side, twisting and turning away from Jansson. He shoots across the face of goal from a tight angle, but Roerslev gets in the way before Jansson puts the ball behind for a United corner!

51' BLOCKED!!! Fernandes' deep free-kick is headed half clear by the visitors, but the ball drops for Sancho, who steps beyond Jensen and smashes a shot goalwards, but Jansson blocks and Norgaard hooks it clear!

M. Damsgaard

Yellow Card

50' Antony and McTominay play a one-two on halfway, sending the midfielder racing through the middle. He's barged over by Damsgaard 40 yards from goal though, with the Bees playmaker shown a yellow card for his troubles.

49' CHANCE!! Nearly a costly error from De Gea! The United goalkeeper's under little pressure when he gets the ball, but dawdles and is quickly closed down by Toney. He finally does release a clearance, which ricochets off the back of the Brentford striker and bounces just a yard wide of his unguarded post!

49' Brentford come forward in numbers and Mbeumo finds Damsgaard in support. He hangs a cross towards the back post, but it's a touch too long for Toney to connect with and floats behind.

48' Manchester United have dropped just two points in game's they've been leading at half time so far this season, winning 10 and drawing once from 11 such occasions.

46' Brentford resume proceedings in Greater Manchester, and the second half is underway!

The teams return for the second half, and can Brentford improve on a poor first-half showing to snatch a point or three at Old Trafford?

Rashford's opener was the culmination of a typically industrious and creative first half from the England striker. With two of his three efforts on target so far, including the goal, Rashford has also had four touches in the box and created three big chances for his team-mates. He's completed every pass he's made, including one cross, and has also engaged in four duels, being successful with his only dribble. A big second half awaits, and the man fast becoming United's talisman will surely have a crucial part to play.

The hosts lead 1-0 at the break, and on the balance of play, it's the very least they deserve. United have had the vast majority of the ball and all of the chances, with Rashford's close-range strike the difference at the moment. The in-form striker has also drawn a near-post save from Raya, while McTominay and Antony have also gone close with volleys from the edge of the box. The latter is certainly in the mood for a goal or two, and Brentford need to address and halt the one-way traffic coming at them if they're to salvage anything from this game in the second half.

45' + 2' HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 BRENTFORD.

45' + 1' We're into two minutes of added time to close out this largely one-sided first half at Old Trafford.

45' A poor clearance from De Gea is recovered by Jensen, who tees up Norgaard to cross. His whipped-in ball is flicked on by Toney, but there's too much height on the header and the attempt flies well over the crossbar.

44' SAVED!!! Antony breezes past Mee and finds Rashford to his left, who charges into the box and leaves Pinnock on his backside, before firing a shot from a tight angle which Raya does brilliantly to hold!

43' A first consistent period of Brentford attacking is halted by the referee, due to McTominay hitting the deck with a potential head injury. He's soon back on his feet though, meaning we can continue.

S. McTominay

Yellow Card

42' McTominay recklessly slides in on Jensen, who rides the challenge well, but the nature of the attempt sees the referee issue the Manchester United midfielder with a yellow card.

40' WIDE!!! Sabitzer and Fernandes create space in midfield, and the latter find Rashford ahead of him. He takes a touch to open up shooting space, and blasts a shot across the face of goal which takes a nick and rolls wide!

39' Sancho drifts across from the left to link up with Antony, who attempts once again to find the far corner before curling a left-footed shot beyond it!

37' WIDE!! The initial corner is cleared by Brentford, but Rashford recovers the ball to cross from the left. He finds the unmarked Antony, whose dipping volley from the edge of the box flashes wide of the post!

T. Malacia

L. Shaw

37' Erik Ten Hag makes a first-half substitution, bringing off an injured Shaw for Tyrell Malacia at left-back.

36' CHANCE!! A long ball from the back by De Gea splits the Brentford defence in two, and Sancho races onto the ball before being crowded out in the box, and Jansson puts it behind for a corner!

34' Rashford's 19th home goal in all competitions this season draws him level with Wayne Rooney's total in 2011-12, with Rooney also being the last player to hit 20, back in 2009-10.

32' A wayward clearance from Raya almost allows Shaw space to cross for numbers in the box, but Jansson's in the way to win the ball back for the Bees.

31' It's not as if a goal hadn't been coming, as the hosts have been far and away the best team from the very first whistle. The Red Devils have had seven shots so far, with Brentford yet to register one, and they lead the possession stats by an impressive 76.3 per cent.

29' Rashford's 15th Premier League goal of the season extends his lead at the top of United's scoring charts, and it's the seventh league game in which he's opened the scoring for them this campaign. Swift.

M. Sabitzer

Assist

27' That was a fantastic cushioned header from Sabitzer, who rose above all to connect with that cross, and expertly teed up Rashford to finish.

M. Rashford

Goal

27' GOOOOAAALLL!!! It's that man again!!! United's initial corner is cleared, but Antony crosses back into the centre of the box. Sabitzer rises to head the ball down, and Rashford's there to smash home the bouncing ball and give his side a 1-0 lead! An instinctive finish from a striker who has the Midas touch at the moment, and the Red Devils make their dominance count!

27' A great turn from Rashford on halfway frees up Sabitzer to release Sancho. He links up with Shaw, whose cut-back is put behind for a corner by Pinnock.

26' There's a short break in play to allow the sides' respective Muslim players to break their Ramadan fasts, and we're soon back underway.

L. Shaw

Yellow Card

24' Toney and Mbeumo collectively bring down a high ball in Manchester United's half, but the former is chopped down recklessly from behind by Shaw as he looks to release his strike partner! Shaw goes into the book, becoming the first player to do so in this game.

23' WIDE!!! Forward come united as Dalot is found in space before spreading the ball wide to Antony. He cuts onto that dangerous left foot and curls a shot goalwards, which beats Raya all ends up and fizzes inches wide of the upright!

22' Sancho's cross to the back post is attacking by Antony, but Henry cushions a header away from danger before being fouled in a 50-50 with Rashford.

21' OVER!!! Dalot frees up Antony to cross from the right, and the Brazilian pulls the ball back into the centre of the box. It sits up nicely for McTominay to strike on the volley, and he does so, sending the ball whistling inches over the bar!

20' Antony and Roerslev engage in a footrace for the ball down the near touchline, with the United winger gaining a throw-in much to the chagrin of the Brentford defender!

19' BLOCKED!! It's Sabitzer, winner of the free-kick, who strikes it instead of Rashford, and his effort deflects off the Brentford wall to fly behind for a corner!

18' Pinnock barges into Sabitzer right on the edge of Brentford's box, gifting the hosts a free-kick in prime shooting position for a certain in-form striker...

16' The ball drops kindly for Toney who picks out Mbeumo ahead of him, but the Bees forward can't control the ball and Martinez recovers it for United.

15' Rashford's again involved on the edge of the box, trying to create shooting space. Dalot is in support and tries his luck again, but another speculative effort is blocked by Jensen.

13' Henry finds Mbeumo running into the United box with a great aerial throughball, but Martinez gets across to shield the ball as it rolls behind for a goal kick.

12' Having won 4-0 at home in August, Brentford are looking to complete only their second ever league double over Manchester United, last doing so in the 1936-37 top-flight campaign.

10' Fernandes and Sancho connect down the left, and the former crosses the return ball into the area. Sabitzer's making a late near-post run, but Jansson's back in cover to scoop it clear for Brentford.

9' United try to carve out an opening as Rashford takes on Jensen in the box, but the ball soon comes back for Dalot, whose crossing chance is thwarted by Henry.

7' Antony looks to spark a counter-attack after latching onto De Gea's long throw, but Henry and Pinnock are soon on his case and the former wins the ball back for the Bees.

6' In a run stretching back to 1939, United have won their last three home league games against Brentford by an aggregate score of 10-1, including a 3-0 victory in this fixture last season.

4' Martinez scoops a ball forward from deep, looking for Rashford to attack it, but Pinnock gets goal-side and nods the ball behind for a second Manchester United corner.

3' Shaw advances through the middle and has space to shoot from the edge of the box, but slips as he pulls the trigger and the ball is easily cleared by the visitors!

2' A fiery start from the hosts sees Varane win possession high up the field and the ball falls to Dalot. He drives a shot goalwards from 25 yards, but the ball deflects off Jensen and goes behind for a corner!

1' Fernandes kicks off for the hosts, and we are up and running at Old Trafford!

The teams step out onto the pitch at the Theatre of Dreams, and with both of these sides still having plenty to play for at this stage of the season, we're expecting a thoroughly entertaining encounter.

Shandon Baptiste returns from suspension to make the Brentford bench at Old Trafford, with Aaron Hickey also among the substitutes as Mads Roerslev takes his place at right wing-back, in Thomas Frank’s only change to the side who drew 3-3 with Brighton.

Just one change is made to the hosts’ XI, as Jadon Sancho replaces Wout Weghorst. The Dutchman drops to the bench, where he’s joined by a fit-again Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with Sancho starting from the left and top scorer Marcus Rashford leading the line for the Red Devils.

BRENTFORD SUBS: Thomas Strakosha, Aaron Hickey, Kevin Schade, Josh Dasilva, Yoane Wissa, Zanka Jorgensen, Saman Ghoddos, Shandon Baptiste, Finley Evans.

BRENTFORD (5-3-2): David Raya; Mads Roerslev, Pontus Jansson, Ethan Pinnock, Ben Mee, Rico Henry; Mikkel Damsgaard, Christian Norgaard, Mathias Jensen; Bryan Mbeumo, Ivan Toney.

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Jack Butland, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Anthony Martial, Tyrell Malacia, Fred, Wout Weghorst, Facundo Pellistri, Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): David de Gea; Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw; Scott McTominay, Marcel Sabitzer; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho; Marcus Rashford.

Speaking of thrashings, Brentford famously inflicted a demolition job on United back in August, winning 4-0 in at the Gtech Community Stadium in Erik Ten Hag’s second match in charge. The Bees have been in good form of late, too; their 2-0 win at Southampton preceding draws with Leicester and Brighton in their last two games.

The Red Devils’ league form has hit something of a wall since winning the EFL Cup in late February, with a record-breaking 7-0 defeat by Liverpool followed up by a 0-0 draw at home to Southampton, before losing 2-0 at top-four rivals Newcastle last time out.

Hello, and welcome to live coverage of this fixture in the Premier League, as Manchester United face Brentford at Old Trafford.

Manchester United v Brentford Live Commentary, 06/04/23

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