Thiago and Kelleher lead Brentford to win over Man Utd

Igor Thiago scored twice and Caoimhin Kelleher saved a second-half penalty from Bruno Fernandes as Brentford recorded an impressive 3-1 home victory over Manchester United.

Substitute Mathias Jensen’s stunner made sure of the points for Brentford in the fifth minute of stoppage time, with the outcome of an entertaining contest having hung in the balance until the final moments.

Thiago scored a wonderful opener after eight minutes before quickly making it two with a strike from close range.

The Red Devils soon reduced the deficit through Benjamin Sesko’s first United goal, and the visitors had a chance to seal at least a share of the spoils after half-time.

Bryan Mbeumo, on his return to Brentford, was pulled back inside the box by James Collins, but Fernandes saw his spot-kick brilliantly saved by Kelleher down to his left. Jensen then struck on the break shortly after coming off the bench.

The result moves Brentford up to 11th in the Premier League table, level on seven points with United but two places above them due to a superior goal difference. 

How the match unfolded

Brentford hit the front early on when Jordan Henderson’s raking ball from well inside his own half picked out Thiago racing clear in behind.

After Harry Maguire had been unsuccessful in his attempt to catch the Brentford striker offside, Thiago unleashed a brilliant strike into the roof of the net.

The Brazilian then doubled his and Brentford’s tally in the 20th minute after Kevin Schade’s blistering run down the right.

Altay Bayindir could only parry Schade’s cross into the path of Thiago, who tucked in from close range despite the United goalkeeper’s best efforts on the line.

But United hit back six minutes later through Sesko, who beat a determined Kelleher at the third attempt, with home complaints of a foul from Mbeumo on the Brentford goalkeeper waved away by referee Craig Pawson.

The hosts had the better chances after the break, with Bayindir producing a fine stop to deny Dango Ouattara’s goal-bound effort. Amorim’s men were handed the chance to level the game from the spot when Collins hauled Mbeumo back in the area.

The Brentford captain escaped a red card after a VAR check for the denial of a goal-scoring opportunity, with the on-pitch decision of a booking confirmed as it was deemed that Mbeumo was not in control of the ball.

But having missed a penalty in the capital at Fulham this season, Fernandes again failed to convert from 12 yards as Kelleher sprawled down to his left to parry the shot away.

United continued to push for an equaliser, but were punished on the break when substitute Jensen cut inside from the left and sent a fizzing shot beyond Bayindir.

Bees provide much-needed sting

Keith Andrews had been enduring a mixed start to life in Premier League management, with his Brentford team without a win in the top flight since Matchweek 2 against Aston Villa, but they got their campaign back on track here with a statement result.

The Brentford boss opted to restore club-record signing Ouattara to his forward line, and that injection of pace had the United back line stretched in the early exchanges, even though it was Thiago who struck the decisive blows with two fine finishes in quick succession.

Sesko’s goal meant there were some visible Brentford nerves, understandably given they had dropped eight points from winning positions this season, more than any other side in the division.

But the Bees kept things tight and were able to get themselves over the line here.

The game should have perhaps been out of sight when Sepp Van den Berg failed to test Bayindir on the stretch. Ouattara then squandered a glorious opportunity from inside the box, having been found by Schade after the lively German forward had got the better of Diogo Dalot down the left.

Though hugely thankful for Kelleher’s penalty stop, this is a result Brentford will aim to build on, with their next Premier League match against Manchester City on home soil next Sunday. 

Amorim struggling for momentum

Amorim arrived at the Gtech Community Stadium in search of back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time in his United tenure, though the home of Brentford has not been a happy hunting ground of late, and things threatened to get ugly early on. 

Thiago’s opening goal was far too simple from a Brentford perspective, with Henderson’s pass from deep catching Maguire as he attempted to step out as the last man, and it could have looked much worse for Amorim’s men when the Bees’ No 9 notched his brace.

Bayindir came to United’s aid after producing two stunning stops in quick succession to deny headers from van den Berg and Collins, though the visiting goalkeeper had perhaps been at fault for Thiago’s second after parrying Schade’s cross back into danger. 

Sesko’s first goal for the Red Devils since his big-money move from RB Leipzig was one of the few positives for Amorim.

United huffed and puffed, but were made to pay for their lack of efficiency in the final third.

Indeed, from Matheus Cunha’s saved shot in the 52nd minute until the full-time whistle, Fernandes’ missed penalty represented their only shot on target.

There remains plenty for the United boss to ponder, with the scrutiny on United’s inconsistent form continuing.

Amorim will aim to enter the October international break on a high when United welcome Sunderland to Old Trafford next Saturday. 

Club reports

Brentford report | Man Utd report

What the managers said

Keith Andrews: "It was deserved. Quite dramatic at times. Penalties, VAR, the usual. But if you scrutinise the game we were very good, caused a lot of problems. You are always going to get a reaction. But we stuck to it, the subs did brilliantly. It was a deserved win"

Ruben Amorim: "Of course we want to win. We didn't control the game. We played the game of Brentford. First balls, second balls, set pieces. All the crucial moments were against us. Tough to lose again but we need to think about the next one.

Next PL fixtures

Key facts

Manchester United are winless in their last eight Premier League away games (D2 L6), their longest run since between March and October 2019 (D3 L5).

Fernandes has missed two of his three penalties for Manchester United in all competitions this season, having scored each of his previous 11 beforehand.

Caoimhin Kelleher has saved four of the seven penalties he has faced in all competitions in his top-flight club career for Liverpool and Brentford (57 per cent).

Henderson has provided an assist in three of his last five Premier League games against Manchester United, with his sides winning all three of these matches by an aggregate score of 15-1.