Manchester United staged a dramatic comeback to beat Brentford 2-1 at Old Trafford, ending their winless streak.
Ethan Pinnock’s header in first-half stoppage time had increased the pressure on Erik ten Hag, as United came into the game without a win in five matches. However, second-half goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund turned things around for the Red Devils.
United had struggled to create chances before the break, with confidence seemingly low, but the victory lifted them above Brentford in the standings, pushing them into the top half of the table ahead of their midweek trip to face Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.
In the early stages, Garnacho had a few half-chances, but it was Brentford who played the more fluid football in the first half, with Bryan Mbeumo at the heart of their attacks. Brentford’s goal came in somewhat controversial circumstances, as Matthijs de Ligt was temporarily off the field receiving treatment for a head injury sustained earlier, allowing Pinnock to head in from a corner in his absence.
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Ten Hag’s frustration was evident, earning him a yellow card for his protests. It was clear that a strong halftime team talk was needed, and United came out with renewed determination. Marcus Rashford delivered a cross that was met with a brilliant volley by Garnacho, changing the mood at Old Trafford.
Thomas Frank’s side couldn’t find a way back, and the defeat saw them drop to 12th place, with United overtaking them in the table. Ten Hag, meanwhile, avoided the heavy criticism that had been looming after a poor first half.
Player of the Match: Alejandro Garnacho
At halftime, with Southampton having already scored twice against Leicester, no team in the Premier League had scored fewer goals than Manchester United. But the response from their young forwards in the second half was decisive.
Rashford and Garnacho combined for the equalizer, while Hojlund’s clinical finish completed the turnaround. Garnacho, who tormented Brentford’s Sepp van den Berg, was named the player of the match.
Though not everything he tried worked perfectly, Garnacho’s energy, his willingness to run with and without the ball, and his determination were exactly what United needed. He was the spark that ignited the team and led them to victory.
