Manchester United Overcomes Adversity to Edge Brentford 2-1
Manchester, United Kingdom (AFP) — In a gripping encounter that marked a turning point for Manchester United, the Red Devils rallied from behind to defeat Brentford 2-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday. This victory brought an end to a five-game winless streak and offered some relief to manager Erik ten Hag, who has been under mounting scrutiny.
The atmosphere at Old Trafford was tense, as Ethan Pinnock gave Brentford the lead in first-half stoppage time, heading in a corner from Mikkel Damsgaard. United’s shocking defensive lapse came when they were down to ten men owing to Matthijs de Ligt’s forced exit to treat a head injury, prompting vehement protests from Ten Hag, who was subsequently booked.
Despite the rocky start, United emerged from the tunnel rejuvenated for the second half. Just 90 seconds in, Alejandro Garnacho ignited the comeback with a stunning volley from a Marcus Rashford cross, ending United’s dry spell of over 300 minutes without a Premier League goal. Garnacho, the Argentine youngster, stood out with his relentless energy, having tested Brentford keeper Mark Flekken multiple times.
Rasmus Hojlund clinched the winner, showcasing the striking prowess United sorely needed. The Danish forward elegantly chipped over the onrushing Flekken after being expertly set up by Bruno Fernandes, marking his maiden Premier League goal of the season—a crucial strike that might signal better times ahead for the Red Devils.
The win catapulted United above Brentford to 10th place in the league standings, an essential boost given their shaky start of just three wins in 10 matches across all competitions. Furthermore, the victory relieved some of the pressure mounting on Ten Hag after speculation around his future at the club intensified.
Post-match, Ten Hag dismissed the swirling rumors about his job as "fairy tales and lies," standing firm against the hailstorm of criticism. He praised his team’s resilience and determination in responding to adversity and seizing the opportunity to turn the match around.
This victory, their first at Old Trafford in the Premier League since the season opener, provides a foundation for United to build upon as they strive to climb the league table and put early-season woes behind them. With Garnacho emerging as a bright spark and Hojlund breaking his scoring duck, Ten Hag will be hopeful that his side can maintain and extend this newfound momentum in upcoming fixtures.
