Manchester United suffered a 3-1 defeat at Brentford as skipper Bruno Fernandes saw a second-half penalty saved. Igor Thiago capitalised on shaky defending and poor positioning early on to give the Bees a two-goal advantage, leaving Ruben Amorim’s side desperate to respond. Benjamin Sesko pulled one back, but Fernandes’ missed spot-kick and Mathias Jensen’s stoppage-time strike completely sealed the win for Brentford.
Defensive Blunders Punish United Early
United’s defensive frailties were exposed from the opening minutes. Harry Maguire attempted an offside trap against Jordan Henderson’s long ball, allowing Thiago to run through and score the opener. Moments later, Kevin Schade’s low cross led to Thiago’s second, with Altay Bayindir unable to clear effectively. Former Man City defender Micah Richards labelled United’s defending “shambolic,” criticising Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system for causing confusion, panic, and tactical errors throughout the match.
Fernandes’ Penalty Miss and Late Consolation
United were handed a lifeline when Nathan Collins fouled Bryan Mbeumo, earning a penalty for Fernandes. After a near five-minute delay, including a VAR check and Brentford substitutions, Fernandes’ low effort was saved by Caoimhin Kelleher. Unlike his earlier miss at Fulham, this time his shot was on target but was blocked by the Brentford goalkeeper. Sesko had already halved the lead and Mathias Jensen’s stoppage-time effort secured all three points for the Bees.
Author’s Opinion
United’s struggles highlight a worrying lack of cohesion under Amorim, who has failed to win back-to-back league games in almost a year. Defensive disarray and squandered advantage continue to be the watchwords of their season. Bruno Fernandes is key but penalties and moments of magic won’t be enough if systemic issues are not addressed. United need to solve the tactical confusion, slash out on defensive discipline and reinforced mental stamina if they are to have anything left of their Premier League season.
As featured on ManUNews.com
