Brentford 3-1 Manchester United: Bees sting United as pressure mounts on Amorim | OneFootball

Brentford secured consecutive league victories against Manchester United for the first time since 1937 as they ran out 3-1 winners in the Premier League’s opening game of the weekend.

Igor Thiago struck twice to hand Keith Andrews’ side a well-deserved lead, before Benjamin Šeško halved the deficit midway through the first half.

Bruno Fernandes missed the opportunity to get his side back on level terms after his penalty was saved by Caoimhin Kelleher in the second half.

The Bees settled the match in injury time after a speculative effort from Mathias Jensen flew into the net.

As it happened

Having won successive Premier League home games for the first time, Ruben Amorim’s next objective was to secure back-to-back league victories – a feat Manchester United had not achieved since beating Brighton in the final game of the 2023/24 campaign and Fulham on the opening day of last season.

However, they faced a Brentford side that were unbeaten in their last three encounters against The Red Devils at the Gtech Community Stadium, and the hosts raced out of the blocks again.

The Bees took the lead inside eight minutes after an emphatic left-footed strike from Igor Thiago. The Brazilian striker latched onto Jordan Henderson’s long ball and struck a powerful half-volley into the top-left corner after managing to stay onside.

Keith Andrews’ side came close to doubling their advantage soon after, but were denied by two brilliant saves from Altay Bayindir. The Turkish goalkeeper instinctively kept out a powerful header from Sepp van den Berg following a set-piece, before denying Nathan Collins in similar fashion moments later, tipping his header over the bar.

In the 20th minute, Brentford deservedly found a second. Another long ball found Thiago, who cushioned it down on his chest for Kevin Schade. The winger drove to the byline and delivered a ball into the box, which was parried away by Bayindir but only into the path of Thiago, who slotted home the rebound.

Despite the early pressure from Brentford, United found a way back into the game in the 26th minute. Caoimhin Kelleher failed to deal with Patrick Dorgu’s lofted cross into the box, allowing Benjamin Šeško two quick attempts at goal. Kelleher did well to react to both, but for a third time the ball landed kindly for Šeško, who fired a strike into the back of the net.

The start of the second half drifted as United struggled to find momentum and Brentford comfortably protected their lead. The Bees had an opportunity to restore their two-goal lead in the 63rd minute after a break from Schade, but Dango Ouattara’s attempt inside the box was kept out well by Bayindir.

Halfway through the second half, Manchester United were handed a lifeline as they were awarded a penalty. From the right-hand side, Cunha played a low cross, which Bryan Mbeumo looked destined to reach before being pulled back by Collins. After a lengthy VAR check, Bruno Fernandes stepped up, but his penalty was kept put by a brilliant save from Kelleher, who dived low to his left.

In the fifth minute of injury time, Brentford secured all three points on the counter-attack. Yehor Yarmoliuk broke away into United’s half and fed Mathias Jensen. The substitute cut onto his right foot and struck a sweet effort from outside the box to catch out Bayindir in the centre of the goal.

Brentford remain unbeaten at home this season, with all of their seven points in the Premier League coming at the Gtech Community Stadium. They host Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City next Sunday, whilst Manchester United host an in-form Sunderland side.

The lineups

BRE: Kelleher; Hickey, Van den Berg, Collins, Kayode; Yarmoliuk, Henderson; Schade, Damsgaard, Ouattara; Thiago