Brentford 3 Manchester United 1: Thiago scores twice as Bees extend unbeaten run at the Gtech | OneFootball

Igor Thiago scored a brace as Brentford beat Manchester United 3-1 in an eventful game at Gtech Community Stadium.

Thiago had the Bees’ 2-0 up inside the opening 20 minutes, but the Bees had to dig deep to secure their second victory of the Premier League season. Benjamin Šeško quickly pulled one back for the visitors, while Caoimhín Kelleher saved a Bruno Fernandes penalty deep into the second half. Mathias Jensen put the result beyond doubt with a swerving finish in stoppage time.

Having battled back from a long-term hamstring injury, full-back Aaron Hickey made his first start in the Premier League since October 2023.

Forward Dango Ouattara was the other change as Keith Andrews switched from 5-3-2 to 4-3-3.

Ethan Pinnock and Keane Lewis-Potter were the pair to make way, with both players named among the substitutes.

Brentford got off to a blistering start. Thiago latched on to Jordan Henderson’s lofted pass before racing away from Harry Maguire and blasting the ball into the top corner via the inside of the post.

A VAR check for a possible offside followed, but the replays showed that Thiago had timed his run to perfection.

Buoyed by their early opener, the Bees went in search of a second. Sepp van den Berg rose highest to head Mikkel Damsgaard’s corner towards goal, forcing Altay Bayındır into a strong save.

Moments later, the United keeper was at full stretch to tip Nathan Collins’ header over the crossbar after Henderson had lifted the ball in from the byline.

Brentford’s pressure paid off. A long ball up the channel was chested down by Thiago into the path of Kevin Schade, and the forward’s low drive from a tight angle was parried by Bayındır.

Having continued his run into the six-yard box, Thiago gobbled up the rebound to take his tally for the season to five in all competitions.

United pulled a goal back within six minutes of the restart when Kelleher, under pressure from Bryan Mbeumo, failed to claim Patrick Dorgu’s looping cross from the byline.

Kelleher showed fine reflexes to twice deny Šeško from close range, but the Slovenian slammed home at the third time of asking. `

At the start of the second half, Matheus Cunha took aim from 20 yards having received a pass from Mbeumo, but his low drive was comfortably gathered by Kelleher.

Collins did brilliantly to flick Damsgaard’s free-kick towards van den Berg, but the defender’s poked effort was produced at full stretch and lacked the power to trouble Bayındır.

Bayındır’s next involvement was not so routine. Schade showed strength and perseverance to win his battle with Dalot down the left and cut the ball back for Ouattara, who had time and space in the centre of United’s penalty area.

Ouattara opted to take his shot first time and was thwarted by the keeper who got down quickly to his left to claw the ball away.

At the other end, it was Kelleher to the rescue. As Cunha’s low cross came in from the right, Collins pulled down Mbeumo and the referee pointed to the spot.

After a lengthy stoppage for a VAR check and substitutions, Fernandes was brilliantly denied by Kelleher who threw himself to his left to make the save.

Substitute Mathias Jensen wrapped up Brentford's win in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

The tireless Yehor Yarmoliuk led a quick counter into the United half and found Jensen, who cut in from the left and blasted beyond Bayındır from 20 yards.

Saturday’s hard-fought victory extended Brentford’s unbeaten run at the Gtech this season to four matches in all competitions. Up next, Manchester City.

Brentford (4-3-3): Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, van den Berg, Hickey (Henry 75); Henderson (Onyeka 81), Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard (Janelt 81); Ouattara (Lewis-Potter 75), Thiago (Jensen 90), Schade

Subs: Valdimarsson, Pinnock, Milambo, Ajer

Manchester United (3-4-2-1): Bayındır; de Ligt, Maguire (Mainoo 66), Shaw (Mount 81); Dalot, Ugarte (Yoro 66), Fernandes, Dorgu (Zirkzee 85); Mbeumo, Cunha; Šeško

Subs: Heaton, Lammens, Fredricson, Heaven, Leon

Attendance: 17,193

Andrews: There were so many positives

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews discussed the Bees' win over Manchester United on Saturday lunchtime.

"It was a deserved win," said Andrews. "I thought the attitude of the players was excellent - the belief, the courage, the conviction.

“How we started the game and, ultimately, finished the game, the way we had to navigate through what can be tricky waters at times, it was excellent.

“Our approach, everything we did with the ball and without the ball... there were so many positives today."

Andrews added: “In the main, we dealt with [Manchester United] brilliantly; the one-v-one duels, engaging players, being aggressive, and even our structure and where we wanted them to go. How we dealt with some of their really talented players was really good.”

Thiago: I feel the love from the Brentford fans

Igor Thiago spoke about his connection with the Brentford fans after his brace helped the Bees to a 3-1 victory over Manchester United on Saturday.

“I’m really happy with the performance and the team, now we just need to keep going,” he said.

“I want to thank the fans for their support, I’m really grateful for them. They give us the energy to keep going.

“Since I joined Brentford, they’ve been with me, supporting me and singing my name. It means so much to me, because I feel the love from them.”