Four things we learned as brittle Man United edge past Brentford | OneFootball

Manchester United took a huge step closer to a Champions League place with a hard-fought win over Brentford.

There were ups but mostly downs for United, who made heavy weather of it and survived a late scare to emerge 2-1 victors at Old Trafford.

Here are four things we learned from the game:

The good…

United shot out of the gates with some of their best football since the infamous derby destruction of Manchester City which kicked off Michael Carrick’s rein. There was intensity, there was an energetic high press and there was creative, constructive attacking play – all the things which have been sorely lacking in the slow starts of late.

It was a belated response to the atrocious form which crystalised in the 2-1 humbling against Leeds United, and the hosts seemed ready to set the stage for an unexpected carnival atmosphere.

United were playing with freedom and flair, and Casemiro’s fine header handed them a deserved lead as the team showed what it’s capable of. If Carrick could bottle this up and keep serving it, he should be given the job. But…

…and the bad

The last half hour of the half was chastening, the home side outclassed by a brilliant Brentford. Maybe there was a mentality problem from United thinking they’d won the game after 11 minutes, or maybe Casemiro’s goal was the shock needed to kickstart a Brentford side chasing down an historic European qualification. Either way it was a miracle that United went in at half time with a lead intact and ludicrous that they had managed to double it through Benjamin Sesko.

Carrick’s side were in defensive disarray, and charitably this was offset by an attack which stayed dangerous throughout a terrifyingly open half. It was United back to their worst under Carrick and was an advert for why another coach could yet be recruited. Tonight did little to help INEOS make a decision.

Carrick stakes a claim

The interim boss has been criticised for his lack of reaction to grim circumstances, and he has seldom had to deal with worse than United’s first-half fiasco. Tonight, though, he was decisive, hauling off the dreadful Amad and replacing him with the defensive Swiss army knife Noussair Mazraoui.

It was a signal of intent, to double down rather than push for more, and was the right call. United’s attack narrowed and defence compacted, the game losing much of its pizzazz as the hosts clawed back some composure.

That it threatened to spiral out of control as the match wore on was a concern, and as Brentford pulled one back with three minutes to go hearts were in mouths in Old Trafford. But Carrick’s side dug in and won ugly again – helped by the bounce of the ball, and the baffling ineptitude of one of the Premier League’s most prolific strikers in front of goal.

Mainoo masterclass

Casemiro will grab the headlines with a blockbuster performance, a goal at one end and a rumbustious defensive showing all over the pitch, but his midfield partner was the main man.

Kobbie Mainoo was phenomenal, from his second-minute mazy dribble to his tenacity in his own half. The youngster’s ostracisation by Ruben Amorim looks more ridiculous by the day, and he once again showed that he needs to be the foundation for the summer midfield rebuild.

The basics were done effortlessly, Mainoo keeping the ball moving and rarely ceding possession unlikely many of his teammates. His deft flicks and clever passing, while chipping in with his fair share of dirty work, gave an unsettled United faithful something genuinely impressive to watch even as Brentford swarmed relentlessly over a fragile backline.

Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images

online polls

The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social