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Manchester United were denied an undeserved victory at Brentford as Kristoffer Ajer’s 99th-minute equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw in a thrilling finale.
Mason Mount thought he had won it for United in the 96th minute with his first goal for the club against the run of play but Brentford finally scored three minutes later with their 31st shot of the game through Ajer. United were woeful until the final moments.
Brentford will wonder how they did not take any of their myriad of chances before United scored. They struck the frame of the goal four times and were denied by a fine Andre Onana double save. That was just the tip of the iceberg.
The damning Man Utd stats
- Brentford (85) became just the third side on record (since 2008-09) to have 80+ touches in the oppositions box in a Premier League game after Man City vs Southampton in November 2019 and Man City vs Norwich in July 2020 (87 in both matches).
- Brentford had 31 shots in this game (scoring with their 31st and final attempt), their highest total in a Premier League match, while on record (since 2003-04) there are only three instances of Man Utd facing more shots in a single Premier League match.
- Brentford hit the woodwork four times this evening with only Brighton (5) vs Man Utd in September 2020 doing so more in a Premier League game on record (since 2003-04).
- Man Utd have faced 20+ shots in six of their last seven Premier League games. In fact, they have faced 20+ shots in 11 different top-flight matches this term, with only Sheffield United (12) doing so more often.
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Wins for Aston Villa and Tottenham mean United are eight points adrift of fifth after being played off the park by a side just five points above the relegation zone and without a win in their last seven. Brentford somehow, after 31 shots, did not win.
Player ratings
Brentford:Â Flekken (7), Roerslev (7), Zanka (7), Ajer (8), Collins (7), Lewis-Potter (7), Jensen (7),Janelt (8), Yarmoliuk (7), Wissa (7), Toney (8).
Subs:Â Ghoddos (6), Maupay (5), Damgaard (6), Mbuemo (6).
Man Utd:Â Onana (8), Wan-Bissaka (5), Lindelof (5), Varane (5), Dalot (5), Mainoo (5), McTominay (5), Fernandes (5), Garnacho (5), Hojlund (5), Rashford (4).
Subs:Â Mount (6), Maguire (5), Casemiro (5), Antony (5), Martinez (5).
Player of the match:Â Kristoffer Ajer.
How Man Utd nicked a point at Brentford
On United’s last visit to Brentford they were 4-0 down at half-time and could have easily found themselves in a similar scenario this time around. The fight that earned them a seismic win over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals was nowhere to be seen.
Ivan Toney comes within inches of putting Brentford ahead as he hits the post against Manchester United.
The whole stadium thought he had scored but were left frustrated – an emotion that would persist for Brentford. Mathias Jorgensen headed onto the bar from a corner with Man Utd suspect at set pieces. Toney and Wissa also missed chances with their heads.
Man Utd had to cling on for most of the second part of the half and were indebted to the last-ditch defending of Victor Lindelof, with Onana also saving a header from Keane-Lewis Potter. Sloppy passing in the final third left United looking blunt.
“They have been so bad [in the first half],” said Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp. “I cannot believe the lack of effort, spark, desire to win individual battles, to make things happen in that team. I’m watching Marcus Rashford walking around like it’s a bit of fun out there.”
For all of Brentford’s pressure, they only had one shot on target at the break. Ten Hag turned to Harry Maguire at half-time, bringing him on for Varane. The change did little to stem the tide of Brentford attacks.
A rare moment of magic from Bruno Fernandes unlocked Brentford against the run of play as he slipped Rasmus Hojlund through on goal. The striker looked certain to score but was kept out by Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken at full stretch.
The longer the game went on it felt inevitable that United would have a moment, but it was not forthcoming. Onana produced two stops in quick succession to keep out Yehor Yarmoliuk and Lewis-
Wissa grazed the post with a powerful volley after Lindelof’s poor clearance before Toney fired over after a moment of brilliance. It was his shot that ensured United have faced 20 shots in a league game for the 11th time this season.
Substitute Antony came close with a curling effort, creating a sense of anxiety for the hosts. That was quickly dispelled when Toney put the ball in the back of the net a minute later. VAR came to United’s rescue, though, with the striker marginally offside.
Brentford’s luck seemed to be out when they hit the frame of the goal for a fourth time through substitute Bryan Mbuemo. Errors from Onana and the returning Lisandro Martinez went unpunished and the game seemed destined to end goalless.
Nine minutes were added on although that was extended due to a bang of heads between Diogo Dalot and Neal Muapay which set up this frantic finale.
United, finally, deep in stoppage-time found some rhythm and scored what everyone thought was the winner in the 96th minute with Mount picking up a loose ball before burying it past Flekken. It felt like a goal that could launch his United career.
But Brentford, having failed to score with their previous 30 shots, finally found the back of the net through Ajer three minutes later to ensure justice was served. Although, even a point was kind to United.
Source:Skysports;