Brentford 1-1 Manchester United: Stoppage time goals light up London

Brentford took another step away from the bottom three following a wasteful 1-1 draw with Manchester United at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday.

Mason Mount’s goal deep in stoppage time looked to have given Manchester United a smash-and-grab win over the dominant Bees, but Kristoffer Ajer scored moments later to restore level terms.

[ MORE: Erik ten Hag’s post-match reaction ]

The Bees unloaded 31 shots toward Andre Onana’s goal but only forced four saves out of the Manchester United keeper, hitting or just missing the framework on a number of occasions before shot No. 31 leveled the score line.

Brentford grew more dangerous as the game wore on but could only lay claim to a single point, boosting their total to 27. That puts them five points clear of the bottom three, as their Premier League winless run hits seven games.

The Red Devils beat Everton last time out but rarely looked capable of beating Mark Flekken on Saturday until Mount’s arrow from near the top of the 18. The point gives United 48, eight behind fifth-place Spurs and 11 back of fourth-place Aston Villa.

Massive frustration on both sides

Let’s start with the obvious for the Manchester United fans out there: This was an unacceptable level of play away to a Brentford side flirting with the relegation zone and missing a half-dozen players who would improve their 18. There’s some “folly of youth” in the performance, as Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund aren’t near their best, but every player in the 11 is a bonafide Premier League talent and simply need to do more. At least there’s the silver lining of Mason Mount getting not just back on the field but back on the score sheet in a big spot. Could this be the moment his Man United career flips on?

WATCH BRENTFORD vs MANCHESTER UNITED FULL MATCH REPLAY

But, oh, to be Brentford’s Thomas Frank. Your team bosses the Red Devils at home — again — but just cannot find a way to get the ball over the line. Ivan Toney has a hat trick another day, but gets zero on the board Saturday. You register 31 shot attempts and 2.60 of xG but get just one goal, and need it to take a point.

Brentford vs Manchester United player ratings (fotmob.com)

Brentford vs Manchester United player ratings (fotmob.com)

Brentford vs Manchester United player ratings (fotmob.com)

Brentford vs Manchester United player ratings (fotmob.com)

What’s next?

Brentford host Brighton at 2:30pm ET Wednesday. Then it’s Aston Villa at Villa Park for a 10am ET Saturday scrap.

Manchester United take a trip to Chelsea for a 3:15pm ET Thursday match, then go home for Liverpool on Sunday, April 7.


How to watch Brentford vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time

Kick off: 4pm ET Saturday
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Online: Watch live on Peacock Premium


Brentford vs Manchester United live updates — By Nick Mendola

Brentford vs Manchester United final score: 1-1

Goalscorers: Mount (90+6′), Ajer (90+9′)

Goals, plural!

Mason Mount takes a Casemiro feed to give United a stoppage-time lead against all odds.

But we hardly get those words on the page before Kristoffer Ajer cashes in a loose ball deep in the Red Devils’ box.

Mayhem, but the equalizer is no more than the Bees deserve given their dominance.

VAR review…

Bryan Mbeumo’s swooping cross from the left is met by a falling Ivan Toney and turned past Onana, but is he offside?

The flag is up, and VAR review draws the lines to confirm Toney’s offside status.

A few minutes later Toney smashes the bar. How is it 0-0?

Onana double save!

Andre Onana gets at full stretch to paw a Yegor Yarmoliuk low burner back from the line, then stops a close-range bid at the rebound as well.

Still scoreless, 56′

Mark Flekken denies Hojlund

Brentford can’t complete a break and Man United come back the other way.

Rasmus Hojlund gets a good chance from Bruno Fernandes, but Mark Flekken swings his arm right to knock it wide of the goal.

Manchester United substitution

Harry Maguire will enter the game for Raphael Varane, who appears to have picked up a first-half knock.

Halftime — Brentford 0-0 Manchester United

The Red Devils have not been punished for conceding a great many set pieces to the hosts.

The Bees are out-attempting United to the tune of 14-3 and nine corner kicks to one.

It’s not good, and all this despite United holding 56% of the ball.

Just over the bar off another corner

Man United are playing with fire.

A corner sweeps over the attackers and defenders to find Zanka, whose header carries across goal and just over the bar.

Off the post!

Ivan Toney’s played into the box by a terrific touch from Yoane Wissa.

His shot beats Andre Onana but not the goal post and the danger turns into a corner kick.

Brentford have had a lot of those but still no goals.

No clear-cut favorite early

Not a lot of danger yet at Brentford, where both sides have had a nice passage of play or two without the final ball.

Ivan Toney has a low free kick blocked by the wall for a 21st-minute corner kick, their fifth of the early goings.

United clears the danger but Brentford keep the ball long enough for Keane Lewis-Potter’s dangerous cross to be headed over the goal.


Brentford lineup

Flekken, Roerslev, Ajer, Zanka, Collins, Lewis-Potter, Janelt, Yarmoliuk, Jensen, Wissa, Toney.

Manchester United lineup

Onana, Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Wan-Bissaka, Mainoo, McTominay, Fernandes, Rashford, Garnacho, Hojlund


Brentford focus, team news

OUT: Christian Norgaard (back), Sergio Reguilon (suspension), Ben Mee (ankle – out for season), Ethan Pinnock (ankle), Rico Henry (torn ACL – out for season), Kevin Schade (adductor), Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Josh Dasilva (torn ACL – out for season)

Manchester United focus, team news

OUT: Anthony Martial (groin), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Luke Shaw (thigh), Amad Diallo (suspension), Altay Bayindir (muscular) | QUESTIONABLE: Lisandro Martinez (knee), Harry Maguire (knock), Jonny Evans (undisclosed), Casemiro (undisclosed)

First appeared on www.nbcsports.com

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