Brentford vs. Man United result: Emphatic second-half Red Devils turnaround produces 3-1 road victory

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Kyle Bonn
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• 19 min read
Anthony Elanga Manchester United celebrates 011922

After an awful opening 45 minutes, Manchester United emphatically turned the match on its head as the Red Devils produced a prolific second half to down Brentford 3-1.

Three David de Gea saves in the first half earmarked a terribly worrying opening frame, with United consistently carved to shreds by Brentford counter-attacks. A pair of enormous chances off the foot of Matias Jensen left Brentford rueing what could have been a 2-0 lead, but instead were denied by the Spanish goalkeeping star.

As the halftime break provided Man United with some respite, Ralf Rangnick oversaw a full and comprehensive turnaround, as the Red Devils came out for the second half with aplomb, and the opener came just 10 minutes later as young Anthony Elanga stamped the match with his mark.

MORE: Premier League standings & table races

Goals from Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford put the game comfortably out of sight, and thankfully so as Brentford found a late consolation from Ivan Toney. Despite that, a second half filled with relief will – for the moment, at least – quiet any serious complaints that United fans were shouting from the rooftops just 45 minutes earlier.

With the win, United moves level with Arsenal on 35 points, with fourth-placed West Ham just two points adrift. Brentford, meanwhile, remains in 14th on 23 points, rueing what otherwise could have been a jet-boost up the crowded middle of the Premier League table.

Sporting News will be following the match live and providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

Brentford vs. Man United live score

  1H 2H Final
Brentford 0 1 1
Man United 0 3 3

Goals:
55th min – MUN – Anthony Elanga
62nd min – MUN – Mason Greenwood
78th min – MUN – Marcus Rashford
85th min – BRE – Ivan Toney

(All times Eastern)

FULL-TIME:  Brentford 1-3 Man United

Manchester United was only on top for half the match, but that's enough for victory at Brentford Community Stadium. The Red Devils made sure to help fans forget what was a forgettable first half, and the final 45 minutes will be all that Ralf Rangnick will remember. Anthony Elanga and David de Gea are the true heroes, while Bruno Fernandes was again fantastic in the new 4-3-3 formation.

For Brentford, a sleepless night of what-ifs is ahead, especially for Matias Jensen who will think of those two misses for a long time. If Brentford had gone up 2-0 before halftime, this game's narrative would be  very  different regardless of how it ended up.

In the first league meeting between these teams since 1947, Man United will claim victory thanks to a rousing halftime turnaround.

92nd minute: CHANCE! Man United!  Welppppp Bruno Fernandes won't want to watch that back. With the chance at capping off an otherwise fabulous second half with a goal of his own, Fernandes went for the chip over Lossl and got it all wrong, instead just looping it straight into the waiting arms of Brentford's new goalkeeper.

Now deep into the four minutes of added time, Brentford is pushing for a second goal, but United has defended far better, and it's the final few minutes are all but elementary.

85th minute:  GOAL! Brentford!  Well, Brentford has a consoliation to take home. A corner not dealt with saw Ivan Toney deposit the ball into the back of the net as it pinged around from feet to feet in the six-yard box. The three United goals have this game still almost surely out of reach, but the Bees now at least have something to savor...and also a greater wonder of what could have been.

84th minute:  Manchester United will be thrilled at the scoreline, but they now have a problem to deal with, as Scott McTominay goes down with a clear injury and needs a substitution. It's Nemanja Matic off the bench to replace him. McTominay would be a big loss for the Red Devils, as the academy product has responded to criticism through December with a January of great form.

78th minute: GOAL! Man Uunited!  Now it's over. Marcus Rashford, who needed a goal in the worst way, gets the confidence boost he's been searching for. It breaks an 11-game duck for the England international. It came off great work from Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes, and Rashford deserves credit for a perfect finish from a tight angle that didn't provide the biggest window.

77th minute:  Brentford, not giving up, come close again, but Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane go shoulder-to-shoulder to create a brick wall that denies Ivan Toney. The Bees aren't completely done yet, but it feels a tall task.

71st minute:  Brentford doesn't look like it has the same pep in its step it did before the halftime whistle. A completely different team, devoid of the spark.

Ralf Rangnick makes a double switch, as Cristiano Ronaldo and Mason Greenwood come off, to be replaced by Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire. Rashford, who missed last game with an injury, is visibly frustrated on the bench after being substituted, throwing his jacked down on the chair in anger. The substitutions make sense, given Ronaldo's struggles, the Villa collapse, and Rashford's desire to gain form.

67th minute:  Brentford, disappointingly, now has it all to do despite the positive first half. Thomas Frank dips three times into his bench, bringing on Rico Henry, Shandon Baptiste, and Yoane Wissa with Sergi Canos, Vitaly Janelt, and the misfiring Mathias Jensen coming off.

62nd minute: GOAL! Man United!  After a grim first 45 minutes, the second half has provided a stark turnaround. A pacey breakaway off a ball from Ronaldo in deep sees a sprinting Bruno Fernandes tap across to Mason Greenwood for an easy finish. The Red Devils should have at one point been 2-0 down, and now they find themselves 2-0 up.

Don't forget, this was the lead that United had last time out against Aston Villa, before it all came crashing down...

55th minute:  GOAL! Man United!  It looked worrying for a while, but Man United is somehow in front, and it's the 19-year-old Anthony Elanga who is the hero. A ball into the area by Fred is on a platter for Elanga who breaks through the line, and the youngster does brilliantly to flick the ball up with his right foot and head into the back of the net. A moment of brilliance is what United needed, and the young Swede is there to provide.

Brentford, who was fantastic through 45 minutes, will sorely rue the early misses, as they should still at the very least be level. United, on the other hand, scores with its first shot on target.

52nd minute:  Aside from the one Brentford counter, this has been much better from Man United since the break, although it was hard to get much worse, in all fairness. Brentford with a lot more defending to do in the penalty area. Still no true chances just yet.

48th minute: A Man United corner again turns into a Brentford counter, and Jensen is denied by De Gea for a third time, although this came from a tighter angle and further out. The Bees playmaker would probably have been better served sending it across to his teammate in support. Still, the home side continues to counter with venom, and many of them are coming from United set-pieces.

46th minute:  Back under way in the second half. Ronaldo immediately comes up to head off the crossbar, as Man United looks far more dangerous out of the break. We'll see how long it lasts. Replay shows Ronaldo was offside, it wouldnt' have counted.

HALFTIME: Brentford 0-0 Man United

Well, the scoreline sure does flatter the visitors, but both sides will look back at that half with regret. Manchester United was soundly beaten by a newly-promoted side, but it remains scoreless thanks to two massive saves by David de Gea on Matias Jensen.

There's still a full half to play, but social media has seen enough of Ralf Rangnick's Manchester United. For someone who was only meant to be a temporary fix, the German seems to have made himself part of the problem. There's a lot of improvement needed from United to get something from this game, and from this season.

42nd minute:  Alex Telles lands very hard on his back and needs treatment. After coming to the sidelines, he's ready to return, and stands right in front of a Brentford throw-in taker who wants to send it long into the box. Some top-tier dark arts from the Manchester United full-back, which is a good microcosm of this match. The on-field effort from the Red Devils, however, leaves some to be desired. The players look more confused than determined.

35th minute:  Brentford continues to push, and De Gea makes another excellent save, but the flag is up anyways. If the Bees don't put one past the Spaniard before halftime, it will be a confidence killer.

De Gea has the most saves in the Premier League to this point, which is a significant problem for the Red Devils.

32nd minute: CHANCE, Brentford!  Oh my, Jensen has another point-blank effort saved!! Brentford should be 2-0 up, and they can't get the final ball. Another blistering counter right through United's heart, but Jansen again gets his excellent chance saved by De Gea who stands tall. The Bees have been the better side, and Thomas Frank's tactics have worked to perfection, but somehow they remain goalless. United so, so lucky to have an in-form De Gea back to his best.

25th minute:  Diogo Dalot steps up and rifles one high and wide from a long distance out. United does not yet have a shot on target.

20th minute:  United has yet to produce a response to Brentford's big chance. The Bees are hacking Ronaldo to some effect, and they have been able to absorb pressure at the edge of the attacking third looking to counter. United has looked to go over the top of the Brentford back line a few times, to no avail. The visitors appear well locked down at the moment, with Bruno Fernandes yet to truly have an effect.

Long stoppage after a clash of heads between Fred and Pontus Janssen. They both return to the pitch and look to be unharmed.

13th minute: CHANCE, Brentford!  WHAT A SAVE by De Gea! A Bees counter absolutely carves the Red Devils to pieces, but Mathias Jensen's shot – with the goal absolutely gaping – is saveable, and De Gea makes a brilliant kick-save from point-blank range. Brentford should absolutley be in front, but yet again the Spaniard comes to Man United's rescue. Jensen should have went far post but he got too cute. Alex Telles then blocks the eventual follow-up and the chance is lost.

9th minute:  Man United, sporting its third kit with blue tops and yellow shorts, has begun to build into the match. A somewhat cheap corner is conceded by Sergi Canos, and despite the dangerous delivery it's cleared. Somehow it comes back at the Bees and Anthony Elanga gets his head to it, but Jonas Lossl puts it out for another corner, which is also cleared.

3rd minute:  Brentford has started brightly, with a shot just wide left by Mbeumo and good movement forward by the home side. Still very early.

Brentford Community Stadium is also home to Rugby Premiership side London Irish, and...well...you can tell.

1st minute:  We're under way! Brentford in its first match against Manchester United since 1975. The home crowd is ready to spur its team on, and also show its appreciation for the opponent's more well-liked players.

2:46 p.m.:  Manchester United has struggled mightily in the past with newly-promoted sides. Brentford presents another test in that department.

2:33 p.m.:  Brentford showing its togetherness at home against a formidable opponent.

2:07 p.m.:  Lineups are in. Manchester United is sticking with the 4-3-3 from the Aston Villa match, with Luke Shaw only able to make the bench after returning from suspension and Victor Lindelof still preferred to Harry Maguire despite the defensive meltdown last time out. Rangnick announced a training injury to Edinson Cavani, who misses out altogether.

For Brentford, Thomas Frank makes a big call, with new loanee Jonas Lossl starting in goal, replacing regular starter Alvaro Fernandez. Shane Baptiste drops out of the starting midfield as speculated, with Mathias Jensen the man to take his place.

1:30 p.m.:  It has been a LONG time since these two teams faced off...

1:26 p.m.:  Manchester United has arrived in the capital. Brentford's ready to welcome the Red Devils.

1:00 p.m.:  Brentford boss Thomas Frank hoping to create "another magic moment" "under the floodlights" against a "decent team" 🙃

1:00 p.m.:  A good breakdown on why Manchester United has switched from Rangnick's preferred 4-2-2-2 to the 4-3-3. It all boils down to one player: Bruno Fernandes.

Brentford vs. Man United lineups

Brentford continues to be without the injured quartet of Julian Jeanvier , David Raya , Charlie Goode , and Josh DaSilva , with all four still a ways from returning from long-term injuries. Frank Onyeka is also at AFCON 2022 with Nigeria. Zanka is still working on returning from his thigh injury and will not participate.

Rico Henry returned from injury against Liverpool but was withdrawn just after halftime, and he is rested in this match for load management. Shandon Baptiste 's place in midfield has been shaky of late, and both  Sergi Canos and  Mathias Jensen come into the side in his place.

Brentford starting lineup (3-5-2): Lossl (GK) — Sorensen, Jansson, Pinnock – Rasmussen, Janelt, Norgard, Jensen, Canos – Toney, Mbeumo.

Brentford subs (9):  Fernandez (GK), Henry, Forss, Wissa, Ghoddos, Ajer, Baptiste, Bidstrup, Stevens.

Paul Pogba is getting closer to a return for the Red Devils, a much-needed midfield boost, but he has only just returned to training and won't be available just yet. Eric Bailly remains out due to his involvement in AFCON, but those are the only two guaranteed absences for United.

MORE: Man United winter transfer news roundup

Question marks surrounded the availability of three stars, with Cristiano Ronaldo  back in the side after missing out against Aston Villa due to a slight hip problem. Aaron Wan-Bissaka has a non-COVID-related illness which keeps him sidelined, while Marcus Rashford returns to the bench after missing out against Aston Villa with a dead leg. Scott McTominay are slots back into the lineup after missing the last match due to a yellow card suspension, but Luke Shaw  does not, picking up a knock in training to help  Alex Telles  retain his place.

Harry Maguire could see a return to the lineup after being benched last time out, with center back  Victor Lindelof failing to impress as United coughed up its two-goal lead at Villa Park.

Man United starting lineup (4-3-3): De Gea (GK) — Dalot, Varane, Lindelof, Telles — Fred, McTominay, Fernandes – Elanga, Ronaldo, Greenwood.

Man United subs (9):  Heaton, Henderson, Jones, Maguire, Mata, Matic, van de Beek, Martial, Rashford.

How to watch Brentford vs. Man United

  • Date: Wednesday, Jan. 19
  • Time: 3 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: — None —
  • Streaming: Peacock   (subscription required)

The Brentford vs. Manchester United match is exclusively avaliable on NBC streaming platform Peacock.

Brentford-Man United betting lines, picks & prediction

Pick : Over 2.5 goals (-115)

Prediction : Brentford 1-2 Manchester United

  • Moneyline : Brentford +370 / Draw +290 / Man United -135
  • Spread : Man United -0.5 (-135) / Brentford +0.5 (+115)
  • O/U 3.5 total goals : Over -115 / Under -105
  • Both teams to score : Yes -125 / No +100
Author(s)
Kyle Bonn Photo
Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn is a soccer content producer for The Sporting News.