Manchester United 2-1 Brentford: Scott McTominay’s late double salvages dramatic victory

Scott McTominay scored twice in stoppage time as Manchester United got here from behind to file a sensational Premier League victory in opposition to Brentford at Old Trafford.

McTominay was solely introduced on with three minutes remaining as supervisor Erik ten Hag desperately looked for salvation – and the Scot duly offered it.

He confirmed glorious management earlier than firing house when Kristoffer Ajer scuffed a clearance inside his personal field for the primary.

Then, after Anthony Martial had a low shot saved by Thomas Strakosha, McTominay reacted quickest to a Harry Maguire flick-on and utilized the priceless end.

The house followers celebrated lengthy after the ultimate whistle as their workforce headed spherical on a lap of honour, which was most likely a bit excessive however, given the circumstances, completely comprehensible.

Significant win or papering over the cracks?

It is unimaginable to underestimate what McTominay’s double will do for morale round United through the worldwide break.

Like Maguire, the midfielder may have left Old Trafford in the summertime, so it’s ironic the pair mixed to salvage what had been set to be a determined scenario for Ten Hag.

Averting that 1977 statistic and, extra pertinently, three house defeats in per week in opposition to opposition most observers would count on them to dismiss comparatively comfortably, supplies respiratory area from a suffocating scenario.

But as soon as the sugar rush of the euphoria has subsided, Ten Hag will know he has quite a lot of work to do to even make United into the coherent outfit he turned them into final season.

There is no-one who epitomises United’s malaise greater than Marcus Rashford.

Although it was after the World Cup he actually went on the surge that took him to 30 objectives final season, he had scored 5 by this level final time period. Now he’s caught on the one effort he scored in opposition to Arsenal on 3 September.

Rashford’s physique language is poor. At one level he tried to regulate a excessive punt out of the Brentford space, just for the ball to bounce below his foot and out for a throw, which he took himself after which ambled in direction of the world.

When he did chase again to play a move to Onana as Brentford countered from a United nook, Rashford was ponderous as he then made his approach ahead once more, despite the fact that the hosts transitioned the ball into assault pretty rapidly.

He did draw a low save out of Brentford’s Premier League debutant keeper Thomas Strakosha because the opening interval was drawing to an in depth however he additionally despatched a speculative effort drifting effectively huge 10 minutes into the second half.

It was all thus far faraway from the Rashford he’s when at his harmful greatest, utilizing his tempo to unsettle even one of the best defences, and it was no shock when he was taken off with barely an hour gone as Ten Hag chased the sport.

As it turned out, United needed to wait for one more 24 minutes for the substitution that made the distinction.

Brentford’s ache

Even because the Brentford followers celebrated Jensen giving them the lead, they’d have been cautious.

Going into the sport, they’d dropped extra factors from profitable positions than another top-flight workforce.

Yet, till the mad ending, they really seemed extra like including to their lead than conceding an equaliser.

Neal Maupay and Christian Norgaard each had efforts touched over by United keeper Andre Onana, who had hardly coated himself in glory with the Brentford purpose.

It was truly a listing of defensive errors that began with Casemiro gifting possession to Brentford deep inside his personal half when he was below no stress.

The Brazilian then missed a rescuing sort out earlier than Victor Lindelof’s tried clearance went straight to a visiting participant contained in the United field. Jensen utilized the low end, which Onana didn’t preserve out.

For so lengthy, it seemed like being sufficient to safe Brentford their first Old Trafford win since 1937. McTominay had different concepts.

Player of the match

McTominayScott McTominay

Brentford

1. Squad quantity8Player titleJensen

2. Squad quantity5Player titlePinnock

3. Squad quantity11Player titleWissa

4. Squad quantity19Player titleMbeumo

5. Squad quantity6Player titleNørgaard

6. Squad quantity27Player titleJanelt

7. Squad quantity22Player titleCollins

8. Squad quantity2Player titleHickey

9. Squad quantity20Player titleAjer

10. Squad quantity30Player titleRoerslev

11. Squad quantity15Player titleOnyeka

12. Squad quantity21Player titleStrakosha

13. Squad quantity7Player titleMaupay

14. Squad quantity14Player titleGhoddos