Manchester United vs Brentford LIVE
Manchester United dispatched Brentford thanks to goals from Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko to take one step closer to qualifying for the Champions League. The Red Devils went in at half-time two goals clear after a frenetic first-half, and produced a professional display in the second to get the result over the line, despite a stunning Mathias Jensen strike halving the deficit late in the match to set up a nervous finish.
Bruno Fernandes set up Sesko’s strike to move within one assist of the record set by Thierry Henry and matched by Kevin de Bruyne, and now has four matches remaining to either level or better their feat. But this match was more a landmark for team than player, as United all but confirmed their place in Europe next season.
It was not a perfect night for the Red Devils, though, as Luke Shaw was withdrawn early due to injury and Matheus Cunha missed out on the matchday squad altogether with a hip flexor issue. Catch up with the action as it happened below with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog, complete with expert insight and analysis.
Manchester United vs Brentford latest news
- GOAL! Jensen stunner cuts deficit
- GOAL! Sesko makes it two
- GOAL! Casemiro rewards dominant opening spell
- How to watch: Sky Sports
FULL-TIME: Manchester United 2-1 Brentford
21:53 , Arthur FerridgeThat does it! Huge three points for the hosts.
Manchester United 2-1 Brentford
21:53 , Arthur FerridgeKayode lofts his ball in, but Collins is deemed overexuberant in creating space between himself and Casemiro. Contact is minimal but a foul is given.
Time for one last Kayode long throw...
Manchester United 2-1 Brentford
21:52 , Arthur Ferridge90+4mins: Into the final 60 seconds here...
Manchester United 2-1 Brentford
21:50 , Arthur Ferridge90+2mins: Zirkzee goes into the book for kicking the ball away. It has got to that stage - United are pulling out all the tricks to get these three points over the line.
Manchester United 2-1 Brentford
21:48 , Arthur FerridgeThere will be FIVE added minutes here!
Manchester United 2-1 Brentford
21:48 , Arthur Ferridge90mins: Ouattara crosses for Damsgaard and his header is stopped routinely by Lammens. United will hope there isn’t too much time added on here...
Manchester United 2-1 Brentford
21:46 , Arthur Ferridge89nmins: Sesko was replaced by Zirkzee following the goal.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-1 Brentford | Jensen '86
21:45 , Arthur FerridgeJensen pulls one back from nowhere! He fires home superbly from about 25 yards out to set up a nervy finish.
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:40 , Arthur Ferridge80mins: United are on track for a huge win here. These three points will all but confirm their place in next season’s Champions League. Of course, they cannot count their chickens just yet, but they are in very, very good stead.
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:35 , Arthur Ferridge77mins: Fernandes sets one back for Casemiro to shoot from range, and his low-driven effort from 25 yards out is just barely wide.
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:33 , Arthur Ferridge76mins: Igor Thiago is booked for clumsily tripping Ayden Heaven. Poor night for the Brazilian. He’ll be looking forward to boarding the bus back to London.
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:31 , Arthur Ferridge73mins: Changes for both sides here. Reiss Nelson replaces Kevin Schade for Brentford. The German hasn’t been terribly effective.
Luke Shaw hobbles off injured, and Leny Yoro comes on in his place. Mason Mount replaces Bryan Mbeumo.
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:29 , Arthur Ferridge71mins: How on Earth has that stayed out! A Brentford corner falls to Ouattara in space at the back post, but he heads onto the bar! He then attempts a bicycle kick to meet the rebound, but Maguire is incredibly brave to get his head in front of his boot.
Ouattara is booked for the admittedly reckless move.
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:27 , Arthur Ferridge68mins: A better spell from Brentford, here, as Ouattara sends another cross into the box from deep, which Maguire dutifully clears. Heaven then slides in to deny another shot from the Burkina Faso international. They can’t find a way through United at the moment - put that down to Carrick’s half-time changes?
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:25 , Arthur Ferridge66mins: Maguire attempts a long-range diagonal ball in search of Fernandes, which sails out of play.
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:20 , Arthur Ferridge63mins: Collins knocks Mbeumo to the ground as he attempts to chase a loose ball, but the referee sees no issue. Brentford race away on the counter and Lammens does well to collect Lewis-Potter’s low cross.
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:18 , Arthur Ferridge60mins: The flag is up once again as Ouattara puts a bouncing volley wide of Lammens’ goal.
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:17 , Arthur Ferridge60mins: Kayode plays a smart ball into the feet of Schade, but a United defender gets a foot in just in time to deny his shot.
The intervention leaves Kayode to line up another long throw and this time he does heave it in, but United deal with it all too easily.
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:16 , Arthur Ferridge58mins: Nearly a quarter of an hour into this second half, and Brentford are yet to have a touch in the United box.
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:14 , Arthur Ferridge56mins: Kayode sizes up one of his fearful long-throws as both sides pile men into the box... and he takes it short to Jensen.
The Dane dishes a superb cross to Thiago, who misses the mark from close range again! His blushes are spared, only very slightly, by the offside flag.
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:12 , Arthur Ferridge54mins: United’s press has been really aggressive in this second half, and Brentford are struggling to play around it. Fernandes forces Kayode and Collins into an awkward moment, but they eventually get out via Kelleher.
In any case, not a wholly convincing start to this second period from the Bees.
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:10 , Arthur Ferridge52mins: Fernandes sends another United corner it but Brentford deal with it to earn some brief defensive respite.
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:08 , Arthur Ferridge50mins: Another Mbeumo cross does in search of Sesko, but a panicked Van den Berg puts it behind for a corner.
Maguire gets his head to it once again, but Kelleher denies him.
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:06 , Arthur Ferridge48mins: Mbeumo squares one for Shaw which he attempts to shoot first-time, but he shanks it behind for a goal-kick.
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:05 , Arthur Ferridge47mins: Interestingly, it seems United have dropped into a Ruben Amorim-esque back five.
2ND HALF: Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
21:03 , Arthur FerridgeWe are back underway, and Noussair Mazraoui has replaced Amad Diallo. Is that a change of system for United?
HALF-TIME! Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
20:48 , Arthur FerridgeThe whistle blows to call time on what has been a thoroughly entertaining first-half. Can Keith Andrews rally his troops for a comeback here?
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
20:46 , Arthur Ferridge45mins: A loose ball falls for Jensen to whip towards Lammens’ goal. It looks very good when it leaves his boot, but bends the wrong side of the upright.
Manchester United 2-0 Brentford
20:45 , Arthur Ferridge44mins: Bruno Fernandes’ 19th assist of the season there, by the way. He has four-and-a-half more matches to find one more and equal the record set by Thierry Henry and matched by Kevin De Bruyne. Find two more and he’ll go down as one of the greatest playmakers in this great league’s history.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-0 Brentford | Sesko '43
20:44 , Arthur FerridgeUnited have their second! A rampant counter-attack led by Fernandes has Brentford backpedalling. He has Sesko and Mbeumo either side and opts for the big Slovenian, who drops Collins before lashing a powerful finish beyond Kelleher.
Manchester United 1-0 Brentford
20:42 , Arthur Ferridge41mins: Diallo smashes a brilliant finish in off the post to double United’s lead!
But the flag goes up. Heartbreaker for the Ivorian.
Replays show he was a good five yards offside - at least.
Manchester United 1-0 Brentford
20:41 , Arthur Ferridge41mins: Van Den Berg is booked for a clumsy tackle on Sesko.
Manchester United 1-0 Brentford
20:40 , Arthur Ferridge39mins: Brentford pile on the pressure from their latest corner and lash shot after shot at the United goal, but they just can’t find a way through!
Manchester United 1-0 Brentford
20:39 , Arthur Ferridge38mins: Lammens! Another huge stop from the Belgian keeps the ball out after a Brentford cross ricocheted goalwards from Heaven’s arm.
Manchester United 1-0 Brentford
20:38 , Arthur Ferridge37mins: Brentford have had so many chances here, the scoreline could read so differently. Some routine stops from Lammens and smart defending, though, means United look set to carry their one-goal lead into half-time.
Manchester United 1-0 Brentford
20:37 , Arthur Ferridge37mins: Igor Thiago goes through one-on-one again but Heaven makes a superb last-ditch tackle to dispossess him! Incredible from the youngster.
Manchester United 1-0 Brentford
20:36 , Arthur Ferridge36mins: Ouattara wriggles through and plays Thiago into the box, but he trips over his own feet before he can get a shot off! He almost puts it in from the floor after Heaven and Lammens get in one another’s way, but the Belgian eventually scoops up the loose ball.
Manchester United 1-0 Brentford
20:31 , Arthur Ferridge31mins: Fernandes lifts a superb cross to Amad Diallo, but his headed effort is cushioned into Kelleher’s hands from close range.
Manchester United 1-0 Brentford
20:29 , Arthur Ferridge28mins: Lewis-Potter makes a nuisance of himself down the left flank and requires two red shirts to dispossess him. Dalot can do no better than to concede another corner.
Jensen’s delivery is better and finds its way back to Lewis-Potter, but Mainoo stands in the way to ensure Lammens is not called into action.
Manchester United 1-0 Brentford
20:25 , Arthur Ferridge25mins: Shaw makes an important block to stop Ouattara’s cross. This has been a good spell for Brentford but they lack that final touch, that clinical edge.
Manchester United 1-0 Brentford
20:24 , Arthur Ferridge24mins: Diallo flies forward with both Fernandes and Mbeumo as passing options.
He opts to go alone, though, and his shot from range finds Row Z.
Manchester United 1-0 Brentford
20:20 , Arthur Ferridge20mins: Another great chance for Brentford as Lewis-Potter finds a cozy pocket of space in the box but puts his shot a little too close to Lammens.
Manchester United 1-0 Brentford
20:18 , Arthur Ferridge18mins: Brentford came away from that attack with a corner but it is another wasteful delivery from Jensen.
Manchester United 1-0 Brentford
20:17 , Arthur Ferridge17mins: Damsgaard does brilliantly down the left flank and plays Kayode into space in the area. He’s one-on-one with Lammens but rattles the bar after the Belgian’s crucial touch!
Manchester United 1-0 Brentford
20:16 , Arthur Ferridge14mins: Brentford have woken up a bit now, and flow forward to win a corner of their own.
Jensen sends it in, after the referee intervenes in some penalty area argy-bargy, but the eventual delivery is underwhelming and fails to beat the first man.
Brentford respond and Lewis-Potter sends a fizzing cross towards Thiago, but the Brazilian just misreads it and lets it run beyong him.
Manchester United 1-0 Brentford
20:14 , Arthur Ferridge13mins: The home support are pleading with Casemiro to extend his stay with United for one more year. He is due to leave the club this summer, and he really is ending his career on a high.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Brentford | Casemiro '11
20:12 , Arthur FerridgeAnd there’s the opener! It has been coming for some time. A United corner is finally rewarded as Maguire’s header falls for the Brazilian to nod home from a tight angle. Kelleher can’t quite get to it.
Manchester United 0-0 Brentford
20:10 , Arthur Ferridge10mins: For Brentford, this must have been a long opening ten minutes. They’re hanging on for dear life as Mbeumo races goalwards again and sees his cross put behind by Collins.
Manchester United 0-0 Brentford
20:08 , Arthur Ferridge7mins: End to end stuff here. Ouattara looks to jink into the United box but is tackled, and the hosts counter like lightning. A first-time pass from Fernandes releases Mbeumo, who wins a corner.
The resultant ball in is headed goalwards by Maguire, and Kelleher does brilliantly to deny him!
Manchester United 0-0 Brentford
20:06 , Arthur Ferridge6mins: Schade picks the ball up in his own box and breaks away, but Shaw cynically hacks him down. He is shown a yellow card for his troubles.
Manchester United 0-0 Brentford
20:05 , Arthur Ferridge5mins: All United so far. They have their third corner of the evening on the cards already!
Mbeumo whips it into the near post, but Igor Thiago dispatches it. United come again, though, and this time it is Diallo’s cross that is batted away.
Manchester United 0-0 Brentford
20:04 , Arthur Ferridge4mins: The ball sits up nicely for Shaw on the edge of the area and he takes it first time, but has to watch it sail over the crossbar.
Manchester United 0-0 Brentford
20:03 , Arthur Ferridge2mins: Huge early chance for United! Mainoo makes a wonderful marauding run forward and rounds the keeper before squaring to Diallo, but the Ivorian cannot reward the midfielder’s work. His shot is blocked off the goalline for a corner, which in turn is blocked away.
Manchester United 0-0 Brentford
20:02 , Arthur Ferridge2mins: United come forward for their first attack of the day and Dalot looks to play one out wide to Mbeumo, but he miss-hits it and puts the ball into touch.
KICK OFF! Manchester United 0-0 Brentford
20:00 , Arthur FerridgeWe’re off!
The players take to the pitch
19:56 , Arthur FerridgeKick-off up next!
Team news reminder
19:50 , Arthur FerridgeWith ten minutes left until kick-off, here’s a reminder of how our two sides will line up this evening.
Man Utd XI: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes, Amad, Mbeumo, Sesko
Brentford XI: Kelleher; Lewis-Potter, Collins, Van den Berg, Kayode; Jensen, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard; Schade, Thiago, Ouattara
Igor Thiago on target?
19:43 , Arthur FerridgeIgor Thiago is still in the hunt for the Premier League golden boot, and he is on top form of late.
He has 21 goals this campaign, with three in his last four appearances.
The Brazilian will be one to keep an eye on tonight.
Sesko: Bruno Fernandes deserves POTY
19:35 , Arthur FerridgeSpeaking to Sky Sports this week, Benjamin Sesko tipped Bruno Fernandes to win the Premier League Player of the Year award!
See what he had to say here...
Why isn't Matheus Cunha playing tonight?
19:35 , Arthur FerridgeA huge blow for Manchester United as Matheus Cunha misses out through injury tonight.
Keith Andrews: Brentford are hard to beat
19:27 , Arthur FerridgeSpeaking ahead of this tie last week, Brentford boss Keith Andrews said his side’s run of consecutive draws simply proved they were difficult to beat.
“I think we've been closer to victories than losses if we’re honest with the appraisal of our performances. The players will discuss it brilliantly amongst themselves about how we can fine-tune certain parts of our game.
“Performance levels overall have been very good. I was very happy with our game against Fulham (0-0 draw). I thought we played particularly well, we controlled large parts of the game and played with the freedom I like.
“I thought it was a step forward from the Everton game (2-2 draw). I thought there was a lot to like.
“I think we're difficult to beat, clearly. I think that's grown as the season has gone on and now we are looking for those margins to give us three points.”
Mainoo previews the tie
19:19 , Arthur Ferridge“[Beating Chelsea] has done a lot [for our confidence]. It is tough to win at Chelsea, so we have to take that into today and try to get the win. [Brentford] are a good side, direct, physical, and we have worked on a lot throughout the week. We’re ready.” (Sky Sports)
Carrick: Cunha injury minor
19:11 , Arthur Ferridge“He just had a bit of a sore hip flexor after the Chelsea game the other day. He was looking promising during the week, so we thought he might have been OK, but he just didn’t quite recover quick enough. It is nothing too serious, but unfortunately he doesn’t make it tonight.”
Brentford returnees
19:03 , Arthur FerridgeJosh Dasilva is in the matchday squad for Brentford today, returning for the first time in 816 days!
The former Arsenal academy star, 27, has been in recovery from a knee injury described by the club as ‘significant’.
Elsewhere, Hákon Valdimarsson is named to the Brentford bench after signing a contract extension earlier this week.
Two big names missing
18:55 , Arthur FerridgeManchster United are without both Matheus Cunha and Lisandro Martinez tonight.
Martinez is suspended, controversially so, for pulling Cominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair last time out.
Cunha, meanwhile, is AWOL. Updates when we have them.
BRENTFORD CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
18:47 , Arthur FerridgeBrentford XI: Kelleher; Lewis-Potter, Collins, Van den Berg, Kayode; Jensen, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard; Schade, Thiago, Ouattara
Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Pinnock, Dasilva, Nelson, Ajer, Donovan, Furo, Shield
MANCHESTER UNITED CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
18:46 , Arthur FerridgeMan Utd XI: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes, Amad, Mbeumo, Sesko
Subs: Bayindir, Dorgu, Malacia, Mazraoui, Yoro, Mount, Ugarte, Lacey, Zirkzee
Team news up next
18:40 , Arthur FerridgeTonight’s lineups will be released at 6.45pm!
Kevin Schade EXCLUSIVE interview
18:35 , Arthur FerridgeStandard Sport’s Dom Smith enjoyed an exclusive sit-down with Kevin Schade this week.
They touched on a wide range of topics, including World Cup dreams, Champions League aspirations, and who the fastest player in the Premier League is (the answer may not surprise you).
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Manchester United vs Brentford head to head
18:25 , Arthur FerridgeThe reverse meeting earlier in the season finished 3-1 to Brentford as Mbeumo endured a miserable return to the Gtech Community Stadium.
At Old Trafford, though, United have won all four Premier League matches between the two teams.
Manchester United wins: 11
Brentford wins: 8
Draws: 3
Man Utd predicted XI
18:15 , Arthur FerridgePredicted Man Utd XI (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Mazraoui, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Doubt: Yoro
Injured: De Ligt, Dorgu
Standard Sport prediction
18:05 , Arthur FerridgeBrentford have become the draw specialists in recent weeks with their last five games ending all square. Three of which have been goalless, so they do know how to grind out results home and away.
However, facing a Man Utd side with Champions League football in their sights represents a completely different challenge and the hosts will be desperate to put that defeat to Leeds right at the first time of asking.
United have been impressive under Carrick and we expect them to get a vital win here.
Manchester United to win, 2-0.
Brentford early team news
17:55 , Arthur FerridgeAs for Brentford, Rico Henry and Vitaly Janelt are likely to miss out. They will join long-term absentees Fabio Carvalho, Jay Dasilva and Antoni Milambo on the sidelines.
Jordan Henderson, the former Liverpool captain, is a major doubt having not featured in any of the Bees’ fixtures since the international break.
Manchester United early team news
17:45 , Arthur FerridgeMan United will welcome Harry Maguire back after the central defender missed the loss to Leeds and the win over Chelsea through suspension.
Maguire’s return is a timely boost for Carrick, who is without Lisandro Martinez - serving the second of a three-match ban - and Matthijs de Ligt because of a back issue.
Leny Yoro is a doubt after sitting out against Chelsea. Patrick Dorgu remains sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained in January but is closing in on a return to training.
Bryan Mbeumo is expected to face his former club for a second time this season, but there is a decision to be made in attack as Benjamin Sesko had little impact from the start at Stamford Bridge.
How to watch Manchester United vs Brentford
17:35 , Arthur FerridgeTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports. Coverage starts at 6.30pm BST on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.
Good evening
17:21 , Arthur FerridgeHello, and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Manchester United vs Brentford!
A huge three points are on the line this evening in the race for Europe. Can Brentford snap their winless run, or will United consolidate their hold on third place?
All will be revealed at 8pm, when we will get underway at Old Trafford. Stick with us!
