Manchester United’s dismal start to the season continued with a 3-1 loss at Brentford.
Ruben Amorim’s men fell behind in the eighth minute to a fantastic strike from Igor Thiago, and their afternoon went from bad to worse from there.
Thiago scored a second and Mathias Jensen thundered in a late third as United were well beaten in west London.
Benjamin Sesko scored his first goal for United but that was the lone positive on another miserable day for the Red Devils.
The result leaves United on seven points from six games, and in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
Here CHRIS WHEELER runs the rule over how Amorim’s men rated…
Manchester United suffered their third defeat of the season to plunge the club back into crisis
Mathias Jensen’s 95th-minute cracker sealed the points for Brentford, who move above their opponents
MANCHESTER UNITED (3-4-2-1)
Altay Bayindir – 6.5
Had little chance with the three goals and made smart saves from Van den Berg, Collins and Ouattara to keep United in the game. Struggled on set-pieces, notably Kayode’s long throws.
Matthijs de Ligt – 5
Dutchman was at sixes and sevens on the long ball to Thiago that led to the Brentford No 9 scoring his second goal. Not the only time he was out of position.
Harry Maguire – 5
Radar was all wrong when he tried to play Thiago offside for the first goal and was left in no man’s land. Replaced in a double substitution just after the hour mark.
Luke Shaw – 5.5
Echoes of the Manchester derby as he lost track of Thiago when he was left unmarked to seize on a loose ball to the score the second. Prone to these kind of lapses too often.
Matthijs de Ligt was at sixes and sevens on the long ball to Thiago that led to the Brentford No 9 scoring his second goal
Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty and looked uncomfortable in a deeper midfield role
Diogo Dalot – 6
Returned to the starting line-up in place of the injured Mazraoui. Run ragged by Schade and a clever flick in build-up to the penalty award was one of his few highlights going forward.
Manuel Ugarte – 5
Started in place of the suspended Casemiro but looked a little ponderous again, particularly in the early stages when Brentford threatened to tear United apart.
Bruno Fernandes – 5
Long delay for the penalty due to VAR check and Brentford substitutions, but he knows he should have earned his side a point. Once again less comfortable in a deeper midfield role.
Patrick Dorgu – 6.5
A real problem for Brentford down the left and it was his run and cross that led to Sesko reducing the deficit. Athleticism a plus for United but needs to remember his defensive responsibilities.
Bryan Mbeumo – 7
Made an impression on his first return to the Gtech since a £71m summer move, putting Kelleher under pressure for the first goal and then winning a second-half penalty.
Bryan Mbeumo made an impression on his first return to the Gtech since a £71m summer move
Benjamin Sesko will be relieved to get his first goal for the club in his seventh game
Benjamin Sesko – 6.5
Will be relieved to get his first goal for the club in his seventh game, even though he needed three attempts to beat Kelleher. Still plenty of room for improvement though.
Matheus Cunha – 6
Made his first start in a month after a hamstring injury and did his best to get United back in the game but looked a little ring-rusty.
Substitutes
Kobbie Mainoo (for Maguire, 66min) – 5
Leny Yoro (for Ugarte, 66) – 6
Mason Mount (for Shaw, 81) – N/A
Joshua Zirkzee (for Dorgu, 85) – N/A
Not used: Heaton, Lammens, Heaven, Fredricson, Leon.
BRENTFORD (4-2-3-1): Kelleher 7; Kayode 6.5, Collins 5.5, Van den Berg 7, Hickey 6 (Henry 75, 6); Yarmoliuk 6, Henderson 7 (Onyeka 81); Ouatarra 6.5 (Lewis-Potter 75, 6), Damsgaard 7 (Janelt 81), Schade 7; Thiago 8 (Jensen 90).
Subs not used: Valdimarsson, Pinnock, Milambo, Jensen, Ajer.
Referee: Craig Pawson 7. Attendance: 17,193.
