After a horrible first-half showing at Brentford Community Center, Manchester United recovered and gave a better second-half showing to win the game against Brentford.
Manchester United had David De Gea and luck to thank for their horrible first half which enabled them not to go behind after Brentford threw everything at them but a better second half, thanks to goals from Elanga, Greenwood and Marcus Rashford ensured there was not a repeat of the comeback against Aston Villa. Toney got a consolation goal for Brentford late on but United held on as they claimed the 3 points.
The first half was nothing to write home about for United as they had to rely on luck and the brilliance of David De Gea to keep them in the game. It was a shambolic performance and Brentford would have themselves to blame for not getting anything out of their first-half dominance as they bombarded Manchester United not once but on three different occasions barring the defence clearance and deflections. They should have been 3-0 up with their impressive first-half showing.
Manchester United switched the gear on in the second half and what a moment for Elanga in the 55th minute after Fred found him inside the box with a clever pass. The impressive aspect of that goal was his movement, control and alertness to the position of the goalkeeper which prompted his swiftness to head home the ball to calm United's nerves.
The second goal came for United in the 62nd minute after a brilliant team move which involved a chested pass from Ronaldo to Bruno Fernandes and he came charging towards the box. He could have gone for the ball but he unselfishly picked out Greenwood with a pass as he tapped into the empty net with ease, 2-0.
The third goal didn't come too far as well and it was from substitute, Marcus Rashford. Scott McTominay managed to win the ball and kept in. His impressive ability to keep and move with the ball was key as he found Bruno Fernandes with a pass. Fernandes picked out Marcus Rashford to his right side with a perfectly timed pass and Marcus Rashford wasted no time in beating the goalkeeper at his near post by firing the ball towards the edge of the post to dent any hope of a comeback.
Toney did so well to bundle home a scrambled effort inside the box after a lovely long throw from the side of the pitch in the 85th minute. Brentford had renewed hope of getting something more from the game but Manchester United learnt from their capitulation against Villa and gave no chance for that against this determined Brentford side and they saw out the game, 1-3.
United still has one game at hand, but so is Arsenal with 2 games, Tottenham with 3 games. The race for the top 4 has intensified and hopefully, United won't regret too many dropped points come the end of the season because Tottenham, Arsenal and even West Ham are all back into the frame for this race.
Congratulations to Manchester United for their 300th away win in the Premier League as well.
Thank you for your time.
My pen doesn't bleed, it speaks, with speed and ease.
Still me,
My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.
Olawalium; (Love's chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today: doctor's order.
