Mctominay: Rescued Man United from another Calamitous Moment.
Manchester United started their European campaign with two consecutive defeats as they lost a chaotic match at home to Galatasaray in a 3-2 win by the visitors. They also came into this game on the back of their mind with four losses in five home games, meaning defeat is unthinkable for Erik ten Hag and his players. Mathias Jensen’s goal put United behind midway through the first half which is the first Brentford ever scored at this stadium in the Premier League.
The match was in the same pattern as the 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace a week ago, when United laboured in front of a disciplined Crystal Palace defence and failed to create enough chances to overturn the result. A penalty appeal for a trip on Anthony Martial was dismissed, and an equaliser was disallowed for offside.
Brentford scored the opening goal through several united mistakes wrapped up into one awful 15-second spell. Casemiro gave the ball away with a failed pass, and nobody was able to stop Yoane Wissa, even though Victor Lindelof kicked a clearance straight against the Brentford striker, Andre Onana was unable to stop Jensen‘s shot despite touching it. That United’s defence’s relative disarray is not a surprise. Their first-choice back four were all missing today, Maguire and Jonny Evans started in the league game for the first time since they both played for Leicester City four years ago.
Manchester United snatched the victory from the jaws of defeat at home. McTominay came in as a substitute in the second half, stroke in a clever shot from a crowded penalty area after good play from Alejandro Garnacho. Then wrapped it up in injury time when Harry Maguire headed down Fernandes’ long ball from a free-kick and the match-winner nodded the ball beyond Strakosha’s reach. Scott McTominay just saved Erik Ten Hag’s job by scoring twice in injury time and secured all three points for Manchester United against Brentford in a 2-1 win to breathe some life into the United Premier League campaign. McTominay said: “one of my favourite moments on a football pitch. It was very loud, the fans were roaring us on so I couldn’t hear fully,” he said to PLP. Ten Hag was asked if he told the forward to go and score a, he replied: “No,” he replied. “[I said] Go on and score two goals.” But the midfielder admitted that he went on with determination to make something happen, rather than to surety the instructions of the manager. McTominay said: “He probably said something like: ‘Go on and score,’ which is what I did.”