It was a tough evening for
Manchester United at the Gtech Community Stadium. Somehow the
Premier League clash ended 1-1, when the scoreline could almost have been anything. Mason Mount thought he had won it for a below-par United with an injury-time strike, but Brentford grabbed a deserved point thanks to Kristoffer Ajer's 98th-minute equaliser. It was the least they deserved from a game they dominated. Here are the main talking points from a game that was enthralling until the end. Manchester United are back Manchester United's win against
Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup will be remembered for decades and that result provided momentum going into the match against Brentford. Thomas Frank's side had won just two of their last 17 games and United were expected to return from the international break with a victory, but you cannot trust this side to deliver. It's not hyperbole to suggest they are one of the most inconsistent sides in Europe, never mind the Premier League, and a struggling Brentford side dominated the match. United lost 4-0 at Gtech Community Stadium last season and Erik ten Hag managed to inspire a remarkable turnaround, qualifying for the
Champions League and winning the Carabao Cup. ALSO READ: The day Erik ten Hag took on player power ALSO READ: How three United players have avoided injury this season However, United have regressed this season and they didn't play much better back at the scene of the crime. It was stunning Brentford weren't leading at half-time and the home fans were scratching their heads in disbelief as they left their seats at the interval. United didn't deserve to win. The draw was a fair result and a reality check for the progress of this team. Ten Hag can argue it's been a successful campaign if the Reds qualify for the Champions League and win the FA Cup, but matchgoing fans have watched far too many awful performances. United's top four hopes
Tottenham completed a 2-1 comeback against Luton Town and Aston Villa won 2-0 against Wolves on Saturday. Both of those sides are hoping to qualify for the Champions League this season and their results increased the pressure on United at the Gtech Community Stadium. When United emerged from the dressing room to warm up, they were nine points behind Tottenham and they trailed Villa by 12 points, which made the game a must-win. The state of play made the performance even more disappointing. United were so poor and yet, they almost pulled it out of the
fire at the death after a goal from Mason Mount, who understandably thought he'd won the three points with a brilliant finish. United must improve if they want to feature in Europe's premium competition in 2024/25. How didn't Brentford win? Brentford created 31 shots against United and were denied by the crossbar and post on a few different occasions, so it was remarkable they didn't score until added time. United have developed a habit of conceding far too many shots and although Ten Hag has played down the problem in press conferences, it needs to be urgently addressed. There is far too much space between the defensive line and midfield for the opposition to take advantage of and that indicates there is a structural, tactical problem. Audition for Toney? Before the game, there were quotes from Brentford's technical director discussing Ivan Toney's future published and he admitted a sale of the striker is likely this summer. Although Toney only recently returned from his gambling ban, he's flirted with the possibility of a transfer away in several interviews and it seems inevitable he'll be on the move. Impressively, Toney scored 20 goals in 33 Premier League starts last season and, without being disrespectful, he's clearly a level above Brentford. Which club he leaves for in the summer will be fascinating and being a proven goalscorer in the Premier League makes him an asset. Rasmus Hojlund has blossomed in 2024 but United need to sign another striker at the end of the season. The 21-year-old has almost single-handedly shouldered the burden of finding the back of the net on his young shoulders and another striker is required to ease the load. Whether someone of the calibre of Toney could be signed remains to be seen. He isn't short of confidence and seems to have the personality to play in a red shirt. South Americans are back Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez returned to the squad after their respective absences but they were both named on the bench. It was great to see them back and involved regardless. The worst was feared when Martinez went to the ground against West Ham on February 4, but it was subsequently confirmed he'd sustained a medial collateral ligament injury. That meant he didn't require surgery and his return as the business end of the season arrives is welcome. It was reported that Casemiro sent a text to his agent that read "tell them I'll fix it," when he watched United's 4-0 shellacking against Brentford last season and to his credit, he did what he promised. He was outstanding after signing
Real Madrid, but his drop-off has been stark. Casemiro was poor when he returned from his hamstring injury in January and he's got a point to prove in the remaining games of the campaign. He's fighting for his future.