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By HARRY BAMFORTH, LIVE SPORTS COVERAGE REPORTER and IAN LADYMAN, FOOTBALL EDITOR and CHRIS WHEELER, NORTHERN SPORTS WRITER Updated: 23: 57 AEST, 27 September 2025 611 View comments Follow Mail Sport's live blog for the latest team news, score and updates as Manchester United take on Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, with Ian Ladyman and Chris Wheeler reporting from the grounds. By Tum Balogun Peter Crouch, TNT Sports: By Tum Balogun I think I have an answer. He's playing in the wrong position. The United skipper flourished last term even when his colleagues floundered. What's changed? He's been thrust into a deeper midfield position to accommodate the arrivals of Mbeumo and Cunha. It's not working. The penalty misses are obviously poor but he's just not involved in the play and not disciplined enough to operate deeper. Feels like United should have taken the £100m they were offered in the summer and got a better fit for the role. By Tum Balogun Nathan Collins, Brentford, TNT Sports: By Tum Balogun Manchester United are yet to win back-to-back games under Ruben Amorim. I mean, that's ridiculous. Like, that's actually really difficult to do. So in at least one way, Amorim is a top gaffer. By Tum Balogun It's time to soak up all the fallout from United's latest defeat. First up, some brutal reading for the club's Portuguese boss, who is hanging onto his job by a thread. Only two clubs have suffered more defeats this season. Let's not dare go back to Amorim-era specific stats. Right, I need to dash guys. There are some 3pm kick-offs calling my name, and I need to go and tend to them all. But there is no need to worry, my brilliant colleague Tum Balogun will be taking the reins and guiding you through all the reaction. You are in safe hands. Joe Cole, former Chelsea midfielder, on TNT Sports: Is this the end? Ruben Amorim looks like a beaten man as he trudges off the pitch with his head looking straight at the floor. We have seen him look defeated before, but this feels different. It's almost like he knows this is over. How can he come back from this? To lose yet another away game to a Brentford side who are nothing like the Bees of the past is extremely disappointing. 'Sacked in the morning' was the chant from the Brentford fans just before the whistle went, and well, they may not be wrong. Amorim is walking a tightrope. Manchester United brought back down to reality. Those clippers drift further into the distance for one certain United fan, as the Red Devils succumb to Brentford in west London. It was hardly a belter of a second half, but once again United crumbled and the Bees have stung them where it hurts. Another tough day at the office for Ruben Amorim. 'Bryan, what's the score? ' That is the chant from the home end, and I can hardly imagine what thoughts are going through Mbeumo's head. WHERE THE HELL HAS THAT COME FROM? Mathias Jensen, I was not familiar with your game. The Dane finishes Man United off with a fine strike. He catches it so brilliantly on the edge of the box after a counter-attack, but questions do have to be asked of Altay Bayindir. The ball is straight at him. Still, a lovely goal, and the Bees have surely earned themselves a precious three points. Was that THE chance? ? Diogo Dalot whips in a pearler of a ball to the back post and Joshua Zirkzee is there to meet it. The Dutchman is in acres of space, and he simply has to at least get a header on target. But nope, he plops one over the bar. There is a collective groan from the home fans. That's because there are going to be eight minutes of stoppage time here, and boy, will they be excruciating for Brentford supporters. Now this is what you call a pragmatic change. Igor Thiago is the hero of the day for Brentford, and the striker is getting a standing ovation as his number is lifted up on the board. He is replaced by midfielder Mathias Jensen as Keith Andrews battens down the hatches. We are in squaky bum territory, and you can tell just by how anxious the Brentford fans are. Manchester United are throwing bodies forward now, and it's all hands to the pump for the Bees. Can they hold on? This is more like it from Ruben Amorim. he is actually going for it now as he brings on an attacker for a defender, as he should. Joshua Zirkzee replaces Patrick Dorgu as the clock ticks toward the 90th minute. Ooooft. .. That would have been some goal from Matthijs de Ligt - goal of the season worthy. The centre-back acrobatically flicks the ball toward the top corner with his back to goal, and it only just goes over the bar. Close, but no cigar. I can't lie, I forgot Jordan Henderson was playing. teh former Liverpool man has been so quiet, and now his afternoon has come to an end. Vitaly Janelt replaces him to become Brentford's record Premier League appearance-maker. Poor Bruno. Yes, Fernandes should still score the penalty, but the fact that he was made to wait almost five minutes to take it was far from ideal. He must have been going over which way he was going to go for so long in his head; I would have hated to be in that position. But hey-ho, the Man United captain should still do better. CAOIMHIN KELLEHER THE HERO! For the second time this season, Bruno Fernandes fails to score a penalty in west London. After having to wait what feels like a lifetime to take the penalty, Fernandes cracks under pressure and Kelleher dives to his right and saves the penalty. I feel for Fernandes, but the game is the game. Can we not just take this penalty, please? Keith Andrews makes a double change, which makes Bruno Fernandes have to wait even more with the ball in his hands. Keane Lewis-Potter and Rico Henry are both on. Nathan Collins survives. VAR takes a look at the challenge for a couple of minutes and then goes 'nah, you were right, Craig'. I mean, that all felt pointless. Oh, hang on. .. Nathan Collins could be in trouble here, you know. The Irishman has been booked, but VAR are now checking whether it should be a red card. Ooooooooo. .. Nathan Collins yanks down Byrna Mbeumo as he is set to score, and this has to be a penalty. Craig Pawson takes his time, the stadium holds its breath, and then he finally points to the spot. Blatant pen. Now United have the chance to get level. Ohhhhh, stop that, Matheus Cunha! That is pure, unadulterated filth from the Manchester United man; this game should now be an 18-rated film. Cunha produces a beautiful rabona to send United away on a flowing attack. It leads to nothing, but it's so lovely. Brazilian flair. I don't understand Ruben Amorim, I really don't. Once again, he is changing a centre-back as Leny Yoro replaces Harry Maguire with just under 25 minutes to go. Why, just why? You're meant to be trying to get back into the game, not defend a lead. It makes no sense. Kobbie Mainoo is also on for Manuel Ugarte, which is a better chance. This game has finally come to life again! Brentford have suddenly woken up, and it takes a brilliant Altay Bayindir to stop them scoring a third. The ball is slid to Dango Ouattara in acres of space in the box, and he bends one toward the bottom corner. But Bayindir gets to it at full stretch to save the day. Top stop. That's a chance, a real chance. Sepp van den Berg can't believe he hasn't given Brentford a two-goal cushion once more, and neither can I. Once again, a set-piece causes chaos in the Man United box, and Nathan Collins flicks the ball on toward goal. Van den Berg gets on the end of it, but he can only find the gloves of Altay Bayindir. Should do better there. 'Attack, attack, attack. ' That's the cry from the away end, and it sums up how this game is going. There is another nearly moment as Bruno Fernandes drives a cross into the box, but Caoimhin Kelleher gathers it. Well, we haven't got the entertainment factor back yet, to be honest. Yeah, there have been a couple of moments in the last 10 minutes, but nothing to get you out of your seat. Oh, wait a minute, just as I type that, Bryan Mbeumo whips in a teasing cross to the back post, and it just flies past Patrick Dorgu. Nearly made me look silly there, as always. That's a good move from Manchester United. The £207m front line finally combine, with Benjamin Sesko setting away Bryan Mbeumo, who finds Matheus Cunha on the edge of the box. Cunha probably should shift the ball again, but he is a little selfish and decides to go for goal. It's fair to say, Caomihin Kelleher had no problems with that shot. .. Close your legs, son. Kevin Schade has just played a cheeky little nutmeg to get Brentford away on the counter, so cute. The attack comes to nothing in the end, but that was a lovely bit of play. I'm impressed with the Brentford fans, I have to say. Normally in most stadiums, half of the fans are still scanning pies and putting back pints as the second half gets underway. Well, not Bees fans, they are all back in their seats again already. You love to see it. And it's not like their pies are bad either, I loved them when I went there as a fan once. Alos, the media food is AMAZING. Ready to go again? Well, I am, both teams are, and the majority of this stadium is. We are back underway. Let's hope for some more entertainment. Is this the day that Igor Thiago truly arrived at Brentford? With his former team-mate Bryan Mbeumo on the pitch, Thiago has just shown the Bees fans why they no longer need to worry about not having the winger. I've already shown you his opener - boy, was it beautiful - and it only took a further 12 minutes for him to find a second. In fact, Thiago is just the second player to score twice in the opening 20 minutes of a Premier League game against Manchester United, after Alexis Sánchez with Arsenal in October 2015 (19 minutes). Only Erling Haaland has more goals in the Premier League this season than Thiago. Not exactly bad company. If we are going to watch one goal during this 15-minute break, it just has to be the opener. I mean, what a finish. The less said about the hopeless defending, the better, but Thiago's strike at the end of it all is a beauty. So clean, so crisp, and by hitting the woodwork, it makes it better. There goes the whistle. It's been a half of two halves at the Gtech - yes, that is possible. The first 25 minutes, electric. The next 24 minutes, non-eventful. Brentford came flying at the blocks and had Manchester United in all sorts of bother as Igor Thiago put them two goals to the good. But Benjamin Sesko has given United some hope. I didn't realise Tom Daley played for Manchester United? Matheus Cunha has just done his best impression of the Olympic diver, flopping to the floor when getting tackled by Dango Ouattara. And somehow, he actually wins the free-kick. Crazy. Really, ref? Despite this being a tough watch, the referee has decided to make us watch four more minutes of it. How kind. Guys, I may have jinxed this game. My excitement at all the goals has, funnily enough, seemed to have killed off all the action. Nothing is happening. 5-4 really is a pipedream now. We'd be lucky to see another goal the way this game is going. Snooze-fest of a last 15 minutes. Wait, Bruno Fernandes is playing? There is a huge cheer around the ground as he makes a mess of a touch, and gives away a throw-in, and honestly, I forgot he was even on the pitch. The United skipper has been so quiet in this game, almost anonymous. I'm not sure I have ever seen him so uninvolved in a United team performance - well, not for a long time anyway. Maybe my 5-4 prediction was a bit over the top. .. slightly. I got carried away after seeing three goals in 27 minutes, and the last few minutes have brought me back down to earth. Nothing has happened since Benjamin Sesko's strike. Pretty vanilla game again. I was about to say that was close, but I've just seen the replay. Matheus Cunha looks like he has whistled one just past the post via a deflection, but the ball actually flies about eight to 10 yards wide. Bryan Mbeumo then walks over to take the corner and there are boos no more, as they are replaced by applause. Now that's how it should be. Honestly, who knows how this game is going to end up? It was mental last year, finishing 4-3, and the signs here are that we may get another scoreline like that. My guess is 5-4. Yep, I'm going rogue - why not? What did I tell you? I just had a hunch that Benjamin Sesko was going to score his first goal for Manchester United today, and he has. Call me Mystic Harry. He gets three bites of the cherry six yards out, with Caoimhin Kelleher saving two efforts before Sesko finally smashes home. I just knew this would be a cracker. Game on. Manchester United are all over the gaff here. The backline is as messy as Lionel. Whenever a cross comes into the box, it's like they have never learned to defend them before. All that warm-up practice, just to forget all of it in the game. Nathan Collins once again gets on the end of a set-piece, but Altay Bayindir denies him. I have a Manchester United fan sitting next to me right now, and he has had enough. He said if another goal goes in, he wants to leave to play Red Dead Redemption. Yep, that's where United fans are at now. Sadly, he can't do that, because he's working. Oh well, the game will have to wait. IGOR THIAGO AT THE DOUBLE! Oh, it's just too easy for Brentford, far too easy. Another ball over the top and bang, it's two. One long ball sends Kevin Schade away down the left, whose low cross is pushed out to Thiago by Altay Bayindir, and then the Turk can't keep the striker's effort out. Brentford are flying, United are flopping. Altay Bayindir, wow! ! Just moments after I have a dig at the Turkish goalkeeper, he decides to morph into prime David de Gea. Nathan Collins twice gets on the end of a cross and nods toward goal, and both times Bayindir manages to beat the ball away. The first is a decent save, but nothing special, but the second. .. my word, it's world-class. I wasn't quite familiar with your game, Mr. Bayindir. Here come the Brentford corners. Altay Bayindir is looking nervy early on, flapping about as per when the ball comes in. If i were Keith Andrews, I'd be getting ready to celebrate whenever his side win a set-piece. Manchester United need a response quick here, and Matheus Cunha is trying to find it. The winger decides to just go along and have a dig from just outside the area. He falls over as he pulls the trigger, and the ball flies wide. .. comfortably. Everybody inside the Gtech thought Igor Thiago was offside there, but nope, he times his run to perfection. I have just seen the replay of the finish in slow motion, and my word, it's even better than I thought. It could be a long old day for Man United now. .. Wow, wow, wow! What a finish from Igor Thiago to stun Manchester United on the counter-attack. Incredible. One ball over the top and Thiago is away with nobody around him, before he whallops a fizzing effort in off the post. So, so simple, but also so effective. Did Brentford fans just boo Bryan Mbeumo? ?? I'm a little shocked, I can't lie. It was only a murmur of jeers, but still, that's crazy. He should be a club legend. The ball comes to him after Benjamin Sesko has a shot blocked, and there are some definite boos from around the ground. The move ends up coming to nothing, but I can't lie, I got a bit distracted after the crowd reaction, so I missed part of it. Barclays footie is well and truly back. We are back to the days of the long throw, and I absolutely love it. The game has never been so back. Brentford are the kings of the long throw and they launch a dangerous one into the mixer, but Altay Bayindir just about deals with it. That was one hell of a throw, though, my word. Why does every Premier League team seem to play 'Hey Jude' as their pre-match song? OK, maybe I am being a bit dramatic, but there are a fair few that do, and Brentford belt it out of the speakers before we get underway. Anyway, the music is off and away we go. Ohhh, now this is interesting. Broadcasters now have access to dressing rooms prior to games - which I wasn't a fan of originally - and they have just shown some great footage. Keith Andrews is just wrapping up his dressing room team talk and he continually points at the Brentford badge on the floor, before the players all cheer in unison. Now that is passion, eh? Anyway, that has been wrapped up, the players are now out of the dressing room and out on the pitch ready to play. How are we all feeling? I imagine if you support either Brentford or Manchester United, you are starting to get those nervous feelings in your belly. With less than 10 minutes until kick-off, and the warm-ups wrapped up, this is when the anticipation makes you both excited and scared at the same time. For us neutrals, we only get the excited feeling, luckily. Is today the day we finally see the best of Benjamin Sesko? The £74m man is taking his time to get used to the Premier League, it has to be said. Personally, I can't think of a memorable moment he has produced yet. But it's still early days and the lad will get better as time goes on, well, Manchester United fans will be hoping so. He is yet to score for the Red Devils, but I have a cheeky feeling that may change today. With both Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha on either side of him, he should get plenty of opportunities fashioned for him. Can Sesko take them when they are created? Ruben Amorim, Man United manager, on TNT Sports: Keith Andrews, Brentford boss, on TNT Sports: Manchester United are not fans of life on the road. If the football club were a music band, then their tour bus would break down between every stadium they played at. Niche, I know, but bear with me. United's recent away record is just dreadful, truly dreadful. Ruben Amorim's side are winless in their last seven away Premier League matches (D2 L5) since a 3-0 win at Leicester in March. The Red Devils last had a longer run without an away win between March and October 2019 (eight games). Can they end that run today? Chris Sutton, former Chelsea striker, on BBC Sport: If I were a Brentford fan, I'd be making my way to the Getch with a little skip in my step. Why? Well, the last few times they have watched Manchester United come to town, things have gone rather well for them. Brentford have won two of their last three home Premier League games against United - drawing the other - as many as their first six home league matches versus the Red Devils beforehand (W2 D1 L3). After their 4-3 defeat in May, Manchester United could lose back-to-back league meetings with Brentford for only the third time, after previously doing so in the second tier in December 1934 and top-flight in February 1937. All signs point toward a belter. I'm sure by now that many of you have seen that there is a Manchester United fan who is not cutting his hair until the team wins five games in a row. Yep, it's crazy. He is over 350 days in and has a huge afro because of how bad United have been over the past year, poor lad. Although he does pull the trim off. United haven't even got close to winning five games on the spin, but that could soon change. By beating Chelsea last week, they are on a one-match winning run, can you believe it? A fifth of the way there. Win today, and that's another step closer to the trim being chopped. Oh yeah, they're back, baby! Squawka stat packs were a big part of our pre-match build-ups last season, and today they make their return. You love to see it. Based on last season's data, I think what stands out is just how many goals both teams conceded. If their defences a rubbish again today, then we may just see goals flying in all about the place. As a neutral, I would love that. Alan Shearer, former Newcastle striker, speaking to Betfair: I saw these pictures and just had to put them in this blog. Look at Bryan Mbeumo, he is so happy to be back at a place that helped build his career to what it is today. He has so many cherished memories at the Gtech. It's fair to say that those he spent many years with at Brentford are happy to see him back. Just look at those hugs. It will be interesting to see if the crowd gives him the same reception. Was it ever in any doubt? Bryan Mbeumo does indeed start against his former side as Ruben Amorim makes three changes to the side that drew with Chelsea. Matheus Cunha is one of the trio to come in, and I'm sure United fans are happy to see him back. Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot also come in. There is some big team news coming out of Brentford. Aaron Hickey's name is in the Bees starting line-up for the first time in 700 days. Yep, you are reading that right. Meanwhile, Igor Thiago leads the line for Keith Andrews' side, while Dango Ouattara and Kevin Schade sit either side of him. Can this team do some damage to United? 'Guess who's back, back again? ' You know the song, now sing it! Why am I reciting lyrics from Eminem's track Without Me? Well, it's because a certain Bryan Mbeumo is returning to his former home today. Just a few short months ago, Mbeumo was banging the goals in for Brentford, but now he returns looking to rip them apart in his new colours. I'm assuming he will start - it would be weird if he doesn't - and I have a sneaky suspicion he may bag a brace today. .. Do you think Mbeumo will hurt his old side? You know that I said we are in for a cracking day? Well, I meant it. This is one of the most stacked Saturdays I have seen in recent years. There are games all day long. Here is the schedule: By Harry Bamforth Are you ready for things to get a little spicy? When Bees and Red Devils come together, they make hot honey. .. well, at least that is what my colleague said to me when we were thinking of a creative way to open this blog. Not the best opening, I know, but we were trying our best. We are in store for a cracking day, though, and I, for one, am buzzing - if you'll pardon the pun - for a full day of action. Brentford and Manchester United kick off the day at the Gtech Community Stadium, and if this fixture is anything like the games that have preceded it in recent years, we are in for a fun afternoon. So, shall we just get this show on the road then? I think we shall. LOL behind already. They really are Comedy Gold.

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