Manchester United edged closer to securing Champions League football after they beat Brentford 2-1 in a fun encounter.
The Red Devils started quick and could have been two or three goals up early on. They deserved their lead when Casemiro headed in his ninth goal of the season.
But Brentford made the most of the space left by Michael Carrick’s side, with Igor Thiago and Michael Kayode forcing saves from Senne Lmmens.
With the Bees striding forward, Man Utd hit on the counter and doubled their lead through Benjamin Sesko’s calm finish. Carrick looked to shut up shop with a back five, and it worked for most of the second half.
Mathias Jensen struck brilliantly from outside the box to cut the deficit, but it proved too little too late. Man Utd held on for a ninth win in 13 games under Carrick, moving them 11 points clear of sixth-placed Brighton and Hove Albion.
Man Utd getting out of the press
There was plenty of space for both teams at Old Trafford. Brentford’s problem was that Man Utd have a better attack. And Bruno Fernandes.
Keith Andrews’ men looked to pin Man Utd’s defence back man-to-man, but the Red Devils used the press to get out of their own half and get the ball into Fernandes or Kobbie Mainoo. If the ball went wide to Luke Shaw or Diogo Dalot, they would knock it down the touchline for Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo.
There was also an option to pass to a central midfield in close proximity, be it Casemiro or Mainoo. They would then look to stride forward with the ball, or find Fernandes ahead, bypassing Brentford’s attacking press.
As a result, Man Utd’s midfield had a lot of space which resulted in a gilt-edged chance in the opening few minutes. Mainoo danced through the defence to set up Diallo with an open net, only for his effort to be cleared off the line.
Thanks to the likes of Mbeumo, Sesko and Matheus Cunha, Man Utd can outscore opponents. And even if they give you space, you cannot do the same, as it allows them to be even more dangerous than they normally are.
Brentford’s missed chances
Carrick attempted to control the second half by bringing Diallo off and switching to a back five. It worked for the most part, with Man Utd taking the sting out of the game and looking to put their foot on the ball. But Brentford were a threat throughout.
The Bees will rue the fact they didn’t take one of their chances earlier. Jensen’s goal came too late, with Casemiro taking control of the match by buying fouls to disrupt play and kill time.
With Man Utd sitting off, there was space for Kevin Schade and Dango Ouattara to receive the ball and turn either side of Mainoo and Casemiro. It allowed the Bees to overload the wings with Man Utd pushing forward, creating moments for Thiago. But the striker could only fluff his lines when presented with big chances.
Be it Thiago’s one-on-one, or Kayode’s one-on-one. Or Ayden Heaven forcing Lammens into a save to deny an own goal. Or Thiago not getting onto the end of Mikkel Damsgaard’s pass. Brentford couldn’t convert. And they’ll feel as though they could have got something out of the game on another day.
Magnificent Mainoo
If Ruben Amorim were still in charge of Man Utd, who knows where Mainoo’s career would stand. He may already be plying his trade elsewhere. But has has found a new lease of life ever since Carrick took over.
And Mainoo isn’t just impressing with the passing, tempo-controlling and beginning moves that we’re used to seeing. Mainoo is becoming more of a complete midfielder. Maybe it’s because he’s aware that Casemiro is leaving in the summer and knows he needs to take on more defensive responsibilities. Or he’s getting himself ready for life after the Brazilian.
Mainoo is adding to the strengths that were already in his game. The Englishman made four tackles, two interceptions and two clearances against Brentford, to go with 85% passing accuracy and six final-third passes completed.
It paints a picture of a midfielder becoming the complete, all-action, box-to-box player that Man Utd have always wanted him to be.
It wasn’t perfect, and there were definitely scars. But the points on the board speak for themselves, and that’s all that matters at this point of the season.
Man Utd are always a threat, and as Harry Maguire said post-match, when games were 50/50 in the past, they were on the wrong end of the results. But due to Carrick’s risk-taking, and front-footed approach, fortune is favouring the brave.