Man United vs Brentford score, result as Rashford's 28th goal gives Red Devils win over woeful Bees

Kyle Bonn

•
Man United vs Brentford score, result as Rashford's 28th goal gives Red Devils win over woeful Bees image

Manchester United are back in the English Premier League's top four, controlling playing throughout to grind out a 1-0 win over a quality Brentford side. Man United's Marcus Rashford scored the only goal of the game.

Just four days prior, Man United were totally dominated by Newcastle, falling back in the race for Champions League berths when it looked like they would be cruising to a top-four finish.

Against a Brentford team which looked far from their best, Man United's Marcel Sabitzer and Scott McTominay controlled possession and the Bees hardly had a touch of the ball through the first 60 minutes. Brentford were slightly better after they made a bevy of changes on the hour mark, but it didn’t amount to much in the end.

However, Man United goalkeeper David de Gea was required to make one exceptional save 1-on-1 against substitute Kevin Schade, but that was all the Spaniard was asked to do in front of goal.

The three points allowed Man United to leapfrog Tottenham into fourth place in the table. A home match against relegation-threatened Everton on Sunday presents the Red Devils with a chance to maintain their momentary grip on fourth place. 

Man United vs Brentford final score

  1H 2H Final
Man United 1 0 1
Brentford 0 0 0

Goals:
27th min — MUN — Marcus Rashford

Lineups:

Man United (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. De Gea (GK) — 20. Dalot, 19. Varane, 6. Martinez, 23. Shaw (Malacia, 37') — 15. Sabitzer (Fred, 71'), 39. McTominay — 21. Antony (Lindelof, 86'), 8. Fernandes, 25. Sancho (Martial, 71') — 10. Rashford.

Brentford (5-4-1, right to left): 1. Raya (GK) — 30. Roerslev (Hickey, 75'), 16. Mee, 5. Pinnock, 18. Jansson, 3. Henry — 19. Mbeumo (Dasilva, 62'), 8. Jensen (Baptiste, 62'), 6. Norgaard (Wissa, 75'), 24. Damsgaard (Schade, 62') — 17. Toney.

Manchester United bounce back in big way

After the midfield duo of Marcel Sabitzer and Scott McTominay were battered against Newcastle, there were some serious questions about why Erik ten Hag would stick with the duo against Brentford. With the Bees flooding the middle of the pitch in their 5-4-1 formation, it seemed as if Fred could maybe be given a chance to impress in Man United midfield.

But the Sabitzer-McTominay doubters were silenced as the two Red Devil midfielders marshaled the victory. United controlled the game thanks to the pair, who combined for 81 touches. While the passing success rate made for ugly viewing, that's not a good reflection of the game in Ten Hag's system, as reflected by Casemiro's numbers after most games in which he's involved.

In truth, the two were a perfect foil. Sabitzer won eight of 10 aerial duels, while McTominay won five of seven ground duels, won four fouls to just his one conceded, and had two huge blocks down the stretch as Brentford pushed for an equaliser. It wasn't quite a masterful performance from Man United, but they bogged the game down and controlled the passages of play. Every time Brentford found the ball, United won it back almost immediately.

Marcus Rashford can do it all at forward

It's pretty incredible how many things Marcus Rashford has done well this season, as he bagged his 28th goal to become joint-top Manchester United single-season scorer (all competitions) in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, needing just one more to pass Zlatan Ibrahimovic and have the mark on his own.

He can pass (27/31, 87%) at an extremely high success rate for a forward, he can finish (got his goal on a chance worth just 0.13 xG), he can create chances for teammates (four chances created, most of any player in the game), and he's safe in possession (lost possession 13 times in 48 touches, a decent total for a forward in high-risk areas).

What a player the England international has morphed into this season. It's hard to believe how far he's come, remembering how broken he looked just last year.

Brentford suffer blow in European chase

Premier League fans have seen what Brentford are capable of, stunning top teams all season long with a bevy of goals no matter the location.

They just didn't have it on Wednesday. Every time Brentford got the ball, they lost it again. The Bees were pinned back for long stretches of the match, and every time they tried to counter, there was nobody there to help. Brentford were forced into a whopping 27 clearances throughout the match as Man United absolutely peppered their penalty area with crosses, set-pieces, and vertical balls.

When the time came to make substitutions, Thomas Frank waited too long and didn't make enough tactical changes to compensate for the ways United were beating them down. Sure, the visitors looked slightly better after making the changes, but it produced just one good goal-scoring chance. Overall, the game was a letdown from Brentford, a team that has taken the game to top teams multiple times this season.

Man United vs Brentford live updates, highlights, commentary

Final: Man United 1-0 Brentford

Final: It didn't need to be pretty, but Manchester United are back in the win column as they controlled most of the play against Brentford throughout the match at Old Trafford.

Red Devils fans may think they should have had more goals, but in truth, there were very few chances for either side throughout the 90 minutes. Brentford made a push towards the end, but they never felt like they were close to scoring outside of the one big David de Gea save.

Marcus Rashford's excellent season continues, and the Red Devils are back into the Premier League top four. Brentford, meanwhile, looked like a shell of themselves, a credit to Erik ten Hag and his approach.

85th min: This match isn't charging towards an electric finish, but instead has a nervy feel to it. Kevin Schade dances around Lisandro Martinez but there's nobody at the end of his cross except three red shirts to boot it away.

Victor Lindelof enters to replace Antony, with Erik ten Hag adding a defender to deal with Brentford's late pressure. The rain has lightened up, but not entirely.

81st min: Chance, Man United! Marcus Rashford is hemmed in down the left on the counter-attack, but he finds Fred in space trailing the play. Unfortunately for the Red Devils, he cannons his shot well over the bar, a poor effort. That was the chance to put the match away.

79th min: Antony blasts a shot over the bar from the top of the penalty area. He's had a quick trigger finger with the left foot tonight.

76th min: Moments after Aaron Hickey enters the pitch Marcus Rashford absolutely pulverizes him with a shoulder. The Man United forward is whistled for the foul.

71st min: A pair of changes for Man United as Erik ten Hag can smell the tide turning. Marcel Sabitzer is withdrawn for Fred, while Anthony Martial enters for Jadon Sancho. Brentford counter by bringing on Yoane Wissa and Aaron Hickey to replace Mads Roerslev and Christian Norgaard.

67th min: Chance, Brentford! DAVID DE GEA WITH A HUGE SAVE! The first time the Spaniard has been called into action all match, as he comes out to challenge Kevin Schade one-on-one. The Brentford winger had snatched the ball off the feet of Raphael Varane, but he couldn't get it by De Gea who makes himself big.

De Gea is down in the aftermath, requiring treatment as the two collided after the save. He's back up and ready to go.

65th min: Brentford get forward in numbers and Scott McTominay makes a necessary intervention, sliding in at the penalty spot to blast the ball out of play. Ethan Pinnock delivers the long throw from about level with the 18-yard-box, and Shandon Baptiste has a go which is again blocked by McTominay.

The first lengthy spell of attacking possession from Brentford in the entire match, but the ensuing corner is awful and played out, sailing over the goal.

62nd min: Christian Norgaard is booked for a foul on Bruno Fernandes at the top of the Man United penalty area.

Brentford make a trio of changes, as Shandon Baptiste, Kevin Schade, and Josh Dasilva all enter the fray, replacing Bryan Mbeumo, Mathias Jensen, and the booked Mikkel Damsgaard. In all honesty, it's an odd one from Thomas Frank, who waits until the half-hour mark to make substitutions when changes were needed long ago, and when he does, he makes like-for-like moves without changing the shape or system.

58th min: Chance, Man United! Now Marcel Sabitzer has a go on goal, and he forces a diving save from David Raya, although it's a seemingly comfortable one. The rain pours down at Old Trafford as it has for much of the game.

Bruno Fernandes is booked for bringing down Mikkel Damsgaard on the counter, one of the few times Brentford have been able to venture forward this half. Fernandes is a bit frustrated with the decision from the referee.

56th min: Chance, Man United! It's hard to tell whether Antony was trying for yet another left-footed curler, or whether he was looking to pick out Marcus Rashford at the far post, but either one, it's close. He flashes the ball wide of the post with Rashford just slightly late to arrive. The Red Devils continue to control play.

53rd min: Marcus Rashford goes down in the penalty area after having two shots blocked, and while the Old Trafford crowd yells for a penalty instinctively, it's shown for a corner. He took a slight flip to the face from the defender's arm but there's nothing in that.

It's really incredible, Man United were totally dominated both last match against Newcastle and last time out against this Brentford team, but here they've completely controlled play from start to finish thus far.

49th min: Chance, Brentford! Um...what just happened??? David de Gea tried to kick it long on the goal kick, and Ivan Toney charges him down. His boot cannons off Toney and there's a nervy split second, but the ball rolls just wide of the post. Almost an embarrassing moment for the Spaniard!

Moments later, Mikkel Damsgaard absorbs a yellow card for a full tackle of Scott McTominay from behind. He knew exactly what he was doing, but didn't want to allow the counter attack.

48th min: Just like in the first half, Man United have controlled the first few minutes, slowing things down and playing keep-away. Bournemouth just have no way of progressing forward before United win it back, and they're dropping so deep that there's no outlet.

Kickoff: They're back under way at Old Trafford, with no changes for either side. Man United dominated the first half, so what does Thomas Frank have in store?

Halftime: Man United 1-0 Brentford

The skies have opened up in Manchester, but Manchester United won't care. They have the lead at the break and utterly dominated the half from start to finish.

It's exactly the opposite as last match, when Newcastle was in the clear ascendency at halftime. This time around, Marcus Rashford's goal is the difference on paper, but on the pitch, the Red Devils were well in front.

Newcastle are in front of West Ham, but the Hammers cut the lead in half before the break, so United will think maybe there's an opportunity to retake their old spot if they can hang on in the second half and the Hammers can give them a hand.

Man United vs Brentford: First Half

44th min: Marcus Rashford has another hit, this time from an incredibly tight angle on the opposite side, nearly on the end line. He fells a defender with a feint, but it drags him too tight and David Raya has the angle covered well.

42nd min: Yellow card to Scott McTominay as he comes flying in two-footed on Mathias Jensen, who skies to avoid the challenge but the optics of it are very poor. Referee John Brooks right to book the Scottish midfielder for that dangerous one, even if his opponent managed to evade the challenge.

39th min: Antony goes for another left-footed curler, same as before, but again he comes up empty, missing wide.

Then moments later Marcus Rashford tries an audacious effort from the same side, but the angle was very thin thanks to tight marking by his defender, and there's no room, dragging it well wide. It takes a fortuitous deflection for United's eighth corner of the match, which is cleared.

36th min: Man United are making an early change here. Luke Shaw is coming off, replaced by Tyrell Malacia. Shaw was booked early in the match, but as he heads down the tunnel, it looks as if this is injury related and not due to his yellow card.

33rd min: Since the goal it's been all Red Devils. No further goal chances yet, but they're dominating this match throughout the first half. Brentford have had very little to say so far.

27th min: GOAL! MAN UNITED! Marcus Rashford is back! Finally, with their sixth corner of the match, United cash in. The initial delivery from Luke Shaw is cleared, but when it's recycled, Rashford collects the garbage from Sabitzer and blasts it past David Raya.

It's the 28th goal of the season for Rashford across all competitions, which equals Zlatan Ibrahimovic's total from the 2016/17 campaign.

Watch in USA:

Watch in Canada:

Watch in Australia:

26th min: There's a break in the action for drinks which allows players observing Ramadan to break their fast. The rain is driving down at Old Trafford, it's very wet.

24th min: Now Antony comes close with a curling effort cutting inside on his left. It's wide, but not by a ton. He loves that move. United are starting to turn the screw now.

Luke Shaw earns the game's first yellow card as he comes underneath Ivan Toney who's trying to reach and settle a ball in the air.

21st min: Chance, Man United! It's the first sight on goal for either team, as Scott McTominay takes aim from the top of the penalty area just inside the 18-yard box. It flashes just over the crossbar, unlike his attempts during the international break when he was ripping the back of the net.

19th min: Marcel Sabitzer fouled by Ethan Pinnock from 25 yards out to give Manchester United a dangerous free-kick, but Sabitzer blasts it into the wall and it goes out for another corner, already their fifth of the match. Again, it's cleared by the Brentford defence who have handled those deliveries extremely well.

15th min: Still no opportunities on goal for either side through the first 15 minutes of action. Thomas Frank wants Brentford to push higher to disrupt Man United and get out of their own half.

11th min: Man United have a series of successive corners but Luke Shaw's deliveries are cleared. He's already tried far post, top of the penalty area, and short. We'll see what else the hosts have from set-pieces as they pepper the Brentford defenders.

9th min: Unlike last time these two teams met, the start to this match has been very slow. United controlling most of the possession, but Brentford able to keep them at bay.

Newcastle have gone in front of West Ham early, so United will need a response or risk taking another blow in the Champions League race.

3rd min: The hosts have the early attacking impetus, already with a corner that's cleared away. United holding all the possession early on. Luke Shaw meanders on the ball to the top of the box but while taking the shot he slips and falls hard on his rear.

Kickoff: The ball is rolling as Bruno Fernandes gets us started! Man United have a lot of work to do in this match, to both recover their top four battle and get revenge on Brentford for the reverse fixture. The Bees, meanwhile, will be looking to pull more points off the Red Devils and get a bigger push for their European hopes.

One note as kickoff comes and goes, Luke Shaw makes his 250th appearance for Manchester United. Through the ups and downs he's been a fixture at Old Trafford over the last number of years! As a reward, the club announced that he's signed a new four-year deal with the Red Devils.

Man United vs Brentford: Pre-match commentary, analysis, stats, and more

10 mins to kick: Erik ten Hag has justified his team selection today by saying that he wanted Jadon Sancho in the lineup to attack the low block he expects from Brentford. The Bees, ten Hag probably thinks, will look to play on the counter.

25 mins to kick: The first 15 minutes or so of this match will be huge in determining how things play out. Last time in the 4-0 reverse fixture, Brentford were overwhelming in the opening stages, and Man United never recovered. How they begin tonight will go a long way towards determining the final result, as United have not shown a great ability to react to being battered early in matches.

42 mins to kick: One interesting thing about this matchup is that Man United have been very good against talisman strikers this season. They have navigated full matches against the likes of Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ollie Watkins, and Aleksandar Isak without those players scoring. However, that has been an opening for wide players to torment the Red Devils, so for that reason, we're backing Bryan Mbeumo to score today, not Ivan Toney.

See the full prediction, preview, and betting tips by clicking here.

58 mins to kick: Team news is in, and as we saw a few minutes ago, it's Marcus Rashford at the head of the attack. In midfield, Scott McTominay and Marcel Sabitzer retain their starting spots despite the ugly showing at St. James' Park over the weekend.

For Brentford, captain Pontus Jansson gets a second straight start after scoring against Brighton last time out. Prior to that match, he had not started since being injured on October 1. Mads Roerslev also returns to the lineup, replacing Aaron Hickey for his first game action in a month after suffering a hamstring injury.

70 mins to kick: We'll find out very soon, but there are some reports floating around that neither Wout Weghorst nor Anthony Martial will start for Man United. That suggests that Marcus Rashford would probably be the central striker, with Jadon Sancho and Antony out wide.

90 mins to kick: Remember what happened last time these two teams met? Brentford fans sure do! They came away from Gtech Community Stadium with a thumping 4-0 victory, a memorable result for the club that is in the midst of a memorable season. The Bees had four different goal scorers in that game, and while Ivan Toney was not amongst them, he had a pair of assists in a big contribution.

105 mins to kick: Man United manager Erik ten Hag says that the season "really begins in April and May." The Red Devils are almost surely out of the Premier League title race, but they will want to secure Champions League play for next season, and they are still alive in the FA Cup and the Europa League. There could still be much more to come from Man United this year, but they have a lot of work still to do!

120 mins to kick: United centre-back Raphael Varane surely has a special place in his heart for Brentford, against whom he scored his first Manchester United goal back in May of 2022 during a 3-0 victory.

Man United vs Brentford lineups, team news

The suspension of Casemiro plagued the Manchester United midfield last time out against Newcastle, but they'll hope they can find a way to patch over his absence this time around. Despite the showing last time out, Scott McTominay and Marcel Sabitzer retain their places in the lineup, while Fred still can't find a way in.

Anthony Martial has returned from injury and was thought to get his first start in months, but he's left to the bench as Marcus Rashford starts up front, with Erik ten Hag also leaving the struggling Wout Weghorst amongst the substitutes.

On the injury front, former Brentford player Christian Eriksen remains sidelined with his long-term ankle injury, but he has returned to training and could be back soon, though this match is too early for that. Alejandro Garnacho is also out with an ankle injury, and likely to be sidelined a few more weeks, while Donny van de Beek is out for the season. Aaron Wan-Bissaka makes the bench despite missing the Newcastle match due to illness.

Man United confirmed starting lineup (4-2-3-1): De Gea (GK) — Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw — Sabitzer, McTominay — Antony, Fernandes, Sancho — Rashford.

Man United subs (9): Butland (GK), Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia, Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Pellistri, Martial, Weghorst.

Bees manager Thomas Frank has to work around a few niggles. Keane Lewis-Potter and Kristoffer Ajer are both surely out with long-term injuries, but there are a few smaller issues he'll be juggling as well.

Vitaly Janelt suffered a slight knee injury in mid-March and is close to a return but likely not yet, while Frank Onyeka is still out with a hamstring problem.

Brentford confirmed starting lineup (5-4-1): Raya (GK) — Roerslev, Mee, Pinnock, Jansson, Henry — Mbeumo, Jensen, Norgaard, Damsgaard — Toney.

Brentford subs (9): Strakosha (GK), Hickey, Schade, Dasilva, Wissa, Zanka, Ghoddos, Baptiste, Stevens.

Where to watch Man United vs Brentford

MORE: Watch Premier League matches live with fuboTV in USA

  TV channel Streaming
USA — Peacock
Canada — Fubo Canada
UK — —
Australia — Stan Sport
New Zealand Sky Sport Premier League Sky Sports
India Star Sports Select 2 Hotstar VIP, JioTV
Hong Kong Now Premier League
(Ch. 620, 622)		 Now E, Now Player
Malaysia Astro SuperSport 3 Astro Go, sooka
Singapore 221 Hub Premier 1 StarHub TV+

Man United vs Brentford betting odds

Despite Sunday's negative result, Manchester United remain significant favourites here thanks to the fortress of Old Trafford, where they have lost just once this season. That defeat came way back in the opening match of the season.

Brentford are heavy underdogs despite their good form all season long, and despite United's inability to win any of their last three league matches. Is a long season battling on multiple fronts finally catching up with the Red Devils? It sure looked like it against Newcastle, especially in the absence of Casemiro.

  Man United
win		 Draw Brentford
win		 Both teams
to score Y / N		 Over / Under
2.5 goals		 MUN
-0.5		 BRE
+0.5
BetMGM
(USA)		 -160 +320 +380 -135 / -105 -145 / +105 -175 +125
Sports
Interaction
(Canada)		 -160 +302 +383 -149 / -105 -143 / +112 -159 +124
SkyBet
(UK)		 8/13 3/1 17/4 4/6, 11/10 4/6, 11/10 — —
Neds
(Australia)		 1.62 3.90 5.25 1.70 / 2.05 1.70 / 2.15 — —
Dafabet
(India)		 1.65 4.00 5.00 1.69 / 2.04 1.70 / 2.15 1.64 2.25

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.