admin Sir Alex Ferguson was understandably absent from Old Trafford, but this Man United comeback will remain long in the memories of those in attendance.
Erik ten Hag was almost sitting on his knees in the second half. Manchester United were on their knees. Scott McTominay stood up.
Fans who stayed with the team all afternoon were rewarded. We achieved our goal. Then they got another one.
In the grieving absence of Sir Alex Ferguson, his fellow Scots have paid the ultimate tribute to Fergie Time. Frustrated by his sharp equalizer in the 93rd minute, McTominay stood up and scored the winning goal in the 97th minute.
What a catharsis for McTominay after his £30 million bid from West Ham was rejected. He knelt in front of the stand named after Ferguson.
At the Stretford End, two days after his wife Cathy’s death, Ferguson serenaded her with the song “We all love Alex Ferguson”. Ferguson, who was absent, must have felt mourning both in the stands and on the pitch.
United ended a bitter losing streak and avoided breaking an unwanted record that dates back to the year Neville Chamberlain moved to No. 10 Downing Street. For the first time since October 1962, they had not lost three consecutive home games, and for the first time in the league since February 1979, they had not lost three consecutive home games. It was not Brentford’s first victory at Old Trafford since 1937.
In the space of four minutes, United went from 13th to the top half of the Premier League table. That’s not a goal they want to reach yet, but this should be a Kickstarter.
For most of the afternoon, Ten Hag seemed more excited than ever in the technical area, tapping the clock as time passed. “He will be released tomorrow morning,” cheered Brentford fans. He won’t do that.
Ten Hag stood with his hands in his pockets during the match, only to run away seconds after Bruno Fernandes threw the ball into the penalty area one last time. United built a lap of honor during regular time and were delighted with their first home win in the league in six weeks.
The Brentford analysts in the press box had their heads buried in their laptops. Of all the goals United have scored in stoppage time over the past 30 years, this was the first time they had completed the game after more than 90 minutes with a come-from-behind victory.
As soon as McTominay’s header hit the net, the tension that had been building all afternoon was broken. Victor Lindelof attacked Jonny Evans and then every teammate within earshot. Diogo Dalot was in despair over a clumsy ball girl. Mason Mount with the ball swung Dalot under his knee, but Dalot was late and was unable to get the ball.
Mount is still under the “curse” of the number 7. It was another demoralizing day for the £60m signing, who is yet to score an assist or goal in the Premier League or Champions League.
Hours earlier, £40m James Maddison led Tottenham to yet another victory. Even if United faced positional issues with Maddison, they appear to have taken the wrong English playmaker.
Your compatriot Marcus Rashford has had another tough day. His tally stands at one in ten goals for United this season, and his sacking received almost as much applause as Alejandro Garnacho’s 63rd-minute substitution. Rashford once again caused groans for failing to rise to the challenge.
United’s show announced that Casemiro has been named the club’s Player of the Month for September. they should have scrapped it. Casemiro looked like a great player all season. He sprayed Hollywood passes and disrupted the pace. He was easily denied a goal by Matthias Jensen. Casemiro made a decisive showing during the break.
As kick-off approached, United’s director of football, John Murtagh, was on the phone. United could reach a benchmark for the state of their defense and an emergency signing.
Raphael Varane was on the cover of the show and missed the 35th game of his career against United due to a “minor problem”. United have a big problem. Their starting centre-back was Leicester City’s first choice under manager Claude Puel five years ago.
Harry Maguire made his first Premier League appearance since May and left a trace of rust in the ring early on with hoof contact and aimless headers. He improved in the second half and scored the winning goal for McTominay with his incredible header.
Lindelof did not start at right-back under United’s fourth manager simply because he played on the opposite flank. He was in a bad position and was overwhelmed.
Brentford quickly set their sights on Lindelof. Mats Roersleb was the constant runner after the sleeping Swede and needed a pep talk from Ten Hag. Lindelof’s soft free-kick rebounded and impeded Jensen, who side-footed the weaker Onana.
Onana now recognizes that the scrutiny of Ajax and Inter Milan’s mistakes pales in comparison to United’s mistakes in colour. He has already conceded five saves this season, and his save technique was incorrect.
Equally worrying for United is Onana’s distribution. So lacking in confidence that he resorted to punting, which also provided practice for Brentford’s back three. Onana had to make some routine stops in the second half and was part of the celebratory crowd surrounding McTominay.
The rift between matchgoers and the club is widening, a rift exacerbated by the ticket sales fiasco that allowed thousands of Galatasaray fans to gather at their home ground. A banner at the Stretford End read: “Glaser Promotes.”
The loudest cheer was reserved for Rasmus Hojlund when the United team was announced and he pressed immediately, forcing an error from the interim Brentford goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha and earning an ovation in the first minute. Strakosha erred for both of McTominay’s goals.
The United supporters remained supportive, chanting the Calypso as the players skulked back towards the tunnel at the interval. They repeatedly roared “United” as the 90th minute loomed. They had the ball in the net, only Anthony Martial was offside when he flicked Alejandro Garnacho’s drilled cross.
For the second league game running, United were prevented from attacking the Stretford End in the second half. It was that section that was the loudest as United peppered the Brentford goal.
The most familiar soundtrack at M16 these days has been booing. They were audible again at half-time but not full-time.
McTominay lifted them.
