Manchester United came from behind to beat Brentford 2-1 at Old Trafford and end their winless run.

Ethan Pinnock’s header in first-half stoppage-time had heaped further pressure on Erik ten Hag, whose team came into the contest without a win in five games, but superb second-half goals by Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund turned it around.

It was an impressive transformation given that United had struggled to create before the break with confidence presumably low. But these three points lift United above the Bees into the top half of the table ahead of a trip to Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in midweek.

Player ratings:

Man Utd: Onana (6), Dalot (6), De Ligt (6), Evans (7), Martinez (6), Casemiro (5), Eriksen (6), Fernandes (6), Garnacho (8), Hojlund (8), Rashford (7).

Subs: Zirkzee (5), Ugarte (n/a), Lindelof (n/a), Mazraoui (n/a).

Brentford: Flekken (6), Van den Berg (5), Collins (6), Pinnock (6), Ajer (6), Norgaard (6), Janelt (6), Damsgaard (7), Schade (7), Lewis Potter (6), Mbeumo (7).

Subs: Wissa (6), Carvalho (6), Yarmoliuk (6), Roerslev (n/a).

Player of the Match: Alejandro Garnacho.

How the game played out

United had a few early half-chances through the impressive Garnacho but Brentford, with their trademark combination of short passes and long throws, played the more coherent and enterprising football in the first half with Bryan Mbeumo to the fore.

The reward for that performance came in slightly controversial circumstances given that Matthijs de Ligt was forced off the field temporarily for treatment on a head injury sustained earlier in the half. Pinnock headed in the corner with the centre-back absent.

‘Referee had no choice’

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean speaking on Soccer Saturday:

“There is no fault whatsoever for the match officials.

“Once he is bleeding, he cannot stay on the pitch.

“The referee had no choice. You can’t blame the ref. You can blame the medical team for not stopping the bleeding.”

Ten Hag’s frustration was apparent, yellow carded for his complaints. It was a big team-talk required and United duly came out with greater purpose in the second half. Marcus Rashford’s cross was met on the volley by Garnacho and the mood changed.

United were a different beast, Garnacho’s confidence up and Hojlund relishing the battle with Pinnock. When Brentford failed to clear their lines, Bruno Fernandes flicked the ball through and Hojlund’s dinked finish – what composure – put United ahead.

Thomas Frank’s team could not muster a comeback of their own and succumbed to a defeat that sees them drop to 12th with United having leapfrogged them – and Ten Hag having staved off the criticism that had been looming again at the midway stage.

Team news:

Man Utd changed three of the team that drew at Aston Villa with Matthijs de Ligt and Casemiro coming in for the injured Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo, while Lisandro Martinez replaced Noussair Mazraoui with Diogo Dalot switching to right-back.
Unsurprisingly, Thomas Frank stuck with the starting line-up that beat Wolves 5-3 last time out – a result that flattered the West Midlands outfit. Kevin Schade started up front with Keane Lewis-Potter, Mikkel Damsgaard and Bryan Mbeumo in support.

Player of the match: Alejandro Garnacho

At half-time, with Southampton having already scored twice against Leicester, no team in the Premier League had scored fewer goals than Manchester United at that stage. The response from the team’s young forwards was emphatic early in the second half.

Rashford and Garnacho combining for the equaliser, Hojlund’s expert finish completing the turnaround, this was exactly what the Old Trafford crowd wanted to see. The Argentinian winger was the player of the match, tormenting Sepp van den Berg.

It was not that everything he tried came off, it was no polished performance. But his belief, his willingness to run with and without the ball, playing with purpose, was exactly what the situation required. He was the spark that ignited Ten Hag’s team in this game.