Mount late strike not enough to seal United victory as Ajer levels for Brentford

DEJECTED: Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire and Mason Mount of Manchester United look dejected after Kristoffer Ajer scores. Pic:  Clive Rose/Getty Images

PREMIER LEAGUE

BRENTFORD 1 (Ajer 90+9')

MANCHESTER UNITED 1 (Mount 90+6')

KRISTOFFER Ajer denied Manchester United victory in the eighth minute of added time, just two minutes after Mason Mount thought he had secured the points for Erik ten Hag’s side with his first goal for the club.

Mount’s confident finish came against the run of play and appeared to have secured an unexpected - and undeserved - win for Erik ten Hag’s side who had been out-played for long periods. But having been denied by the woodwork on three occasions, Brentford conjured a response when Ajer finished from close range after being set up by Ivan Toney.

It was no more than Brentford deserved. United arrived at the Gtech Community Stadium targeting a win that would strengthen their slender hopes of claiming a Champions League place. The final moments of the game meant United left the field disappointed at the manner in which they threw away the lead but there is no doubt victory would have flattered the visitors.

The way the game played out, tis marked a desperately disappointing step backwards for Ten Hag’s side after the dramatic FA Cup victory over Liverpool immediately before the international break.

Any hopes United might build on that win quickly disappeared. There was no shortage of intent from the visitors during the opening moments but they faded completely as an attacking force once Brentford found their feet.

Pushed onto the back foot, Ten Hag’s side appeared incapable of relieving sustained Brentford pressure by retaining possession for any significant length of time. Rasmus Hojlund failed to provide an outlet up with the Denmark international guilty of failing to hold on to the ball when it was played forward although he was by no means the only culprit.

By contrast, Brentford were enterprising, moving the ball quickly from defence to attack where Ivan Toney and Yoane Wissa revelled in the space afforded them in front of the United backline who were too often left exposed. The difference between the two teams during the first half was summed up in the 24th minute when Wissa collected a long ball forward and set up Toney whose shot deflected to safety off the post.

Brentford defender Mathias Jorgensen also hit the woodwork with a header from a well worked free kick while United centre-backs Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane both intervened with well-timed blocks to protect Andre Onana’s goal. The fact Brentford had 14 shots on target only served to underline United’s vulnerability.

The second half followed much the same pattern. Hojlund drew a good save from Mark Flekken, but that was a rare moment of threat from United. Brentford continued to create by far the better opportunities, the best of which fell to Bryan Mbeumo who volleyed against the bar before the dramatic ending.

Brentford (3-5-2): Flekken 6; Jorgensen 7, Ajer 8, Collins 7; Roerslev 6 (Ghoddos 87, 6), Yarmoliuk 7 (Damsgaard 71, 6), Jensen 7 Janelt 7 Lewis-Potter 9 (Maupay 87, 6); Wissa 8 (Mbeumo 71, 6), Toney 7.

Subs not used: Strakosha, Onyeka, Baptiste, Trevitt, Kim.

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Onana 6; Dalot 6, Lindelof 7 (Martinez 69, 6), Varane 7 (Maguire 46, 6), Wan-Bissaka 6; Mainoo 6 (Casemiro 80, 6), McTominay 6; Garnacho 4 (Antony 59, 6), Fernandes 5, Rashford 4 (Mount 80, 6); Hojlund 4.

Subs not used: Heaton, Kambwala, Eriksen, Amrabat.

Referee: Simon Hooper 6