5 talking points as Manchester United are saved by Scott McTominay’s brilliance vs Brentford

Manchester United secure all three points as two late Scott McTominay goals against Brentford save them in dramatic fashion in the Premier League.

With Manchester United confirming that Raphaël Varane would miss the Brentford fixture due to a minor injury, Erik ten Hag‘s arguably entire first-choice back line was unavailable.

Despite a good start from The Reds, it was Mathias Jensen who opened the scoring for the Bees just after 20 minutes, capitalising on multiple stupid errors from the Old Trafford side.

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It took until minute 37 in order for United to have their first shot on target, but the game continued at 1-0 as half-time struck, with boos ringing around Old Trafford.

The second half was just minutes away from being yet another depressing defeat until Scott McTominay scored two brilliant goals in injury time to flip the tie on it’s head and win the game for his boyhood club.

#1 – Casemiro and Onana continue their streak of errors

Once again, United started the opening 20 minutes well before ultimately going behind, with Casemiro and Onana faulting yet again in key moments.

Casemiro played a wayward pass on the edge of United’s own third, rushed into a challenge that he did not win, and was therefore well out of position for Brentford’s attack – and when the shot from Jensen came in, his soft wrist failed to save the shot when he really should have, and United went behind AGAIN at Old Trafford.

It is a story that has plagued Ten Hag’s season so far; his players making stupid mistakes in key moments… and there is no end in sight of these moments.

#2 – Maybe United just aren’t that good

It’s getting to the point now where you have to start questioning if some of these players are actually still good at football.

If you take away the result and just take a look at the performance, it is disjointed, flat, and inconsistent – this has been the theme for pretty much every single fixture this season.

The team start well but then fall off, start to second guess themselves, and make ridiculous decisions that cause the whole fixture to be thrown into confusion, often with United suffering from the consequences of their own actions.

#3 – United are back to their static ways

The second half, predictably, saw Brentford very much sit back and allow United to try and attack them, with United creating an onslaught of crosses and balls into the channels.

But despite this, United looked so, so static when faced with the Brentford block. When trying to break through a defensive line like Brentford’s, you need quick movement and decisive thinking in order to break it down, but the side just were not doing that.

Højlund, to be fair to him, was, and although it will be McTominay who grabs the headlines, Højlund should be given his fair share of plaudits, too.

#4 – Trust in Rashford may be diminishing

Marcus Rashford was substituted just after 60 minutes, with Alejandro Garnacho replacing the English winger on the left-hand side.

Despite Ten Hag’s recent comments that he will continue to back Rashford to rediscover his best form, this was the earliest Ten Hag has substituted Rashford so far this campaign, which could well be a sign that he currently does not hold the same level of faith in the winger as he once did.

His replacement, Garnacho, played a direct part in the equalising goal, and in all honesty, is having a much bigger impact in games than Rashford is.

The ball drops to Scott McTominay…

#5 – An unlikely savour

Of all the players to pull off a brilliant equaliser, it was Scott McTominay who rose to the occasion to quite literally single-handedly hand United all three points with two extra-time goals to secure the bag.

McTominay has played almost no part this season but after Casemiro’s dreadful performance and McTominay’s saving grace, you may think that he should be given a run in a team.