Brentford defeat Man Utd in thriller to boost Europe hopes
Brentford kept their hopes of European qualification alive by coming from behind to beat Manchester United in a 4-3 thriller at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Mason Mount gave the visitors the lead with just his second goal for the club, finishing off a fine cross from winger Alejandro Garnacho.
Brentford equalised when captain Mikkel Damsgaard saw his cross deflect in off defender Luke Shaw, who was captaining a much-changed United side.
The Bees took the lead six minutes later in controversial fashion, when Kevin Schade towered over United defender Tyler Fredricson to power in his 10th goal of the season with a superb header.
However, United were furious when play wasn’t stopped after defender Matthijs de Ligt went down with an injury earlier in the move.
Schade wrapped up the three points 20 minutes from time, heading in his second of the day from close range from a Bryan Mbeumo cross.
But Brentford were not done there, with the Bees cutting through United’s defence to allow Michael Kayode to slip in Yoane Wissa for a fourth of the afternoon.
Argentina international Garnacho scored a stunning long-range effort eight minutes from time to give United a sliver of hope.
United then ensured it was a nervy finish for Brentford when second half substitute Amad Diallo scored five minutes into seven added minutes of injury time, but the Bees saw out the win.
The defeat leaves United in 15th, on 39 points from 35 matches, while Brentford move into ninth, one point behind eighth-placed Bournemouth.
United rue De Ligt injury
Publicly, Ruben Amorim said the trip to Brentford was about getting the three points to end a run of six matches without a win in the Premier League.
Privately, he would have confessed that coming through the game unscathed and without any injury worries was all that mattered before Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Athletic Bilbao.
The Portuguese coach made eight changes to his side from the team that beat Bilbao 3-0 on Thursday, with Patrick Dorgu, Manuel Ugarte and Garnacho the only players to retain their spots.
If the Schade putting Brentford ahead with their second goal in six minutes was tough to watch, then the image of De Ligt clutching his hamstring and asking to be substituted was even worse.
The Dutchman pulled up in the move that led to Brentford’s winner and remained on the ground as Schade exploited United’s lack of aerial presence at the back.
The 25-year-old was making his first start since missing six matches throughout April with an ankle injury.
With Bilbao on Thursday and a possible Europa League final on the horizon, Amorim was counting on the experience and physicality of De Ligt for the run-in.
Indeed, Amorim made a beeline for the defender as he made his way off the pitch to ascertain the severity of the injury and the Dutchman’s response couldn’t have been good given he headed immediately down the tunnel.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the defeat, Amorim said he is “concerned” about De Ligt’s injury heading into next season.
“I’m really concerned – not about Thursday. We took off Luke Shaw at half-time to protect and have players for Thursday, but I’m more concerned whether it is a small or big injury and thinking about next season,” said the Portuguese.
United are already without Lisandro Martinez, who picked up a season-ending injury in February, while Diogo Dalot could be out for the rest of the campaign with a calf problem.
Bees have momentum in race for Europe
With so much yet to be decided in the final month of the season, European qualification is a bit of a moving target.
There could be as many as 10 English teams in Europe next season, depending on results in the FA Cup, Europa League, Champions League and of course the Premier League.
It could be that eighth place is enough for a spot in the Europa Conference League, depending on results elsewhere.
Brentford, of course, will do all they can to finish as high as possible and see where it leaves them.
If that’s the attitude they’re taking into the final three games of the season, then this was a brilliant start.
With his two goals, Schade became the third Brentford player to reach 10 goals or more in the Premier League this season.
No other club has three players on 10 goals or more.
The 62 goals Brentford have scored in the Premier League is a tally only bettered by Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle and Arsenal.
With Ipswich, Fulham and Wolves to come in their final three matches of the season, the Bees have a favourable run-in.
They may, however, need to win all three if they’re to qualify for Europe for the first time since supporters got their passports out for the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1992.
With momentum like this, few would bet against them doing so.
Player of the match
K. Schade
[BBC]