RED REDEMPTION
Brentford 1 Man Utd 3: Rashford finally scores after three-month drought as sub-par United keep top-four hopes alive
WHEN his number seven flashed up on the substitutes, Cristiano Ronaldo had a face like thunder.
He trudged off in slow-motion, flung his arms wide in desperation at Ralf Rangnick and then hurled a jacket to the floor.
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The old Galactico had just played a wonderful support role in Manchester United’s second goal against Brentford.
But perhaps Ronaldo's most valuable work had been carried out in a TV interview in which he’d suggested that United’s younger players needed to listen, to learn, to man up and to play with pride.
Because three of United’s academy products - Anthony Elanga, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford - settled a match which they had threatened to lose in a dismal first half.
And a fourth of United’s own, Scott McTominay, was the man who turned the tide with a dominant second-half performance.
The final scoreline was deceptive because United had to survive a bombardment from Brentford before they ultimately emerged as comfortable winners.
Ronaldo’s little tantrum, when United were 2-0 up, suggested that his TV interview had included an element of ‘do as I say, not as I do’.
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But there was a feeling that his words might have stung a few of those less experienced players and added extra impetus.
United are still seventh but are now just two points off the Champions League places.
Ronaldo rightly stated that he hadn’t returned to Old Trafford to compete for fourth - but this team is starting from a low base and this kind of win, once routine for the club, might end up being seen as a turning point.
It was the first time United had faced Brentford in the League since before the old King died - and there was a Cup-tie atmosphere around the place, Kew Bridge having never seen so many ticket touts.
Ronaldo’s return from a two-game injury lay-off added extra stardust on the occasion but the name of United still holds a unique pulling power - even if the actuality of watching them rarely does so any more.
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Brentford had defeated Arsenal, drawn an epic with Liverpool and dominated Chelsea here - so despite a run of four defeats in five league games for Thomas Frank’s men, there was genuine hope for the hosts.
West London’s Danish quarter may soon be welcoming Christian Eriksen for an emotional return to elite football, after his cardiac arrest at the Euros.
And if he tuned into this, he’d have been impressed with Brentford’s first-half showing - even if the playmaker might wonder where exactly he might fit into such a direct side.
United were immediately under the pump - long-throw merchant Mads Bech Sorensen causing early alarm.
And soon Brentford created four clear scoring opportunities in the space of two minutes.
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A stray McTominay pass landed Rangnick’s men in bother and Mathias Jensen’s was smartly saved by David De Gea’s legs.
As the Bees forced a string of corners, there was an air of impending doom for United - a forecast as regular as rainfall in their hometown these days.
Vitaly Janelt had a shot deflected wide, as did Sorensen, and then Christian Norgaard spooned over from close range.
United were rocking - and when Brentford broke from a United corner, Ivan Toney fed Jensen who was again denied by De Gea’s legs when he ought to have a corner.
During that first half, we saw all the hallmarks of the current-day United - lax passing, a lack of appetite for winning 50-50s, a nervousness whenever in defence, an aimlessness in attack.
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But after the break, they looked a different side - Ronaldo soon looping a header on to the top of the crossbar from a Bruno Fernandes centre.
From the resulting corner, Brentford sped upfield and Jensen was presented with another decent chance, shooting straight at De Gea.
Yet United had just been beginning to impose themselves before they netted in the 55th minute.
Fred played a cute diagonal ball into the Brentford box and Elanga escaped his marker, Mads Roerslev, chipped it up for himself to nod past a flailing Jonas Lossl, with a welcome piece of improv.
Lossl hadn’t really been tested until then but he was soon awkwardly spilling one for a corner from a fierce McTominay drive.
The second, seven minutes after the first, was a gem of a team goal.
McTominay won possession and chipped a pass to Ronaldo in the centre-circle.
The Portuguese executed a gorgeous chested pass on the turn to release Fernandes, who burst forward and squared for Greenwood to roll into an empty net.
Shortly after Ronaldo’s tizzy, McTominay won possession again, ploughing his way through the midfield and finding Fernandes.
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The Portuguese fed Rashfiord - Ronaldo’s replacement - who rammed home inside the near post to justify Rangnick’s controversial substitution.
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Toney scrambled a late consolation when United failed to clear danger from a long throw.
But United were home and hosed by then - and Ronaldo had done his bit, with his words, rather than his actions.
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