Chris Mepham’s birthday double ensured Brentford got the better of Manchester United in an enthralling contest at Griffin Park. Each and every one of the 1,056 present were well entertained on an afternoon of fine goals in West London started off with Mepham’s stunning 30 yard opener after 12 minutes. At times Flemming Pedersen’s side were unplayable and they added a second through Herson Alves midway through the first-half. When Mepham fired home his second on the hour it looked like game over but Joe Riley and Sean Goss netted in the space of seven minutes to set up a nervy finale. Riley could have snatched a leveller in injury time but he fired wide of an open goal as The Bees withstood the late onslaught to hold on for the win.
From the off it was clear that both sides were intent on playing a high-pressing game, looking to win the ball back as close to the opposition goal as possible. The only difference was that Brentford were far better at doing it. With Bradley Clayton, Herson Alves, Tom Field, and Reece Cole snapping at the heels of the United players in possession, most of the opening stages was played deep in United territory. When it was United’s turn to press The Bees back line, they were often chasing shadows as Zain Westbrooke and James Ferry worked the ball around the Griffin Park pitch.
Despite seeing more of the ball, The Bees didn’t manage to fashion any chances of note in the opening ten minutes but that changed just before the quarter hour. Mepham strode into midfield and, with nothing on in front of him, let fly from 30 yards, the ball whistling past O’Hara and into the top corner before the United keeper had time to react. It could have been 2-0 shortly after as the impressive Ilias Chatzitheodoridis worked an opening down the left-hand side, Alves’ shot from 18 yards taking a deflection before rolling through to O’Hara.
Alves next involvement was more telling as he robbed RoShaun Williams and laid the ball out to Cole: the striker continuing his run into the box to meet Cole’s cross and head home from eight yards. Ferry saw a well-struck shot charged down by Williams from a corner before United finally tested Dominic Kurasik with ten minutes to go before the break. This time it was their turn to win the ball back high up the pitch, Matthew Willock advanced to the edge of the box and then brought a full-length save out of The Bees’ keeper. That rare attack only served to stir Flemming Pedersen’s side into action as Field crashed a shot against the post from a tight angle before Clayton scuffed the rebound wide from eight yards.
United started the second period much better than they did the first, their pressing game forcing The Bees to go a little longer in possession and turn over the ball more. In an opening ten minutes that The Red Devils dominated, Mitchell shot wide after good work by Willock on the right, Riley fired off target after a clever free-kick routine, and Devonte Redmond whipped an effort over the bar as Brentford struggled to clear their lines. That positive start from the visitors was then all undone on the hour as Mepham was given the freedom of West London to control Emmanuel Onariase’ knockdown from a corner and slam home from eight yards.
The home side could have added a fourth as Clayton and Field worked space down the left-hand side, Alves’ return ball to Clayton lacked the power to set the striker clean through on goal. United pulled one back with 25 minutes to go when Riley curled home into the top corner from the edge of the box. That goal seemed to temporarily suck the life out of The Bees. Kurasik made a stunning reaction save to turn Redmond’s shot over from close range before Charlie Scott smacked the post from the resulting corner. A second goal was coming and, when it did with 20 minutes to play, it was another fine strike: Sean Goss creeping a low effort past Kurasik from inside the D.
As time went on The Bees appeared to regain their composure and get back into their passing style but United very much remained a threat. Riley had a golden chance to level matters when he latched onto Scott’s dinked through ball but Kurasik spread himself well to make a crucial close range save. The assistant indicated five minutes of added time and United had enough chances in those added minutes not just to draw the game but to get the win. Kane Roberts diverted wide at the back post with the goal gaping before Riley, on the stretch, volleyed wide from three yards out. Former Bee Josh Bohui almost provided the most dramatic of conclusions in the fifth minute of added time but his shot flew inches wide as Brentford held on for the victory.
Brentford: Dominic Kurasik; Lukas Talbro, Chris Mepham, Emmanuel Onariase, Ilias Chatzitheodoridis; James Ferry, Reece Cole (sub Raphael Assibey-Mensah 68 mins); Herson Rodrigues Alves (sub Danny Parish 87 mins), Zain Westbrooke, Tom Field (sub Kyjuon Marsh-Brown 76 mins); Bradley Clayton
Subs not used: Luke Dunn, Nathan Fox, Jarvis Edobor, Dimi Kyriatzis
Manchester United: Kieran O'Hara; Matthew Olasunde (Charlie Scott 58 mins), Roshaun Williams, Regan Poole, Joe Riley; Devonte Redmond, Matthew Willock, Sean Goss, Sadiq Elfitouri (sub Josh Doughty 83 mins); Tosin Kehinde (sub Josh Bohui 78 mins), Demitri Mitchell (sub Kane Roberts 61 mins)
Subs not used: Max Johnstone