Three Takeaways From Brentford 1-1 Manchester United

Mason Mount must have thought he had won the game for Manchester United in the 96th minute when he score his first goal for the club, only to see a shapeless defence allow Brentford time and space to find an equaliser three minutes later.

It was a typical performance from the Red Devils under Erik Ten Hag, indicative of where they currently are in their trajectory. Conceding 80 touches in their own box – the most recorded in the Premier
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League for five years – plus 31 shots is an indictment of the current coaching standard of the club.

This is not a new trend. Manchester United have routinely been dominated by teams and allowed the opposition a free run at goal. Mainly getting dispossessed high up the pitch, they fail to recover and recoup, allow teams to get forward in numbers and leave themselves wide open for shots at goal.

Here are three takeaways from Saturday evening’s draw at the G-Tech Arena:

Andre Onana’s Heroics

If it was not for Andre Onana, Brentford could have easily scored four, five or six. Possibly more.

There has bee criticism over Manchester United’s new goalkeeper they signed for £50 million last summer to replace David de Gea, but since coming back in after being away with Cameroon for the African Cup of Nations, he has not put a foot wrong.

Onana has been on receiving end of 106 shots in his last four games and only conceded seven goals. When two of those games have been against Manchester City and Liverpool, it makes it even more impressive.

Onana’s now stepping up and adjusting to Premier League life. There is no doubt he will continue to improve for United and is the right goalkeeper moving forward.

Mason Mount’s Return

It has been an incredibly slow start to life for Mount at Manchester United, what with having two injuries that has caused a lengthy absence away from the team.

Having made his return off the bench just before the international break against Liverpool, the Englishman followed that up with another substitute appearance against Brentford, with what should have been a happier moment.

Mount found himself isolated in Brentford’s box on the left-hand side when receiving the pass from Casemiro, took it in his stride beautifully, and dispatched it past the flailing Mark Flekken into the bottom right corner.

It should have won Manchester United the game and been Mount’s arrival moment, but, at the very least, his arrival is a positive to a team that picks up injuries every match.

Lack Of Coaching Standards

Manchester United fans are rightly feeling let down and unbelievably frustrated with how the team is playing on a week by week basis.

It is not as if this is a new phenomenon of Manchester United conceding chances and shots per-game, it stems all the way back to the first game of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers, where they conceded 23 shots but managed to, luckily, come away with a 1-0 win.

There has been a considerable lack of progression since Ten Hag took over with no obvious style of play. For this reason alone, it is reported that INEOS will be looking further afield ahead of next season.