Brentford 1-1 Manchester United: Mason Mount strike cancelled out by Kristoffer Ajer in crazy finish

A wild finish to a crazy game saw Mason Mount come off the bench to score his first Manchester United goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time, only for Kristoffer Ajer to equalise for Brentford in the eighth.

Brentford are now a point closer to safety, while United's chances of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League look bleak.

United started marginally the better but without threatening, then Brentford took over and missed a succession of chances - most particularly when Ivan Toney eased by Victor Lindelof and drilled a low shot against the inside base of a post.

Whatever Erik ten Hag said to his players at half-time, it did not seem to work, because Brentford continued to dominate, hitting the woodwork twice more and spurning various other chances and situations.

And United looked to have punished them for it when Mount, put through by Casemiro, finished expertly into the corner.

But Toney performed one last act of magic, controlling beautifully before skirting around the outside of the United defence to tee-up Ajer for a deserved equaliser.

It is very easy to make excuses for Erik ten Hag. The injury list with which he has had to deal has been atrocious - losing Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof the day he brings back Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire is a perfect example - and the off-field issues must have been a major distraction. But United have been poor since winning the Carabao Cup last February, and against Brentford they produced another tepid display. It is worth noting that Brentford were excellent, their hard-running, physical style a difficult match-up for United and their midfield five allowed them to dominate territory and possession. But even when the visitors had the ball, they looked devoid of ideas.

It will not have been lost on Ten Hag that Ineos are bringing new heads into every department, and it would not be unusual, in a multi-billion pound acquisition, for the buyer to want their own person running the show. That can still be Ten Hag, but he is at the point where as well as results - a 1-1 draw at Brentford is not a terrible result - he needs the performances that make clear the team is progressing under him.

An absolute menace, he was at the United defenders from the off and did not let up until the final whistle. His touch, vision and composure were superb, and though he might have scored, his technique and composure in creating the equaliser were excellent.

Brentford: Flekken 7, Jorgensen 6, Ajer 7, Collins 6, Roerslev 7, Yarmolyuk 7, Jensen 8, Janelt 7, Lewis-Potter 7, Wissa 6, Toney 8. Subs: Damsgaard 6, Mbuemo 6, Ghoddos 6, Maupay 6.

Manchester United: Onana 7, Dalot 7, Varane 7, Lindelof 5, Wan-Bissaka 5, McTominay 4, Mainoo 5, Garnacho 5, Fernandes 6, Hojlund 5, Rashford 4. Subs: Maguire 6, Martinez 6, Antony 6, Mount 7, Casemiro 7.

24’ - LOVELY FROM BRENTFORD!
Lewis-Potter fires into Wissa, who touches off a gorgeous first-time pass for Toney ... and he's in! The ball took out Varane, Lindelof can't get back ... and he drills a low shot against the inside base of the post ... and out!

55’ - NOW UNITED COUNTER - THEY'RE LOOKING A LITTLE LIKELIER NOW
And Bruno caresses a lovely square pass, Hojlund slides into a decent connection ... and Fleken saves brilliantly with his forearm!

55 - THIS IS FRANTIC NOW!
Toney crosses, it's cleared to Yarmolyuk ... and he drives low and hard ... but Onana times his dive superbly to parry, then saves again when Lewis-Potter follows up!

58’ - A SWIRLING UP AND UNDER, A KNOCK-DOWN
And Wissa does brilliantly to watch a volley onto his laces that clips the post!

65’ - GOODNESS ME!
A diag over the top, Jensen clipping beautifully for Toney, who lunges, Mark Hughes-style, into a volley ... that flies just over the top. That's a brilliant effort.

78’ - BRENTFORD HIT THE BAR AGAIN!
Flekken clips a simple ball over the top, Hojlund can't deal with it, it bounces through, and Mbuemo arrives just before Toney, lacing against the underside of the bar .. and down and out! How have bretford not scored here!

90+6' - GOAL! BRENTFORD 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED (MOUNT) OH MY GOODNESS ME! MASON MOUNT'S FIRST GOAL FOR UNITED!
For what seems like the first time, United sustain an attack, the ball breaks to Casemiro, he slides in Mount .. who takes a touch, holds off the defender, and slots a brilliant far-post finish! Mayham!

90+9’ - GOAL! BRENTFORD 1-1 MANCHESTER UNITED (AJER) FOOTBALL! OH MY DAYS! Toney, the best player on the pitch by far, collects a ball intisde the box with a lovely touch, he skates around the outside of a static United defence, slides back a perfect pass, and Ajer slams home an equaliser!

Brentford had 31 shots on goal and 81 touches inside Manchester United's box.

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