Sport

Manchester United 2-1 Brentford: Bees boss Thomas Frank laments ‘brutal’ Old Trafford defeat

October 8, 2023

Brentford manager Thomas Frank said “football can be brutal” after the Bees slipped to a dramatic 2-1 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday, adding he “would still have been devastated” with a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

Mathias Jensen’s first-half goal had put Frank’s team on course for a first away win over the Red Devils since 1937, but Scott McTominay’s stoppage-time double earned the hosts all three points in remarkable circumstances.

The win eases some of the pressure on Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, whose side were minutes away from losing three consecutive home league games for the first time since 1979.

“I’m happy for Erik, but of course not happy for myself,” Frank said. “When you are on this end, it is brutal.

“The first half was close to perfect. We pressed high, we were aggressive. We were good on the counter and gave nothing away. In the second half we [were under] a little bit more pressure.

“Especially the way [the defeat] happens. If they score in the 80th and 87th [minute] it would still be disappointing. [With a draw], at least we get something for our hard work.”

Chasing only their second league win of the campaign, Brentford started well at Old Trafford and took a deserved lead when Jensen steered a low shot beyond goalkeeper Andre Onana after Casemiro had surrendered possession in midfield.

The Bees had looked more like adding to their advantage until McTominay’s 93rd-minute equaliser, with Neal Maupay and Christian Norgaard both denied by Onana in the second half.

Frank’s team have dropped more points from winning positions than any other side in the division this season, having led in all but two of their top-flight fixtures so far.

This latest loss leaves them 14th in the table, level on points with Everton and Wolves, who will climb above Brentford if they avoid defeat at home to Aston Villa on Sunday.

“I know when we look back, I will be 100% positive,” Frank continued. “Of course we look into why we’re not getting into the winning end. It is margins, the drop of a ball sometimes.

“We’ve played eight Premier League games, seven of them good or very good. We know the only way out is to keep producing the performances and keep a clean sheet, or only concede one and then score two ourselves.

“We can’t lose the game, but it happens.”