Bees put Man United to the sword again as they keep those Euro ambitions alive

Picture: @YTJourno

Brentford (2) 4 Shaw og 27, Schade 33, 70, Wissa 74

Manchester United (1) 3 Mount 14, Garnacho 82, Diallo 95

It was famously 4-0 a few years ago to the Bees against United. This was almost as comprehensive, even if it wasn't by the end.

Two late goals for United gave the scoreline a more respectable sheen for the visitors but there was no disguising the comfortable nature of the win.

Brentford's late-season flurry and rediscovered home form could yet carry them into the unchartered territory of European qualification.

A third win in a row was the logical outcome to an approach that demanded reward. They looked far more motivated and ambitious than their Euro-fixated opponents and at times the win looked almost routine.

The United line-up told its own tale. Even with a 3-0 lead from the first leg of their Europa League semi-final to fall back in in the Old Trafford, Man U were not about to risk all their regulars for this one.

So there was no start for Andre Onana, Bruno Fernandes or Harry Maguire. Ruben Amorim's team are too far down the table for an extra three points to make much difference to the unflattering overall picture for them in the league.

But having survived a couple of narrow squeaks they stole ahead when Mason Mount converted a low cross from Alejandro Garnacho - the Bees having coughed up possession on half way.

Set pieces are Brentford's pride and joy, however, and they drew level from one. A long throw-in by the 20-year-old Italian right-back Michael Kayode - on loan from Fiorentina - came back to him and his nod forward was prodded inside the near post by Mikkel Damsgaard - a deflection off Luke Shaw ensuring it had the beating of Altay Bayindir in the United goal.

And before the half was out, the turn around had been completed as Christian Norgaard's hanging cross to the back post was headed down past Bayindir by Kevin Schade. It helped that United defender Matthijs de Ligt was down injured at the time but the Bees were under no obligation to put the ball out of play.

Kayode was brilliantly eye-catching and forced Manuel Ugarte to take a yellow for manhandling him as he flew past down the right and from the free-kick, Norgaard's header was kept out by a reflex save from the United stopper.

United were less passive after the break, having no doubt been given a gee-up by Ruben Amorim at the interval but Thomas Frank's men were in no mood to let this one go and two quicjfire goals midway through the half broke the United resistance.

First Schade rose at the far post again to reach a searching cross - this time from Bryan Mbeumo on the right, then a few minutes later, Yoane Wissa slid home a Kayode cross that came in from the same flank.

United recovered a degree of respectability when Garnacho was allowed room to rifle in from the left edge of the area, and sub Amad Diallo plundered a third goal for the visitors deep into injury time, but there was no disputing where the points were heading.

Bees: (4-2-3-1) Flekken - Kayode (Ayer 82), Collins, van den Berg, Lewis-Potter - Norgaard, Yarmoliuk (Jensen 68) - Mbeumo, Damsgaard (Thiago 78), Schade (Henry 72) - Wissa

United: (3-4-2-1) Bayindir - Fredricson, de Ligt (Maguire 36), Shaw (Yoro h/t) - Dorgu (Diallo h/t), Ugarte, Mainoo, Amass - Mount (Eriksen 57), Garnacho - Obi

Attendance: 17,190