Brentford 3-1 Manchester United: Fernandes Misses Penalty as Pressure Mounts on Amorim
Manchester United slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Brentford, with Bruno Fernandes’ second-half penalty miss proving costly and piling further pressure on manager Ruben Amorim, whose side is now winless in four away Premier League games.
United were trailing 2-1 when Fernandes stepped up for a penalty in the 67th minute, but after a four-minute VAR delay over a possible red card for Nathan Collins, his effort was saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.
Despite appearing to pull back Bryan Mbeumo with no attempt to play the ball, Collins received only a yellow card — a decision that infuriated United and sparked debate.
What the Law Says:
If a player commits an offence that denies a goal-scoring opportunity and it’s not an attempt to play the ball (e.g. pulling, pushing), the player must be sent off. In this case, referee Craig Pawson stuck with a caution, and VAR did not recommend an on-field review.
A Painful Afternoon for United
Brentford took an early 2-0 lead within 20 minutes through Igor Thiago, who capitalized on United’s defensive lapses. Benjamin Sesko pulled one back in the 26th minute — his first goal for the club — but United failed to build on it.
After Fernandes’ miss, United faded. Mathias Jensen sealed the win in added time with a swerving shot that beat Altay Bayindir, capping off another disappointing away performance.
Brentford leapfrog United in the table, while Amorim’s side slips further down the standings and continues to struggle for consistency.
Amorim Questions VAR Call
Speaking after the match, Ruben Amorim questioned the decision not to send off Collins:
“They told me Bryan was not in control of the ball. I think he wasn’t in control because he was pulled,” Amorim said.
“Sometimes the decisions go against you. But we also should have managed the game better.”
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean said on Soccer Saturday, “For me, that’s a red card.”
Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd added, “Another poor afternoon for Man United. They’ll be raging — Collins had to go.”
Sloppy at the Back, Ineffective Up Front
United’s back line struggled from the start, with Harry Maguire caught out for Brentford’s opener. A spilled cross by Bayindir gifted Thiago his second.
This match marked the first start for United’s £207m attacking trio — Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, and Matheus Cunha — but the experiment backfired. Their lack of defensive support left Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte outnumbered in midfield.
Despite a brief spark after Sesko’s goal, United looked disjointed. The missed penalty marked Fernandes’ second failure from the spot this season — and possibly the most damaging one yet.
United’s Away Struggles Continue
- 0 wins in last 8 away league games
- 3 defeats in last 4 matches
- Sitting mid-table as Brentford rise above them
