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Man Utd 3-0 Brentford: Fernandes, Ronaldo & Varane score in morale-boosting win

By Simon StoneBBC Sport at Old Trafford

Last updated on .From the section Premier Leaguecomments1531

Bruno Fernandes scores
Only Mohamed Salah (73) and Harry Kane (65) have been involved in more Premier League goals than Bruno Fernandes (61 - 36 goals & 25 assists) since he made his Manchester United debut in February 2020

Manchester United recorded the biggest win of Ralf Rangnick's reign in his final home match as interim boss as Brentford were beaten at Old Trafford.

A brilliant opener from Bruno Fernandes was followed by a second-half penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane's first United goal as the hosts cruised to victory.

Ronaldo also had a goal disallowed as he moved onto 18 Premier League goals, four behind Golden Boot leader Mohamed Salah.

The result keeps alive United's slender hopes of Champions League qualification at least until next weekend, while Brentford could still go down, even though their 40 points is almost certainly enough to retain their status as a top-flight club.

For the third game running, home fans protested against the club's owners, but while there were plenty of anti-Glazer family chants and green and gold flares in opposition to the Americans, the mooted 73rd-minute walkout did not materialise in any significant number.

Mata's fond farewell

United's victory moved them on to 58 points with two games remaining, meaning they still have the chance to match their tally from the 2013-14 campaign under David Moyes, which is their lowest since the 59 they struggled to in 1990-91.

This was actually one of their better displays, helped in no small part by Juan Mata, who was making his first league start of the season in what was probably his last match at Old Trafford.

Mata could have had an assist to go with his precise passing and invention, only for Ronaldo to be judged marginally offside after he had scored from the veteran Spain international's pass.

Ronaldo got his goal anyway, sending Brentford keeper David Raya the wrong way from the spot after the Portuguese had been fouled by Rico Henry.

That doubled a lead given to the hosts by Fernandes.

With a contract to 2026, Fernandes is one of the pillars of incoming manager Erik ten Hag's United.

His first goal since February was a beauty, slamming home Anthony Elanga's cutback with a first-time volley.

Raphael Varane's deflected shot brought United their third - and with the protest not gaining the anticipated momentum, there were still plenty of fans in the stadium as the home players went on their post-match lap of appreciation for a season that most connected with the club cannot wait to end.

Big decision awaits for Eriksen

This was only Christian Eriksen's ninth match for club and country since his return from the cardiac arrest he suffered while playing for Denmark against Finland at the European Championship in June 2021.

Yet the Dane has already done enough to show he can operate at a level above Brentford.

Within 10 seconds of kick-off, he had lifted a pass over the United defence that threatened to create an opportunity for Bryan Mbeumo before Victor Lindelof came across to cover.

It was a pin-point curling Eriksen cross that Ivan Toney headed over from a central position, a deep free-kick at the start of the second half that the striker was unable to keep on target and a long-range free-kick from the Dane that David de Gea had to palm away.

Eriksen's contract runs out in the summer, although it does contain an option to extend it for a further year.

The big question is whether the 30-year-old repays Brentford - and Thomas Frank's faith in offering him a way back into the game - and commits to another season or he accepts an offer from a bigger club, which will surely come his way.

Player of the match

Cristiano RonaldoCristiano Ronaldo

with an average of 8.28

Manchester United

  1. Squad number7Player nameCristiano Ronaldo
    Average rating

    8.28

  2. Squad number8Player nameMata
    Average rating

    7.83

  3. Squad number1Player namede Gea
    Average rating

    7.30

  4. Squad number19Player nameVarane
    Average rating

    7.23

  5. Squad number18Player nameBruno Fernandes
    Average rating

    7.19

  6. Squad number36Player nameElanga
    Average rating

    7.12

  7. Squad number31Player nameMatic
    Average rating

    6.87

  8. Squad number39Player nameMcTominay
    Average rating

    6.57

  9. Squad number2Player nameLindelöf
    Average rating

    6.51

  10. Squad number27Player nameAlex Telles
    Average rating

    6.33

  11. Squad number4Player nameJones
    Average rating

    6.31

  12. Squad number20Player nameDiogo Dalot
    Average rating

    6.30

  13. Squad number17Player nameFred
    Average rating

    6.09

  14. Squad number21Player nameCavani
    Average rating

    5.96

Brentford

  1. Squad number21Player nameEriksen
    Average rating

    7.55

  2. Squad number17Player nameToney
    Average rating

    5.52

  3. Squad number18Player nameJansson
    Average rating

    5.09

  4. Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
    Average rating

    5.06

  5. Squad number29Player nameBech Sørensen
    Average rating

    5.02

  6. Squad number30Player nameRoerslev
    Average rating

    4.93

  7. Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
    Average rating

    4.91

  8. Squad number20Player nameAjer
    Average rating

    4.88

  9. Squad number27Player nameJanelt
    Average rating

    4.88

  10. Squad number8Player nameJensen
    Average rating

    4.86

  11. Squad number1Player nameRaya
    Average rating

    4.83

  12. Squad number10Player nameDasilva
    Average rating

    4.65

  13. Squad number3Player nameHenry
    Average rating

    4.63

  14. Squad number11Player nameWissa
    Average rating

    4.49

Line-ups

Man Utd

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1de Gea
  • 20Dalot
  • 2Lindelöf
  • 19Varane
  • 27Telles
  • 39McTominay
  • 31MaticBooked at 54minsSubstituted forFredat 71'minutes
  • 36ElangaSubstituted forCavaniat 75'minutes
  • 8MataSubstituted forJonesat 75'minutes
  • 18Bruno Fernandes
  • 7Cristiano Ronaldo

Substitutes

  • 3Bailly
  • 4Jones
  • 10Rashford
  • 14Lingard
  • 17Fred
  • 21Cavani
  • 26Henderson
  • 74Fernández
  • 75Garnacho Ferreyra

Brentford

Formation 5-3-2

  • 1Raya
  • 30Roerslev
  • 20Ajer
  • 18Jansson
  • 29Bech Sørensen
  • 3Henry
  • 27JaneltSubstituted forDasilvaat 71'minutes
  • 6NørgaardSubstituted forJensenat 71'minutes
  • 21Eriksen
  • 17Toney
  • 19MbeumoSubstituted forWissaat 76'minutes

Substitutes

  • 8Jensen
  • 10Dasilva
  • 11Wissa
  • 23Jeanvier
  • 24Fosu-Henry
  • 26Baptiste
  • 36Stevens
  • 40Fernández
  • 43Young-Coombes
Referee:
Chris Kavanagh
Attendance:
73,482

Match Stats

Home TeamMan UtdAway TeamBrentford
Possession
Home64%
Away36%
Shots
Home9
Away12
Shots on Target
Home5
Away4
Corners
Home3
Away8
Fouls
Home4
Away6

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Manchester United 3, Brentford 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Manchester United 3, Brentford 0.

  3. Post update

    Fred (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Ivan Toney (Brentford).

  5. Post update

    Attempt missed. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Edinson Cavani.

  6. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Mathias Jensen (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  7. Post update

    Offside, Manchester United. Cristiano Ronaldo tries a through ball, but Edinson Cavani is caught offside.

  8. Post update

    Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Diogo Dalot.

  9. Post update

    Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Mads Bech Sørensen.

  10. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Fred.

  11. Post update

    Attempt saved. Scott McTominay (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Cristiano Ronaldo.

  12. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Christian Eriksen (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ivan Toney.

  13. Post update

    Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Phil Jones.

  14. Substitution

    Substitution, Brentford. Yoane Wissa replaces Bryan Mbeumo.

  15. Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester United. Phil Jones replaces Juan Mata.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester United. Edinson Cavani replaces Anthony Elanga.

  17. Goal!

    Goal! Manchester United 3, Brentford 0. Raphaël Varane (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Alex Telles with a cross following a corner.

  18. Post update

    Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by David Raya.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester United. Fred replaces Nemanja Matic.

  20. Substitution

    Substitution, Brentford. Josh Dasilva replaces Vitaly Janelt.

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1531 comments

  • Comment posted by Govind75, at 22:00 2 May

    Ronaldo is 37 and tracking back 40 yards, Rashford is 24 and simply cannot be bothered to do so. The mind boggles.

    • Reply posted by dan, at 22:08 2 May

      dan replied:
      Yep a complete waste of space

  • Comment posted by Fox 101, at 21:54 2 May

    Was always going to be hard for Brentford to win without Maguire playing :(

    • Reply posted by Sorry For Your Loss, at 22:02 2 May

      Sorry For Your Loss replied:
      Their gameplan was based on him playing.

  • Comment posted by James_Autar, at 21:57 2 May

    Why has Mata been sidelined nearly all season? He's a totally committed player - much more so than Pogba and combined defence into attack. This was more like the United that we expect. Rashford's days at O.T. much be numbered. He's lost interest and is a liability and rightly did not get on the field tonight. Sad to see the demise of a once highly touted player.

    • Reply posted by Stulad, at 22:03 2 May

      Stulad replied:
      The reason is the Ronaldo disallowed goal - Mata is just too slow

  • Comment posted by Angelo, at 22:04 2 May

    What a pro Ron have is:16 straight 20-goal seasons. Also what a great servant to Chelsea and United Juan Mata is, as well as being a cracking bloke. An LFC fan.

    • Reply posted by The Spin Doctor, at 23:04 2 May

      The Spin Doctor replied:
      How exactly do you know that he is a 'cracking bloke' do you go out to drinks with him?

  • Comment posted by Tommy, at 21:58 2 May

    "Manchester United claimed a morale-boosting victory over Brentford" That's a line the likes of which hasn't been written since the mid-70s.

    • Reply posted by Stulad, at 22:00 2 May

      Stulad replied:
      They haven’t played each other in the league since the ‘30s

  • Comment posted by gary, at 22:15 2 May

    We’ll race you back to London. Class song from the Brentford fans

    • Reply posted by As Yet Untitled, at 22:16 2 May

      As Yet Untitled replied:
      Who knew Brentford fans could be so pathetic?

  • Comment posted by Finish Him Ronnie Hes A Mug, at 21:57 2 May

    Juan Mata showing those players up big time.

    • Reply posted by margaret, at 22:02 2 May

      margaret replied:
      Build a statue and cry 😢

  • Comment posted by The Crackster, at 21:54 2 May

    So there was a planned walkout by fans after 73 minutes to express their displeasure at 17 years of ownership by the Glazer family?

    Wow, that will have got the Glazers trembling at the knees. They obviously won’t sleep tonight.

    • Reply posted by the peoples poet, at 21:58 2 May

      the peoples poet replied:
      they've always been sellout fans.

  • Comment posted by macca, at 21:55 2 May

    Not a Utd fan but That Man Ronaldo is class 👏👏👏

    • Reply posted by Sorry For Your Loss, at 22:06 2 May

      Sorry For Your Loss replied:
      At least Henry Hannon can go to bed happy tonight.

  • Comment posted by Jay74, at 22:00 2 May

    Barely any fans walking out in protest after 73 minutes (because they were winning) just highlights what a fickle bunch they are.

    • Reply posted by As Yet Untitled, at 22:04 2 May

      As Yet Untitled replied:
      I was there and loads walked out

  • Comment posted by KINKLADZE, at 21:55 2 May

    Two teams scrapping it out for nothing , the only difference is one team has spent millions on mercenaries and one hasn't .

    • Reply posted by Steve 76, at 21:58 2 May

      Steve 76 replied:
      What game were you watching?

      Incredible performance from United!
      They really showed why they are a top 7 team tonight!!

      Absolutely brilliant rendition of GGMU for the end of season lap of honor at the end too!

  • Comment posted by ianH, at 21:59 2 May

    If your a Man Utd supporter you'd be asking why? Almost the whole squad are bandits. A few, i mean a few, are honest. De gea. Mata had a blinder and Ronnie being so good at 37. No pigba, rashford, lingard, maguire. All have to go

  • Comment posted by Stratton Oakmont, at 22:25 2 May

    If, as seems likely, that was Mata's last game for the club it's a fond farewell to a consummate professional and nice guy. Thanks for the memories and good luck for future endeavours .

    • Reply posted by Bella boy, at 22:32 2 May

      Bella boy replied:
      He won everything at Chelsea and very little at Manc U - he has blue blood in his veins not red, don't forget it as treated like crap at OT

  • Comment posted by Govind75, at 21:59 2 May

    Very easy victory and definitely nothing to get carried away with, but Ronaldo and Mata seem to be such a good pairing. Rashford is far too selfish and lacks general football intelligence. If only we'd used Mata correctly when we bought him.

    • Reply posted by Fan Of Whoever Plays Man Utd, at 22:22 2 May

      Fan Of Whoever Plays Man Utd replied:
      Mata has been at Utd long enough for them to figure out how to use him best. If they haven't by now, they never will.

  • Comment posted by Jake2703, at 21:54 2 May

    When your best bet is to build a team around a 37 year old.

    • Reply posted by lawman, at 22:03 2 May

      lawman replied:
      Lots of problems at our club but I personally feel bringing him in unbalanced our team for the worse..
      We were doing much better before Ronaldo landed..
      That's for sure....

  • Comment posted by Sorry For Your Loss, at 21:53 2 May

    Good news Man U fans - The Maguire curse is over, Utd finally win a game when he did not play.

    • Reply posted by daz, at 21:56 2 May

      daz replied:
      Yes they were very keen to lay the blame on him, poor chap.

  • Comment posted by My Little Pony, at 21:52 2 May

    Man U rising to the small occasion again

    • Reply posted by The Spin Doctor, at 22:10 2 May

      The Spin Doctor replied:
      Why are so many teams suddenly playing in yellow as their away colours? Just in the last 7 days alone, all yellow kits were worn by Villareal, Chelsea, Arsenal and Brentford just to name a few. Is there some sort of ‘Wear Yellow’ campaign going on?

  • Comment posted by sports_nut, at 21:54 2 May

    Embarrassing result for Brentford.