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By Phil McNultyChief football writer at Brentford Community Stadium
Last updated on 13 minutes ago.From the section Premier League
Manchester United recovered after being rescued by the heroics of goalkeeper David de Gea to run out comfortable winners at Brentford.
Ralf Rangnick's side survived a torrid opening 45 minutes, when their performance was laced heavily with mediocrity - as De Gea made key saves from Mathias Jensen and the home side missed other big chances.
It was a different story after the break as United, no doubt fired up by a few well-chosen words from Rangnick, turned up the intensity and the quality to punish Brentford for their profligacy.
Teenager Anthony Elanga headed his first goal of the season from Fred's pass 10 minutes after the break before Cristiano Ronaldo's superb chest pass helped Bruno Fernandes set up the second unselfishly for Mason Greenwood.
Ronaldo produced a ridiculous show of petulance with a slow stroll off, some very obvious muttering and a burst of anger on the bench after he was substituted with 20 minutes left.
But Rangnick's change was fully justified as substitute Marcus Rashford scored with a smooth near-post finish after 77 minutes, with Fernandes the creator again.
Ivan Toney pulled one back in a scramble late on but the damage was done for Brentford when they failed to cash in when they carved United open in the opening half.
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Brentford
Squad number49Player nameLössl
Squad number5Player namePinnock
Squad number18Player nameJansson
Squad number29Player nameBech Sørensen
Squad number30Player nameRoerslev
Squad number8Player nameJensen
Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
Squad number27Player nameJanelt
Squad number7Player nameCanós
Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
Squad number17Player nameToney
Squad number3Player nameHenry
Squad number11Player nameWissa
Squad number26Player nameBaptiste
Manchester United
Squad number1Player namede Gea
Squad number20Player nameDiogo Dalot
Squad number2Player nameLindelöf
Squad number19Player nameVarane
Squad number27Player nameAlex Telles
Squad number17Player nameFred
Squad number39Player nameMcTominay
Squad number11Player nameGreenwood
Squad number18Player nameBruno Fernandes
Squad number36Player nameElanga
Squad number7Player nameCristiano Ronaldo
Squad number5Player nameMaguire
Squad number10Player nameRashford
Squad number31Player nameMatic
Line-ups
Brentford
Formation 3-5-2
- 49Lössl
- 5Pinnock
- 18Jansson
- 29Bech Sørensen
- 30Roerslev
- 8JensenSubstituted forWissaat 67'minutes
- 6Nørgaard
- 27JaneltSubstituted forBaptisteat 64'minutes
- 7CanósSubstituted forHenryat 64'minutes
- 19Mbeumo
- 17Toney
Substitutes
- 3Henry
- 9Forss
- 11Wissa
- 14Ghoddos
- 20Ajer
- 26Baptiste
- 28Bidstrup
- 36Stevens
- 40Fernández
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 20Dalot
- 2Lindelöf
- 19Varane
- 27Telles
- 17Fred
- 39McTominaySubstituted forMaticat 84'minutes
- 11GreenwoodSubstituted forRashfordat 71'minutes
- 18Bruno Fernandes
- 36Elanga
- 7Cristiano RonaldoSubstituted forMaguireat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Jones
- 5Maguire
- 8Mata
- 9Martial
- 10Rashford
- 22Heaton
- 26Henderson
- 31Matic
- 34van de Beek
Live Text
Match ends, Brentford 1, Manchester United 3.
Second Half ends, Brentford 1, Manchester United 3.
Attempt saved. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fred with a through ball.
Foul by Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United).
Ivan Toney (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Ethan Pinnock (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Bryan Mbeumo with a cross.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Diogo Dalot.
Foul by Nemanja Matic (Manchester United).
Yoane Wissa (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Mads Bech Sørensen.
Goal! Brentford 1, Manchester United 3. Ivan Toney (Brentford) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Christian Nørgaard.
Attempt blocked. Ethan Pinnock (Brentford) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
Substitution, Manchester United. Nemanja Matic replaces Scott McTominay because of an injury.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Alex Telles.
Goal! Brentford 0, Manchester United 3. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes.
Attempt missed. Mads Roerslev (Brentford) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Mads Bech Sørensen with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Ivan Toney (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Shandon Baptiste.
Attempt blocked. Ivan Toney (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Hand ball by Marcus Rashford (Manchester United).
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