Lucky Man Utd’s Draw vs Brentford: Eye-opening Stats Reveal the Truth
Manchester United managed to salvage a point in their recent match against Brentford, but the statistics suggest that they were fortunate to do so. Despite being dominated by the Bees, Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils somehow escaped with a 1-1 draw.
The dramatic ending to the match saw Mason Mount’s 96th minute goal cancelled out by Kristoffer Ajer’s goal for Manchester United just moments later. However, even a share of the spoils seems like a smash and grab from a Manchester United point of view, as Brentford were well and truly the better side.
Thomas Frank’s Brentford team peppered the Manchester United goal, registering an astonishing 31 shots over the course of the game. This onslaught of efforts from the Bees means that Manchester United now joins Sheffield United as the only other Premier League team to face more than 30 shots in a game this season.
To put this stat into perspective, league leaders Arsenal have only conceded 23 shots in their last three games. The wider view of Manchester United’s defensive performance is also concerning for fans, as they have faced a total of 197 shots since January 1, more than any other Premier League team.
Manchester United were unable to stop Brentford from continuously threatening their penalty area. The Bees became the first team this season to have over 80 touches inside the opposition box, taking advantage of United’s defensive vulnerabilities. Ivan Toney alone registered 15 touches in the Man Utd penalty area, just one less than the total achieved by Manchester United themselves (16).
Despite Brentford’s incredible attacking threat, Manchester United managed to hold on and avoid defeat. This defensive feat is not unfamiliar to them, as they also achieved a similar result against Manchester City in 2019 when City registered over 70 touches inside the penalty area. On that occasion, Manchester United miraculously won 2-1.
However, the damning statistics displayed against Brentford highlight the need for serious changes at Manchester United if they want to improve. Currently sitting sixth in the table after a mixed campaign that has seen them lose 11 league matches, pressure continues to mount on manager Erik ten Hag. The underwhelming performances may lead to the club’s new minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos team, considering potential managerial candidates despite the club’s position in the league.
In conclusion, Manchester United’s draw against Brentford was a fortunate outcome for them, as they were thoroughly dominated by the Bees. The statistics reveal the defensive vulnerabilities of Manchester United and suggest that changes need to be made if they want to improve their performance on the field.