Man Utd vs Brentford prediction and analysis as Erik ten Hag enters crunch moment of the season

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Another international break is over and Erik ten Hag survives despite below-par results, with the hope sustaining that he will turn it around.

The first test of that hope after the break will come against Brentford, arguably the worst possible matchup for Manchester United.

That is because Erik ten Hag’s record vs Brentford is worrying, to say the least, and outright embarrassing to put it in harsh terms.

Thomas Frank’s side were the architects of the first battering the Dutchman received as Man Utd manager, when his side lost 4-0 away from home in his second game at the helm.

Having said that, the next two games between the sides have yielded a win and a draw for United but every fixture has been uncomfortable.

Here’s the Man Utd vs Brentford prediction as Ten Hag enters the crunch moment of the season.

Man Utd vs Brentford tactical breakdown

This fixture is uncomfortable for United because Brentford are supremely good at the exact things Ten Hag’s Man Utd squad struggles with.

Intense physicality, peak pressing patterns and triggers, set-piece domination, stop-start games, and lethal transitions- if a scientist were a create a tailor-made team to terrify Ten Hag’s United, it would be Brentford.

Thomas Frank has been linked to the United job precisely because of these qualities a he has built this Brentford outfit into more than the sum of its parts.

Even this season, after losing Ivan Toney, they have scored 13 goals in seven games. They’ve lost three out of those seven but they’ve all come at the grounds of the traditional “top-six” teams- Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham.

Before the international break, they reached their peak attacking level in a 5-3 win vs Wolves which reflected better on the losing side since they were completely outplayed.

Bryan Mbeumo is back on song, their set-piece prowess was on full display and Fabio Carvalho got in on the action as well.

The international break came at the worst possible time for them but they will be eager to pick up where they left off. That spells trouble for United.

The battle of the right-wing will be one to watch as, again, Brentford’s best player and biggest strength is stationed at the position where United don’t have a natural option which has been their biggest weakness.

With Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia out vs Brentford, Ten Hag has no fit left-backs so whoever comes in will have the thankless task of being up against Bryan Mbeumo on song.

Rasmus Hojlund’s brute physicality should be preferred over Joshua Zirkzee’s silkiness but if Ten Hag is feeling brave, this might well be the game to test out the Zirkzee-Hojlund partnership because Brentford look too physical and comfortable in defence.

Man Utd vs Brentford prediction

The big saving grace for United is that the game is at Old Trafford because Brentford use the narrow pitch of their home expertly to squeeze out the opposition.

Man Utd fans are eager to welcome back club football after a two-week break and the players should also be plenty driven to set things right.

Some, like Bruno Fernandes had a nice international break for Portugal which should hopefully translate to club action as well.

Ten Hag can’t afford many slip-ups anymore because the question is already changing from “If not Ten Hag then who?” to “Anyone but Ten Hag”.

Dropped points here could start to make the pressure untenable because the fixture list from here on is only getting tougher.

Expect United to start fast and put Brentford under pressure. An early goal will be crucial but it doesn’t look like a game of plain sailing for United, it never is vs Brentford.

Ten Hag would welcome a narrow win to ease the pressure before he takes his team to Jose Mourinho’s den who would undoubtedly be licking his lips at the prospect of making Ten Hag jittery.

United in Focus predicts Man Utd 2-1 Brentford.