Manchester United have improved since the last time the team faced Brentford.
Benjamin Sesko will have mixed feelings about upcoming opponents Brentford, the team he scored his first Manchester United goal against.
Sesko scored a scrappy goal at his third time of asking, but it proved to be only a consolation, with United slipping to a 3-1 loss.
The game was ruined by a terrible referee and VAR error, but there was also a mix of calamity defending from United too.
Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt all defended poorly, but another player let Manchester United down more and has not played a single minute for the club since.
Leny Yoro is uncertain to be fit vs Brentford: Are you happy with Harry Maguire and Ayden Heaven starting the game regardless?
Harry Maguire is back from suspension
Senne Lammens an upgrade on Altay Bayindir
Manchester United’s defeat to Brentford in late September was Altay Bayindir’s last game for the club before he was axed.
New signing Senne Lammens had been kept on the bench following his arrival on transfer deadline day.
Bayindir was poor against Brentford, displaying a poor command of his box and weak shot-stopping for the home team’s goals.
Much to the delight of supporters, he was dropped for United’s next fixture, with Lammens keeping a clean sheet on his debut against Sunderland.
Lammens has been a revelation since. He has proven to be a big upgrade on Bayindir and predecessor Andre Onana.
The big Belgian has been a bargain, providing United’s defence with an aura of calmness that was sorely lacking from the defeat at Brentford.
Some of Lammens’ best performances have come away from home too, keeping clean sheets away at Everton and Chelsea.
United will be a far tougher team for Brentford to beat, with Lammens in goal rather than Bayindir.
How confident are you that Manchester United will win vs Brentford?
Casemiro will be available
If Manchester United did not realise how impactful Senne Lammens’ absence from the team was at the time, they certainly knew Casemiro was a big miss.
Casemiro was unavailable to face Brentford in the previous game due to suspension. He was sent off against Chelsea at Old Trafford for two bookings.
Ruben Amorim selected Manuel Ugarte in midfield alongside Bruno Fernandes, leaving Kobbie Mainoo on the bench.
This game highlighted a pattern United have become too-familiar with, struggling without Casemiro, and with Ugarte.
Casemiro has been among United’s best players this season, and a surprisingly reliable goalscorer from midfield.
He only has a handful of games left at Old Trafford, and he will be determined to make the most of every minute against Brentford.
Sesko is a more confident player now
Lammens and Casemiro are guaranteed starters against Brentford, while Benjamin Sesko is also aiming to retain his place.
The game against Brentford did get his United career up and running, it’s important to score your first goal however it goes in.
There is a difference in Sesko now. He has felt the roar of scoring a last minute winner at the Stretford End, and has proved he belongs as a Manchester United player.
He will be determined to get on the scoresheet at Old Trafford again.
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