Manchester United’s faltering Champions League hopes suffered another blow after they suffered a last gasp draw with Brentford.
Thomas Frank’s side had missed numerous golden opportunities to take the lead and Ivan Toney had a goal disallowed for the slightest offside decision, but they secured a dramatic share of the win through Kristoffer Ajer’s equalizer in the 99th minute.
United, resolutely against the run of play, appeared to have stolen all three points themselves at the death after substitute Mason Mount fired into the far corner.
But just three minutes later a deft chip over the top of United’s backline cleared space at the back and Ajer fired home after Toney’s perfect cutback, leaving struggling United eleven points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.
Here, Mailsport‘s CHRIS WHEELER has given his expert player ratings…
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BRENTFORD (3-5-2)
MARK FLEKKEN 6.5 – Didn’t have much going for it, other than a brilliant reflex to deny Hojlund. Excellent distribution too.
MATHIAS JORGENSEN6 – Solid in defense and headed with a header from a corner just after the half hour.
KRISTOFFER AJER 7 – Won his battle with fellow Scandinavian Hojlund and then came forward to score the late equalizer.
NATHAN COLLINS 6.5 – Didn’t expect such an easy evening against Garnacho, but handled the threat comfortably.
MADS ROERSLEV 7.5 – One of three starters in the team that won 4-0 last season and caused United a lot of problems on the left.
JEHOR YARMOLIUK 6.5 – Great chance to break the deadlock early in the second half, but Onana was right in it.
MATHIAS JENSEN 7 – Plenty of energy and ingenuity from the Dane. He scored one of Brentford’s four goals last season and it could easily have been the same here.
VITALIA JANELT 7 – Anchored Brentford’s midfield far too comfortably as they outplayed United in almost every aspect of the game.
KEEANE LEWIS POTTER 6 – In for the suspended Reguilon and surprisingly he had five chances but could not quite convert any of them.
IVAN TONEY 8 – No league goals in six now after hitting the post and one ruled out for offside, but a very handful for United and equalized with an excellent cut-back.
YOANE WISSA 7 – A few nice moments – including the pass for Toney’s one-on-one – and he had his own chances, but shot wide twice.
subtitles: Strakosha, Maupay (for Roerslev 86), Ghoddos (for Lewis-Potter 87), Onyeka, Mbuemo (for Wissa 71, 6 Damsgaard (for Yamoulik 71, 6), Baptiste, Trevitt, Ji-Soo.
Scorer: Ayer 90+9
Booked: Wissa, Maupay
Manager: Thomas Frank7
MAN UTD (4-2-3-1)
ANDRE ONANA 6.5 – Made a couple of decent saves, but overall his goal enjoyed a charmed life as Brentford threatened again and again.
DIOGO DALOT 5.5 – Great recovery tackle on Yarmoliuk to deny him view of goal, then went close at the other end with a curling effort.
VICTORY LINDELOF 6 – Struggled to keep Toney under wraps, but produced two crucial interceptions to prevent almost certain goals.
RAPHAEL VARANE 5 – Tough first half for him and he got injured blocking Toney’s attempt. Replaced by Maguire at half-time.
AARON WAN-BISSAKA 5 – Played on the left again but was not very comfortable there and was shown a yellow card just before half time for a foul on Roerslev.
KOBBIE MAINOO 5.5 – Got fit, but it seemed like he was still feeling the effects of an illness this week. Well off pace.
SCOTT McTOMINAY 6.5 – The hero of the reverse match in October, when he scored two goals in stoppage time, played his part.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO 4 – Never got started and was removed within an hour. Disappeared straight down the tunnel.
BRUNO FERNANDES6 – United’s captain was at the heart of their better moments, but that’s not saying much.
MARCUS RASHFORD4 – Sleepwalked through the first half and didn’t improve after the break. Another game that passed him by.
RASMUS HOJLUND 5 – One big chance to become the youngest player to score seven Premier League games in a row, but Fleks made an excellent save.
subtitles: Heaton, Amrabat, Maguire (for Varane 46, 6), Martinez (for Lindelof 69, 6), Mount (for Rashford 80), Eriksen, Casemiro (for Mainoo 80), Antony (for Garnacho 59, 6), Kambwala.
Scorer: Mount 90+6
Booked: Wan-Bissaka, McTominay
Manager: Erik ten Hag5