Fernandes Misses Penalty as Manchester United Fall 3-1 to Brentford in Premier League Clash
Manchester United’s poor start to the Premier League season continued with a disappointing 3-1 defeat at Brentford on Saturday, as captain Bruno Fernandes missed a crucial penalty and Igor Thiago struck twice for the hosts.
The Red Devils, managed by Ruben Amorim, found themselves trailing early when Thiago fired a stunning strike into the top corner in the eighth minute after Jordan Henderson’s incisive pass. Things went from bad to worse as Altay Bayindir parried a low cross into Thiago’s path, allowing the Brazilian forward to tap in his second and double Brentford’s advantage within the opening 20 minutes.
United briefly rallied when striker Benjamin Sesko scored his first goal for the club in the 26th minute, finishing emphatically after his initial efforts were blocked in a frantic goalmouth scramble. However, the momentum quickly faded as Brentford maintained their defensive discipline and frustrated United’s attack.
The game’s turning point came when Fernandes stepped up to take a penalty after Bryan Mbeumo was fouled in the box. Following a lengthy delay, his tame spot-kick was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, denying United the chance to level the score.
Brentford sealed the victory deep into stoppage time when Mathias Jensen broke forward on the counterattack and rifled home a powerful strike to make it 3-1, capping a memorable afternoon for the Bees and piling more pressure on Amorim’s struggling side.
The defeat marked United’s third Premier League loss of the campaign, leaving serious questions over their consistency, attacking cohesion, and ability to bounce back in high-pressure moments. For Brentford, the win highlighted their clinical finishing and resilience against one of the league’s biggest clubs.
As the season unfolds, Manchester United must find solutions quickly if they are to mount a top-four challenge, while Brentford will look to build on this statement performance and continue climbing the table.
