Manchester United endured a tumultuous 3-1 defeat to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, a result that significantly amplified pressure on head coach Ruben Amorim and underscored persistent performance issues within the squad. The match unfolded with a blend of contentious refereeing decisions, individual player struggles, and a clinical display from Keith Andrews' Brentford side.

Brentford seized control early, with Igor Thiago spearheading their attack. The Brazilian striker netted the opening goal inside eight minutes, capitalizing on a raking long ball from Jordan Henderson. Thiago continued his impressive form, doubling Brentford's lead in the 20th minute, slotting home from six yards after a parry from United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir. Henderson, a free agent acquisition, was lauded for his control in midfield, earning a standing ovation for his commanding performance.

Manchester United found a brief reprieve when Benjamin Sesko scored his first goal for the club in the 55th minute, offering a glimmer of hope. However, a pivotal and controversial moment arose when Brentford's Nathan Collins pulled back Bryan Mbeumo in the penalty area. Referee Craig Pawson awarded a penalty and issued a yellow card to Collins. VAR reviewed the decision but upheld the yellow, with the Premier League Match Centre explaining that Mbeumo was deemed "not in control of the ball." This explanation drew sharp criticism from former Premier League referee Mark Halsey, who branded it "absolute nonsense" and a "clear, clear denial of a goalscoring opportunity" that should have resulted in a red card for Collins. Compounding United's woes, Bruno Fernandes subsequently missed the ensuing penalty, his second of the season, failing to convert from 12 yards and further undermining any chance of a comeback.

Brentford cemented their victory in stoppage time when Mathias Jensen swept home their third goal, sealing a deserved triumph. United's individual performances were heavily scrutinized. Diogo Dalot, returning from injury, struggled significantly, appearing "off the pace" and caught out of position for Brentford's second goal. Harry Maguire was singled out for being "disastrously caught sleeping" on Thiago's first goal and was later substituted in the 66th minute. Goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, despite making several vital saves to prevent a larger deficit, also contributed to Brentford's goals with critical errors. Manuel Ugarte struggled to assert control in a wide-open midfield and was eventually replaced by Kobbie Mainoo. Bryan Mbeumo, despite facing boos on his return to the Gtech, remained a constant threat and was instrumental in earning the penalty against his former side.

The defeat leaves Manchester United languishing in 14th place in the Premier League, failing to build on their recent victory over Chelsea and still unable to secure consecutive wins under Ruben Amorim. With 34 points from 33 league games, the promised improvement after last season's 15th-place finish has yet to materialize. Amorim, while facing chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning," publicly maintained that he is "never concerned" about his job, insisting it is "not my decision" and that he will "do the best I can." However, he expressed frustration with his team's performance, acknowledging they played "Brentford's game" rather than their own and did not "settle down," despite having prepared for Brentford's tactics. He attributed the discrepancies between training and match-day performance to the "pressure of the club." The mounting pressure suggests that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his executives may soon face a "big decision" regarding Amorim's future, especially as the absence of midweek European games, initially expected to accelerate progress, appears to be yielding a team moving backward.