Brentford face their second successive away trip to a European contender as they head to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Wednesday night.
A slight wobble in recent weeks has seen United’s grip on a Champions League spot loosen slightly but they remain well placed to make it back to Europe’s top table.
Brentford’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday moved Thomas Frank’s Bees up to seventh, just seven points behind the Red Devils.
The Opposition
Manchester United in a strong position despite Newcastle loss
From where they were following the 4-0 defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium in August, this season can only be viewed as a massive success for Manchester United under Erik ten Hag.
The Red Devils currently sit in the Champions League spots and already have the Carabao Cup in the bag, following victory over Newcastle United in February’s Wembley final.
On top of that, they have an Emirates FA Cup semi-final against Brighton and Hove Albion and a Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla on the horizon.
That being said, a three-game winless run in the Premier League, without scoring a goal, has allowed the chasing pack to cut the advantage to just a point as the race for the top four reaches its climax.
Much of the first half of the season was dominated by the saga surrounding the future of Cristiano Ronaldo. The talismanic frontman scored just three goals in 16 games before his contract was terminated in November.
His departure, coupled with the indifferent form or fitness of Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial, Antony and Wout Weghorst, meant Manchester United needed someone to step up, and Marcus Rashford has more than delivered.
The forward is United’s leading scorer with 27 goals in all competitions, 17 more than any other Red Devil. After returning from the World Cup, Rashford netted nine in his next 10 Premier League games, helping United take 23 points from that run.
What’s made Rashford’s contribution even more crucial is the lack of goals coming from other areas of the pitch. United are the Premier League’s lowest scorers (five) from set-pieces, have the second-lowest contribution of goals from defenders (two) in the top-flight, and are the least clinical of any side in the top 10, converting just eight per cent of their chances.
Defensively, United have, in the main, been solid this season. David De Gea is third in the Premier League clean sheet list with 11, behind only Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale, however, he’s also third on the list of keeper’s conceding four or more this season.
Of the 37 goals that United have conceded in 27 Premier League outings this season, 17 have come in their defeats at Brentford (four), Manchester City (six) and Liverpool (seven).
Old Trafford remains a difficult place for opposition teams to go. Only Brighton and Hove Albion have left with all three Premier League points this season, and that was on the opening day of the campaign.
Since then, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have all been beaten by the side which has the meanest home defence in the league, conceding just eight goals in 13 outings.
In total, United have won 22 of their 26 home games in all competitions following that Brighton defeat. A Europa League group-stage defeat to Real Betis in September is the only other blot on the copybook.
The gameplan
With Manchester United reporter Tom McDermott
Manchester United reporter Tom McDermott discusses Marcus Rashford's recent form, how Erik ten Hag will set his side up on Wednesday, and the Red Devils' chances of a treble this season in Hot off the Press.
“It will be a 4-3-3 formation, with Bruno Fernandes and Rashford expected to make things happen and cause problems in the Brentford half.
“Rashford had a ‘rest’ during the international break, so I am expecting him to look fresh and ready to continue his fantastic form in front of goal.”
Team news
Janelt returns to training following knee injury
Brentford midfielder Vitaly Janelt has returned to training after recovering from a knee injury.
Janelt was withdrawn during the Bees' 2-0 win over Southampton in March and has missed the last two games against Leicester City and Brighton and Hove Albion.
Head coach Thomas Frank revealed that the 24-year-old was back 'on the grass' on Monday - but believes Wednesday's game against Manchester United may come too soon for him.
Frank also said that Janelt's midfield colleague Frank Onyeka will miss the game with a hamstring problem.
Kristoffer Ajer (calf) and Keane Lewis-Potter (knee) are also unavailable.
Brentford welcomed back Mads Roerslev at the weekend following injury with Shandon Baptiste also now available after suspension.
Manchester United’s issues are mainly in midfield. Casemiro serves the third of his four-game suspension on Wednesday night with Christian Eriksen (ankle) and Donny van de Beek (knee) also out injured.
Alejandro Garnacho and Tom Heaton (both ankle) are United’s other absentees.
Marcus Rashford was fit enough to start on Sunday, following his withdrawal from England duty, while Anthony Martial returned to the bench after two months out.
Raphael Varane and Marcel Sabitzer both started at St James’ Park, despite ongoing fitness concerns.
The Manager
Erik ten Hag
Erik ten Hag has enjoyed a successful start to life with Manchester United, following his appointment just under a year ago.
Ten Hag had a 13-year playing career, including three spells with Twente, where he retired in 2002. He won the 1990/91 Eerste Divisie with De Graafschap and the 2000/01 KNVB Cup with Twente.
After his playing career finished, he was appointed as manager of Go Ahead Eagles in 2012, leading the team to their first promotion in 17 years during his only season at the club.
He moved to Bayern Munich's reserve team in June 2013 and two years later, was appointed the sporting director and head coach of Utrecht, where he won the Manager of the Year award in 2016.
The 52-year-old took over as Ajax head coach midway through the 2017/18 campaign and led them to the UEFA Champions League semi-final the following season.
That year, Ten Hag also claimed his first trophies as a manager, winning the league and cup double.
In January 2022, he became the fastest manager to reach 100 league wins with Ajax, achieving the feat in just 128 matches, four months before his move to Old Trafford.
Last time out
Brentford 4 Manchester United 0 (Premier League, 13 August 2022)
Brentford beat Manchester United 4-0 in their first home game of the Premier League season.
Josh Dasilva, Mathias Jensen, Ben Mee and Bryan Mbeumo all found the net during a sensational first half at the Gtech Community Stadium.
It was the Bees’ first win over United since February 1938 and it was achieved in some style.
Match Officials
John Brooks set for third Bees assignment of the campaign
Referee: John Brooks
Assistants: Matthew Wilkes and Edward Smart
Fourth official: Darren England
VAR: Robert Jones
Assistant VAR: Natalie Aspinall
Wednesday’s game will be John Brooks' 13th in charge of the Bees, with only two Brentford defeats in the previous dozen.
The Leicestershire and Rutland official started in his local leagues in the mid-2000s before moving up the ranks.
He ran the line at Wembley for the 2014 Sky Bet Championship Play-Off final, the same year he began refereeing in the National League. Two years later, in August 2016, Brooks took charge of his first EFL games.
His maiden second tier game was in December 2017 with his second Championship assignment seeing Brentford take three points in the north east against Sunderland the following February.
Brooks took charge of four games during the Bees’ 2020/21 promotion-winning campaign, Thomas Frank’s side winning three of those.
This season’s two Brentford assignments in the Premier League were August’s 1-1 draw with Everton and our defeat to Newcastle United in October.
In his 11 Premier League games so far this season, Brooks has shown 50 yellow cards, the third-highest average per game of top-flight officials (4.55).
Manchester United 22/23
308 fouls – 8th in Premier League
58 yellow cards – 7th in Premier League
2 red cards – 4th in Premier League