Brentfordvs.Man Utd

The Bees entered the international break reeling from a 2-1 loss to demotion rivals Burnley, while the Red Devils emerged triumphant from an absorbing FA Cup quarter-final with Liverpool.

Match preview

After lamenting the officials' decision to allow Kai Havertz to stay on the field before scoring the winning goal for Arsenal on March 9, Brentford were on the wrong end of another red-card decision early doors against Burnley, where Sergio Reguilon took the walk of shame after just nine minutes.

The Spaniard's sending-off - which will also deny him a reunion with his old club this weekend - meant that the die was cast for Thomas Frank's men almost immediately, and despite the best efforts of their 10-man crop, Jacob Bruun Larsen and David Datro Fofana ensured that Kristoffer Ajer's effort would be inconsequential.

As the Clarets gave their admittedly thin survival hopes a significant boost at Turf Moor, Brentford slumped to a fifth defeat from five games to remain in 15th-placed peril, just five points clear of recent deduction victims Nottingham Forest in 18th place with nine games left to go.

While the Bees faithful may point towards their unenviable injury list, Frank's men have been a total shadow of their former Premier League selves and have now fallen to defeat on 17 occasions in the current top-flight season - only Burnley and Sheffield United, with 20 apiece, have fared worse in that regard.

With a ravaged backline, Brentford have conceded multiple goals in each of their last four games and have taken just one point from their last three home contests - albeit against Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea - and each of their last seven Gtech Premier League affairs has seen both teams find the back of the net.

In fact, Brentford have registered in 26 of their last 27 home games in the Premier League - the one aberration being November's 1-0 loss to Arsenal - but upcoming opponents Manchester United have made a habit of successfully fighting fire with fire in 2024.

Erik ten Hag's men benefitted from Everton profligacy in a 2-0 beating of the Toffees during their last Premier League fixture, keeping them in sixth place in the table with a nine-point gap to make up to Aston Villa - who have played a game more - in the final Champions League spot.

A second straight beating of a Merseyside outfit arrived just eight days later, albeit in much more astonishing fashion, as Amad Diallo's extra-time strike saw Man United edge a seven-goal spectacular with Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals, thereby setting up a semi-final date with Championship hopefuls Coventry City.

Still on probation under the Sir Jim Ratcliffe regime, Ten Hag's knack for taking Man United to Wembley ought to stand him in good stead with the INEOS founder, as well as their six-game winning sequence away from home prior to March's Manchester derby defeat.

Last August's chastening 4-0 loss to Brentford in the capital was an early blot on the Dutchman's notebook, though, but the Red Devils have exacted revenge with two Old Trafford triumphs over the Bees since then, eking out a 2-1 win in October thanks to the injury-time heroics of Scott McTominay.

Brentford Premier League form:

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Manchester United Premier League form:

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Manchester United form (all competitions):

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Team News

Owing to his last-man foul and sending-off at Turf Moor, Reguilon - who spent the first half of the season on loan at Man United - must serve his one-game suspension this weekend, so an immediate recall to the left-hand side surely awaits Keane Lewis-Potter.

Reguilon joins Kevin Schade (groin), Ben Mee (ankle), Rico Henry (knee), Josh Dasilva (knee) and Aaron Hickey (thigh) as the hosts' definite absentees, while the availabilities of Christian Norgaard (back) and Ethan Pinnock (ankle) remain clouded in uncertainty.

On a rare pleasant note, Bryan Mbeumo made his first appearance since December during the loss to Burnley - earning 11 minutes as a substitute following his severe ankle injury - and the Cameroonian should now be in contention for a return to the first XI thanks to the two-week pause.

Speaking of suspended wide men, Man United's FA Cup saviour Diallo got a bit too carried away during the raucous celebrations after his goal - taking his shirt off while already on a yellow card - meaning that he also has a one-match ban to serve.

The Ivorian would have only taken up residence on the bench in any case, but three regular starters in Harry Maguire (unspecified), Casemiro (knock) and Lisandro Martinez (knee) are all touch-and-go at this stage, as are Altay Bayindir and Jonny Evans.

However, Luke Shaw (muscle), Anthony Martial (groin) and Tyrell Malacia (knee) are still out of contention, and the possible absence of Casemiro could see McTominay reprise his role in the middle with Kobbie Mainoo, who excelled on his senior England baptism earlier this month.

Brentford possible starting lineup:

Flekken; Zanka, Collins, Ajer; Roerslev, Janelt, Onyeka, Jensen, Lewis-Potter; Mbeumo, Toney

Manchester United possible starting lineup:

Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Varane, Dalot; Mainoo, McTominay; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund

We say: Brentford 1-2 Manchester United

Despite their concerning predicament, Brentford are seldom kept at bay on their own patch, and a fully-fit attacking contingent of Mbeumo, Ivan Toney and Yoane Wissa should ask a few questions of an injury-hit Red Devils backline.

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