By using Hojlund between the lines, United forced Collins to move up, and Pinnock was unable to move across because of the positioning of Eriksen and Rashford, which prevented Brentford’s centre-backs from supporting Van den Berg in the one-versus-one against Garnacho.

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Alejandro Garnacho's goal very early in the second half served a perfect harbinger of what was to come, as the Red Devils piped eight of their 13 second-half shot attempts on target and did not let either of Brentford's two efforts reach Andre Onana.