Analysis: Goalscorer Jensen impresses in United loss
· Yahoo Sports
A 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford left Brentford empty-handed on Monday night - but the Bees’ performance still offered plenty of positives.
Keith Andrews’ side dominated for large swathes of an entertaining contest but were ultimately undone by first-half goals from Casemiro and Benjamin Šeško.
Mathias Jensen reduced the deficit with a sumptuous finish as the visitors ended strongly and, on another night, Mikkel Damsgaard’s glancing stoppage-time header could have nestled into the net rather than Senne Lammens’ grateful clutches.
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It was an unwanted result but a promising night overall for Brentford, who welcomed midfielder Josh Dasilva back into a matchday squad for the first time since January 2024.
Andrews afterwards remarked that his side played with “purpose and personality”, and smooth operator Jensen was central to Brentford imposing themselves. The Dane was assured and creative throughout, finishing with more accurate passes (94) than any player on the pitch as the Bees enjoyed 55 per cent of the possession.
All eyes may have been on United talisman Bruno Fernandes, but it was the visitors’ number eight who controlled proceedings. Jensen excelled at the base of Brentford’s midfield alongside Yehor Yarmoliuk, his Ukrainian sidekick winning more tackles (4) than any Brentford player and completing 91 per cent of his attempted passes.
Teed up by substitute Reiss Nelson, Jensen’s curling 87th-minute goal ultimately proved too little, too late - but it underscored his outstanding technical ability and marked only the second long-range strike Brentford have scored this season.
The west Londoners have long favoured higher-quality chances over efforts from distance, but they may need to make an exception for Jensen. He thumped home a swerving strike from range in the reverse fixture - when the Bees defeated United 3-1 at Gtech Community Stadium in September - and looks a clear and present danger when given time on the edge of the box.
Brentford’s top scorer Igor Thiago could have finished with a hat-trick, as Jensen and Yarmoliuk laid the platform for the Brazilian, Kevin Schade, Damsgaard and Dango Ouattara to cause problems in attack - the latter striking the woodwork on 71 minutes.
Brentford fired in a dozen shots - one more than their hosts - and generated more expected goals (1.36 xG to United’s 1.22 xG). Fernandes was largely kept under control, but still played a decisive role in both of his side’s goals, his perfectly-timed pass for Šeško bringing up a 19th assist of the season, just one shy of the Premier League’s all-time record.
“The feeling after the game is that we were the better side,” Jensen noted ruefully - and Brentford now turn their attention to the visit of West Ham United to TW8 on Saturday afternoon in what is their penultimate home match of the campaign.