DARKO STARTS WITH DEFEAT AT BRENTFORD

DARKO STARTS WITH DEFEAT AT BRENTFORD

Jota and McCormack goals enough for Brentford...

BRENTFORD 2 (Jota 45+1, McCormack 77), UNITED 0.

Brentford: Button, Bidwell, Craig, Douglas, Odubajo, McCormack, Judge, Gray (Diagouraga 81), Pritchard (Tebar 74), Jota (Proschwitz 74), Tarkowski. Subs. Bonham, Dean, Toral, Betinho.

United: Silvestri, Byram, Pearce, Bellusci, Warnock, Austin, Cook (Tonge 80), Bianchi (Murphy 85), Mowatt (Sloth 67), Doukara, Antenucci. Subs. S Taylor, Cooper, Wootton, Morison.

Referee: D Whitestone

Booked: Pearce (Leeds)

Att: 10,886

New head coach Darko Milanic made two changes for his first game in charge at United from the side that beat Huddersfield Town the previous Saturday. The changes saw Sam Byram come in for the suspended Gaetano Berardi and the fit-again Alex Mowatt returned to the starting line-up in place of Casper Sloth.

The opening minutes of the match were played at a high tempo by both sets of players. Following plenty of end-to-end action it was United that had the first shot on target through midfielder Rudy Austin. He picked up the ball and tried his luck from distance but David Button in the Brentford goal was equal to his effort and made the save.

Following Austin's effort the home side enjoyed more possesion of the ball and dominated in terms of chances created. Alex Pritchard went close for the hosts on two separate occasions, one was saved by Marco Silvestri and the second was deflected behind harmlessly.

Silvestri was called into action in the 23rd minute and the keeper was on hand to make a great double save. Alan Judge saw his free-kick from the edge of the box saved well and Silvestri was up quickly to deny Moses Odubajo's rebounded effort.

In the 28th minute the home side were handed a golden chance to take the lead from the penalty spot after a foul was given against Jason Pearce. James Tarkowski stepped up for Brentford but he smashed his spot-kick yards over the bar.

Moments later United's keeper made a further great save to prevent former Elland Road midfielder Jonathan Douglas. Douglas rose highest at the back post to head a corner goalwards but Silvestri was there to make a superb save.

With half time approaching United went on the attack and Mowatt, who was on the edge of the box, struck for goal but Button made a comfortable save. Then just as it was looking like it was going to be goalless at the break Jota showed great feet in the United penalty area and smashed his effort into the roof of the net in first half added time.

The early signs at the start of the second were encouraging for United as they looked more threatening in the final third. Both Pearce and Antenucci had good efforts on goal, but Button made a great save to stop a goalbound Pearce header and the United striker's shot went over the crossbar.

Just after the hour mark Brentford striker Andre Gray looked to have doubled his side's lead after clever movement opened up a chance, only the out-stretched leg of Silvestri prevented the striker. The United keeper made another quality save to stop Gray just moments later, this time pushing his headed effort round the post.

In the 78th minute a quick free-kick from the home side caught out United. Brentford full-back Alan McCormack found himself on the edge of United's box and with no further options he struck for goal. The power of the shot took the ball past Silvestri to give Brentford a two-goal lead.

In the final minutes of the game United created one chance which came from substitute Sloth. The midfielder latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the Brentford penalty area but his powerful strike went just wide of the mark.

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