Brentford 3-1 Manchester United: What Keith Andrews said after famous win

Brentford boss Keith Andrews was full of praise for his players after their 3-1 victory over Manchester United, describing the performance as “deserved” despite the drama of penalties, VAR checks, and late goals. Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Andrews highlighted his team’s resilience, the impact of substitutes, and his belief in a new-look front line spearheaded by Igor Thiago.

The result marked another memorable moment for the Bees at the Gtech Community Stadium. Igor Thiago scored twice in the first half before Mathias Jensen sealed the win with a stunning counter-attack strike in stoppage time. Manchester United threatened a comeback when Benjamin Šeško reduced the deficit and Bruno Fernandes won a penalty, but Caoimhín Kelleher’s save preserved Brentford’s lead.

“It was deserved,” Andrews said. “It was quite dramatic at times — penalties, VAR, the usual. But if you scrutinise the game, we were very good and we caused a lot of problems. You are always going to get a reaction, but we stuck to it. The substitutes did brilliantly. It was a deserved win.”

Andrews was delighted with how his side refused to sit back in the second half, instead looking to land the decisive blow late in the contest. “It was a nice way to finish,” he said. “We didn’t want to sit back in the second half and just absorb pressure. We wanted to take the game to them at the right times and get the third goal. I didn’t anticipate it would be so late, but from that base we sprung out really well, counter-attacked really efficiently and it was a great finish.”

The Irishman was open about his development as a coach, stressing he is still learning while making the most of his experience in the game. “You always pick ideas from elsewhere. I’m a learner, I’ve studied a lot of teams, a lot of coaches and people that I’ve worked with — that is only natural. I’m not the finished product by any stretch of the imagination and I’m aware of that. What I am big on is playing to the players’ strengths and what they can achieve to get results.”

Looking ahead, Andrews spoke of progression as the theme of Brentford’s season. “We want to build a new team. The next chapter is well underway. The narrative around the club has been a certain way, but I’m pretty calm about the situation.”

FootballPlace analyst John William praised Andrews’ balanced outlook: “What stands out is how Brentford didn’t just sit back on their lead. Andrews is instilling a brave mentality — they pressed at the right times, punished United on the counter, and looked dangerous throughout. Igor Thiago is fast becoming a focal point of this side.”

William added: “It’s also refreshing to hear a manager openly discuss his own growth. That humility combined with tactical clarity bodes well for Brentford’s future. With this approach, the Bees could realistically target another top-half finish.”

The Bees will aim to build momentum from this landmark win. Upcoming fixtures provide opportunities to climb further up the table, and Andrews’ belief in his evolving front line could be key. With Thiago firing and Jensen adding midfield goals, Brentford look well-balanced heading into autumn.

For Manchester United, the defeat piles further pressure on Ruben Amorim, who admitted his team “played Brentford’s game.” The narrative around both clubs could not be more different: Brentford building steadily under Andrews, while United search for answers.