United’s seventh successive away league defeat was assured long before the interval on Saturday as Brentford took ruthless advantage of a catalogue of errors by the visitors.
Manchester United ended Sunday bottom of the English Premier League for the first time since August 1992 after losing 4-0 at Brentford.
It is the first season since the inaugural Premier League campaign in which a United team has lost their opening two fixtures.
The rout began in the 10th minute when United keeper David de Gea allowed a weak shot by Josh Dasilva to slip past him.
Things got worse for United eight minutes later when De Gea played the ball out to former Brentford player Christian Eriksen who was caught in possession and Mathias Jensen slotted home.
When United’s defence failed to deal with a corner and Ben Mee glanced in a close-range header to make it 3-0 the Brentford fans were ecstatic while United’s new manager Erik ten Hag looked ashen-faced in his technical area.
Brentford’s fourth was a gem as Ivan Toney delivered a diagonal ball to Bryan Mbeumo from a counter-attack and Mbeumo calmly beat De Gea.
Ten Hag made three substitutions at halftime with Raphael Varane, Tyrell Malacia and Scott McTominay coming on but despite a slight improvement United offered little fight. Among those replaced was defender Lisandro Martinez, signed from Ten Hag’s previous club Ajax for £50 million.
Afterwards Ten Hag, the first Manchester United manager to lose his first two games in charge since John Chapman in 1921, criticised his players.
“For one, Brentford were more hungry, and two, we conceded goals with individual mistakes,” said the Dutchman.
“You can have a good plan, but then you put the plan in the bin.
“I think it’s nothing to do with tactics. The first two goals are about dealing with the ball and decisions.
“I think they follow my instructions but they make bad decisions. This is football, it’s a game of mistakes and we got punished. I subbed three but I could have changed them all.
“When the results are like this I can imagine (how the fans) are feeling. It’s no good that we show that clearly, and we have to change that. We need more hunger on the pitch as a team and individuals.”
It was the first time since 1960 that United have conceded at least six goals in their first two matches of a top-flight season and the first time they have lost their opening two matches since 1992.
Then they went on to win the title but this side looks woefully inadequate to mount any kind of challenge and Ten Hag, who was taunted by the Brentford fans with “you’re getting sacked in the morning”, appears to have a huge job on his hands.
For Brentford, whose starting line-up cost in the region of £55 million compared to the more than £400 million of United’s, have picked up four points in their first two games.
United had Cristiano Ronaldo back in their starting line-up but the Portuguese forward barely got a look in.
The confidence drained out of United from the moment De Gea allowed Dasilva’s shot to end up in the back of the net.
“It was a horrible day,” De Gea said. “I should have saved the first shot and then the result may have been different.
“Other teams concede one goal and win 5-1. We have to react much better. It was a poor performance.”
United’s next game is against Liverpool.
At the other end of the table sit rivals Manchester City after the champions crushed promoted Bournemouth 4-0 to maintain their fast start.
Arsenal joined them on six points on Saturday as former City striker Gabriel Jesus struck twice and made two more in a 4-2 win over Leicester City.
Leeds United also looked on course for a second successive win but squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Southampton — one of three draws on a sultry Saturday afternoon.
Both Manchester games were done-and-dusted before half-time, City being three-up after 37 minutes, United four-down after 35.
It was the first time in the Premier League era the Red Devils were four down at half-time.
Goalkeeper David De Gea gifted the first two to Josh Dasilva and Mathias Jensen before Ben Mee helped himself to a third and Bryan Mbeumo hit a stylish fourth on a chastening afternoon for new Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag.
City, bidding for a fifth Premier League title in six seasons, had cruised to an opening win at West Ham United and were equally dominant against Bournemouth.
They wasted no time getting into their stride as Erling Haaland marked his home debut with an assist for Ilkay Gundogan’s opener after 19 minutes.
City then cut loose and scored a sumptuous second 12 minutes later when Kevin De Bruyne curled a fine strike into the net with the outside of his foot.
Phil Foden added another before halftime from De Bruyne’s assist with the fourth courtesy of Jefferson Lerma’s own goal.
The arrival of Jesus has created quite a buzz at Arsenal and the Brazilian marked his home debut with a virtuoso display with two goals and two assists against Leicester.
A delightful chip gave his side the lead in the 23rd minute and he made it 2-0 with a header at the far post.
Leicester twice clawed themselves back to within a goal of the hosts thanks to an own goal by William Saliba, who like Jesus was making his home debut, and James Maddison.
But Arsenal were always a step ahead with Jesus setting up Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli scoring immediately after Leicester’s replies.
Leeds looked set for an away win at Southampton with Rodrigo’s brace putting them in control by the hour mark.
But goals by Kyle Walker-Peters and Joe Aribo earned Southampton their first point of the campaign.
Everton suffered a second successive defeat as they went down 2-1 at Aston Villa for whom Danny Ings and substitute Emiliano Buendia were both on target.
Fulham, who drew with Liverpool in their first game back in the top flight, missed the chance to earn their first win as Aleksander Mitrovic had a second-half penalty saved by Jose Sa in a 0-0 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Brighton and Hove Albion and Newcastle United also ended scoreless.
All games involved water breaks as much of Britain continued to swelter in a heatwave with temperatures reaching the mid 30s Celsius on Saturday.
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