Manchester United fans slammed not one but two players following their dismal showing in the first half against Brentford.
HT: Brentford 2-1 Man United – Thiago Double Punishes Red Devils’ Defence
Manchester United trail 2-1 at halftime against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, with defensive frailties once again under the spotlight.
Brentford’s Igor Thiago struck twice in the opening 20 minutes. The Brazilian broke the deadlock in the eighth minute, timing his run perfectly to beat Harry Maguire’s offside line, before adding a second from close range just 12 minutes later after ghosting past Luke Shaw.
United pulled one back through Benjamin Šeško, who opened his account for the club with a composed finish in the 35th minute. The Slovenian striker, signed in the summer for £73.7 million, gave his side hope but couldn’t mask supporters’ fury at another shaky defensive display.
On social media, fans vented frustration at Maguire and Shaw, both of whom have been under scrutiny since Roy Keane’s stinging criticism following the Manchester derby earlier this month.
- One supporter posted: “Fielding Maguire & Shaw in 2025 is horrific management.”
- Another fumed: “Maguire redemption arc they say, this is a joke. Shaw is scamming us every single f**ing week.”*
- A third added: “How Luke Shaw starts so much in 2025 baffles me… Amorim is beginning to p** me off.”*
Even Mark Goldbridge weighed in, writing: “That’s on Amorim… playing Maguire as the last man in 2025.”
With Rúben Amorim’s side chasing a response in the second half, United will need a dramatic turnaround to avoid another damaging result in their season.
Man Utd Fans Blast Maguire and Shaw After Woeful First Half vs Brentford
Updated 13:25, 27 Sep 2025 BST
By Nasir Jabbar
Manchester United supporters turned their frustration on Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw after a shaky opening 45 minutes against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
United went into the break 2-1 down after Igor Thiago struck twice inside the opening 20 minutes. The Brazilian forward timed his run to beat Maguire’s offside trap for the opener, before drifting away from Shaw to slot home his second.
Big-money summer signing Benjamin Šeško gave United hope by pulling one back on 35 minutes, netting his first goal for the club since his £73.7m move. But the defensive lapses left fans fuming.
Supporters took to social media to vent, with Maguire and Shaw singled out:
- “Fielding Maguire & Shaw in 2025 is horrific management,” wrote one X user.
- Another added: “Maguire redemption arc they say, this is a joke. Shaw is scamming us every single f**ing week.”*
- A third posted: “How Luke Shaw starts so much in 2025 baffles me… Amorim is beginning to p** me off.”*
Fan channel host Mark Goldbridge also joined the criticism: “That’s on Amorim… playing Maguire as the last man in 2025.”
Maguire’s failure to hold the defensive line for the opener and Shaw’s inability to track Thiago for the second only added fuel to a growing debate about United’s backline.
Manager Rúben Amorim cut a frustrated figure on the bench, watching his side struggle defensively once again.
It isn’t the first time Shaw has faced scrutiny this season. Following his display in the Manchester derby, Roy Keane was scathing:
“For him to get caught out like that… I think Shaw has been getting away with murder for years at United. Always injured, never quite fit.”
Shaw admitted ahead of the Brentford clash that the criticism stung but insisted Keane was right:
“Sometimes you just have to take it on the chin. Of course it hurts. He was one of the best captains ever for Manchester United. I think he was right. Last week, I wasn’t at my level at all. I don’t need Roy Keane to tell me.”
United will need a much stronger second-half showing if they are to avoid another damaging Premier League setback.
