Manchester United produced another dismal performance and were fortunate to escape West London with a point against Brentford.

When the Brentford players retreated to their home dressing room at the Gtech Community Stadium during Saturday’s match against Manchester United, they likely felt that their prime opportunity to secure a victory had slipped away.

Despite taking 14 shots in the first half, the Bees failed to find the net before halftime. Frustrated by their missed opportunities, they anticipated a stronger performance from United in the second half. It’s a hallmark of top-tier teams to rectify their mistakes and devise solutions during the 15-minute intermission.

Brentford had experienced a similar scenario earlier in the season. They had troubled Manchester City in the first half of their home fixture against the reigning champions in February, only for City to equalize just before halftime and subsequently dominate in the second half, ultimately winning 3-1.

Unbeknownst to Thomas Frank’s players, the halftime interval against Manchester United didn’t lead to an improved performance as anticipated. Instead, United’s game deteriorated. Brentford continued their offensive onslaught, tallying another 17 shots in the second half. Despite needing a Kristoffer Ajer equalizer in the 99th minute to salvage a point, Brentford dominated the game, illustrating their capacity to win the match on most occasions.

Ironically, it’s Brentford who will rue their inability to secure a victory, given their staggering 31 shots and an expected goals (xG) tally of 3.2, their second-highest of the season. For Erik ten Hag, it was another disheartening evening, raising questions about the impact he’s having on the team.

During the halftime break, Ten Hag and his coaching staff had ample time to diagnose and rectify the team’s issues. They should have been prepared with tactical adjustments or substitutions to thwart Brentford’s midfield dominance and exploit their vulnerabilities. However, the game’s pattern persisted, with Brentford’s dominance intensifying in the second half, highlighting United’s failure to secure a win against a team that had lost 13 of its previous 15 Premier League matches.

This inability to address persistent problems against a struggling team like Brentford raises significant concerns for Ten Hag, especially as he fights for his future at Old Trafford. United’s lackluster performance, both defensively and offensively, reflects poorly on the coaching staff. While United have managed late winners this season, their overall record in the second half of away matches is dismal. Saturday’s draw in West London marks just the third instance this season where United have won the second half away from home in the league.

This worrying trend typically results in scrutiny of the coaching staff. While starting a game with a flawed game plan is problematic, the opportunity for correction always exists. However, United’s failure to improve after halftime spells trouble for Ten Hag.