The Blades got back to winning ways with a gutsy and deserved 3-2 win at Griffin Park. In what in all likelihood could be United’s last visit to this old ground, United suffered an awful start when Maupay scored inside the first 5 minutes but responded well and should have levelled even before an own goal restored parity. A superb Olly Norwood goal made it 2-1 and David McGoldrick missed chances in both halves to effectively settle the game but another own goal this time for the home side saw parity restored. United came again and after Clarke missed a sitter, he was able to expertly turn in the excellent Connor Washington’s low cross and the Blades were back in front. A few nervy moments at the death but United saw this one out and got a big three points to stop the recent rot in terms of results and performances.

Manager Wilder sprang two big surprises; not in terms of the fact he changes his starting eleven but that he brought in John Lundstram and Connor Washington for Mark Duffy and Billy Sharp. George Baldock was ill and Leon Clarke not deemed fit to start. It was a concern where the creativity and goals would come from in the starting eleven. Opponents Brentford had been in really poor form with only one win since September and had plummeted down the table after a good start to the season but featured leading scorer Neil Maupay.

The game began with both team zipping it about in the wet conditions but it was not long before United were behind.

The ball was played forward and no challenge came into Saywers as he advanced. Egan seemed to lose his man and as the ball ran across his body, MAUPAY hit a shot on the angle into the near side of Henderson’s goal and it squeezed in. It was poor play to stop the ball coming forward and then the defending and goalkeeping were both sub-standard. After a disastrous end to Saturday; it was not the start United wanted.

Undeterred, United came back and nice interchange down the left saw the ball played into Stevens who cleverly cut inside and hit a low cross. The ball came over and Lundstram came onto the ball and hit it firmly but it smashed against the bar, down and then was cleared. Unfortunate on this occasion, they maybe had a touch of fortune not long after when they got level inside 10 minutes.

It came from a corner, a rarity in itself for United. Norwood whipped over a delivery and it was glanced home by KONSA giving Bentley no chance. The delivery was superb and made it very difficult for the defence to deal with. O’Connell jogged back and clearly did not celebrate or try and claim it as his own goal despite being closest to the defender.

United were clearly showing much more commitment and some hefty tackles were being put in by Norwood and Fleck. United recycled possession twice and turned it the other way and now were on top. Nice play almost saw Washington get in and then Fleck and Stevens combined but the ball was cleared. Soon after on 15 minutes the Blades were in front and it was a stunning goal.

Freeman played the ball into the path of NORWOOD and he came onto it and side footed the ball but got real power and whip on his shot from fully 25 yards and it arrowed right into the top corner. It was a sublime effort and even some Brentford fans behind goal sportingly applauded.

Basham went into the book for a poor challenge on Maupay as he fell to the floor. This was to be a theme as the centre forward must know the turf very well at Griffin Park as he spends an awful lot of time on it. Judge took the free kick but Egan cleared and United were back on the attack and were now in control. A set play was not cleared and the ball fell for McGoldrick. His effort was saved by Bentley. This was a really good chance to make it 3-1.

Fleck gave away two free kicks and United were determined to stop the dangerous Judge and Sawyers causing problems after giving them too much space to start the game. United were now using the ball well and Washington was a real threat with his running down the channels giving them something different with pace and movement. United won two more corners but these were under and overplayed by Norwood. These were two rare moments for the midfielder who had been the best player on the pitch first half.

The inconsistency of the officiating came out when Norwood was tripped in an even more dangerous position than the Basham foul soon after but no card came out. The football in the build up to this foul was superb and showed United were back at it with zipping, one touch clever triangles. Norwood’s effort was whipped to the left-hand side but as with the effort against Wednesday the keeper guessed his intentions and got across to save.

Maupay kicked out at Stevens after he felt he was fouled and was rightly penalised but somehow escaped a yellow card in another bizarre referring decision. Brentford had committed two worse fouls in position and intent but neither had got booked.

Sawyers and Maupay had a few efforts blocked as United kept their shape and then Canos whipped a shot over as United had to defend for the final few minutes. The half time whistle came and the Blades will have been delighted with a much better performance so far both on and off the ball. The boos from the Brentford fans said it all who had started so well but had been second best after this goal.

The second half saw United come out and continue to have control. They won another early corner and then soon after McGoldrick had two chances and after miskicking the first one; he had an effort deflected wide straight after. United won another corner and were looking for the crucial third goal.

Brentford made a change with Marcondes replacing Canos and slowly they started inch back into the game. Barbot had a shot off target and then Sawyers shot wide. Egan had a header from another set play blocked at the other end. McGoldrick had not really had his best of nights and Clarke came on for him on the hour.

Brentford were now coming back into it and Freeman was once again guilty of not clearing the ball properly and giving his man too much space. Two crosses came over and United cleared but you sensed the danger building and so it proved.

Sawyers had been an ever-increasing threat and the ball was played across the United defence and with runners over; the defence was stretched. The ball was a dangerous one and flicked off FLECK and into the far corner giving Henderson no chance. You feared for United now after they had played so well and the home side sensed an unlikely win after being second best most of the game.

Immediately after; as with the first Brentford goal though; United came back and almost scored. Fleck sent a delightful cross over and Clarke somehow nodded wide right in front of goal. It was a sitter.

Coutts came on for Lundstram but at this stage United probably did not know whether to stick or twist as Brentford were now looking a threat with some neat and tidy football stretching United’s defence. They did break out when Washington did very well again and burst away from McEacharan cynically hacked him down. The striker somehow got up and tried to turn the ball in but it was blocked behind. The booking came after the advantage had been allowed. To be honest the challenge was that brutal it must have been close to a red card.

Egan headed wide on the stretch from the corner and then Fleck had a decent effort saved. United seemed to be coming again and at a ***** time got the 5th goal of the game. Washington once again was a big factor as he was played in down the right. He pulled it back intelligently and CLARKE superbly side footed calmly into the corner. After missing a sitter earlier; he scored a much harder choice and with his wrong foot. It was a well-made and taken goal.

United now knew they had the win again tantalisingly close and sought to defend. They got bodies in the way. Odubajo and Da Silva came on for McEacharan and MacLeod as Brentford made their final changes. Sharp came on for Washington for United who got a big ovation as he went off for an excellent performance.

Fleck had another shot not far wide but United were now getting men behind the ball and trying to stop any balls coming through the middle. They funnelled Brentford wide but this meant Stevens and particularly Freeman were getting stretched. A few crosses came in and then from one clearance Judge hit a great effort which flashed just wide of the post.

Brentford were now throwing men forward and United were worryingly deep as the game advanced to the final minute. Sharp clipped a home player and they won a free kick 30 yards from goal on the angle. Judge took it and his whipped effort was on target but lacked the power to beat Henderson who did not make the mistake of the Stoke Joe Allen goal and got across to push the ball away at his near post. There was to be four minutes of stoppage time. Brentford won a late corner that was cleared and then Dalsgaard had a shot but Henderson saved this one comfortably. United managed to waste a few minutes winning throw ins down the left and then as the ball came into the United box once more O’Connell stood firm.

The final whistle went soon after and a crucial three points on the road were in the bag. Former Bees players O’Connell and Egan clapped all four sides of the ground before the Blades players celebrated in front of the 1,301 Blades fans with Wilder’s now traditional thump of the badge salute to accompany their cheers