Pereira 9, Elanga 7, Mengi 6: Manchester United v Brentford player ratings

Pereira and Elanga wonder strikes not enough to see off Bees in pre-season friendly

Tom Heaton 6 – Didn’t have much to do other than pick the ball out of the net twice from two finishes he couldn’t do much about.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka 7 - Continues to improve going forward. Smart cross into Elanga for United’s opener.

Teden Mengi 6 - Highly rated at the club and has shown glimpses why this pre-season. Needs a decent loan move if he is to push on.

Axel Tuanzebe 6 – His heroics in Paris seem like a lifetime ago and with Raphael Varane’s impending move, it’s hard to see him getting too many games this season.

Brandon Williams 6 - Aggressive as ever. Scuffed one decent half chance. A long way from being ready to challenge Luke Shaw for the left-back spot.

Manchester United's Brazilian midfielder Andreas Pereira celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League friendly football match between Manchester United and Brentford at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /

Nemanja Matic 6 - Captain for the night but his header upwards was poor one after 19 minutes and led to Brentford’s equaliser. Otherwise intelligent without looking particularly mobile.

Jesse Lingard 6 - Tried too hard at times. Rash with his finishing. Three or four half chances which he finished poorly.

Juan Mata 6 - Out muscled before Brentford’s first goal, the touch and footballing brain from the popular Spaniard are still prevalent but it’s hard to see him figuring much this season.

Anthony Elanga 7 - Another excellent goal as he volleyed in a cross in from a Wan-Bissaka cross after 11 minutes. He’s been the biggest positive from pre-season so far. Will be in Solskjaer’s thoughts for Leeds despite his riches up front.

Mason Greenwood 7 – Didn’t have many opportunities in front of goal but continues to impress with his all-round game. He struck a fast ball towards goal in the first half having waited away from a crowded box.

SUB: Diogo Dalot 5 - Introduced out of position at left-back and did himself no favours. At fault for the second equaliser and his delivery at the other end was poor.

SUB: Daniel James 5 - A quiet return to post Euros football. Continues to struggle against teams that sit deep.

SUB: Facundo Pellistri 7 – Another lively cameo from the young Uruguayan. A crowd favourite and clear potential to be an exciting player for the future.

SUB: Donny van de Beek 5 - much like last season; anonymous. Can be forgiven as it is his first minutes after recovering from injury but needs drastic improvement if his United career is to be a success.

SUB: James Garner 6 - Classy. Michael Carrick-like in the way he picks up the ball and gets it forward. Only 20, one more season on loan at a Premier League club is the probability.

SUB: Hannibal Mejbri 6 - Stands out not just because of his hair cut. Lots of talent but looks raw and still lacking in end product.

SUB: Shola Shoretire 5 – Didn’t see a lot of the ball as the game fizzed out after several substitutions.

Andreas Pereira’s outrageous volley lit up Manchester United’s 2-2 friendly draw with Premier League new boys Brentford in front of Old Trafford’s biggest crowd since March 2020.

Having been finally able to welcome back 10,000 fans for last season’s home finale against Fulham, there were around 30,000 in attendance for the Bees’ visit thanks to the easing of coronavirus restrictions.

Those at Wednesday’s pre-season friendly witnessed one of the great Old Trafford goals as Pereira hit a 25-yard rocket that went in off the underside of the bar in front of the Stretford End.

The long-term future of the United academy graduate, who spent last season on loan at Lazio, is unclear but nobody will forget his strike against Thomas Frank’s men.

It was a match of great goals, started by promising 19-year-old Anthony Elanga producing an excellent volleyed finish from an Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross in the 12th minute.

Brentford produced a moment of magic of their own eight minutes later when Shandon Baptiste hit a swerving volleyed effort from the edge of the box that went in off the woodwork.

Pereira’s stunning goal early in the second half was the pick of the bunch but it did not prove the winner as substitute Bryan Mbeumo curled home smartly after half-time introduction Diogo Dalot failed to intercept a ball down the line.