Analysis: Brentford rue missed opportunities

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Igor Thiago went into the game against Manchester United three behind Erling Haaland in Golden Boot standings.

It is no exaggeration to say the Brazilian could have been level by half-time.

Time and again, he seemed to have a clear shooting chance, time and again he seemed to make a mess of it.

At one point, the penalty area seemed to open up for the Brentford man. Inexplicably, instead of shooting with his right foot, he tried to check back onto his left and slipped.

On two more occasions, Senne Lammens produced a tremendous saves to prevent Ayden Heaven putting the ball into his own net as he scrambled to deny Thiago opportunities to go for goal.

It must have been galling for Keith Andrews to send his side out on a salvage mission after the break.

Had Mathias Jensen's exceptional strike come earlier, the Bees might have rescued a point.

Instead, they remain in the middle of a pack of clubs all of whom can justifiably have European aspirations and one of whom, if Aston Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth, could end up in the Champions League.