Manchester United's pre-match preparations for Brentford make you wonder what they talked about

Manchester United had two team meetings at their hotel in London before they were ferried to the Community Stadium on Saturday evening. Their performance suggested few players were listening.

They also napped at their hotel. United then sleepwalked through 90-odd minutes until Mason Mount committed daylight robbery.

Although United were minutes from victory yet drew, their performance warrants assessment through the prism of defeat. They were battered and bullied by a team that has won two of their last 18 games. There were also victories for Tottenham and Aston Villa, now so distant they are nearly a mirage.

"Don't lower the performances from Brentford," Erik ten Hag bristled. "I have seen them against Man City and City was also lucky to win that game. And against Liverpool in the first 35 minutes Brentford should have taken the lead. So don't express this."

It has been noticeable since Sir Jim Ratcliffe was the sole bidder left at the table that Ten Hag's rhetoric has changed. As critical as he was of United's lack of "passion and desire in many moments" at Brentford, he also opined it could be a "big point".

READ MORE: Ten Hag criticises United players and makes bizarre City admission

READ MORE: Ten Hag hints why Garnacho went down the tunnel after he was substituted

The City revisionism was bizarre. Brentford went 1-0 up through the rarity that is a Neal Maupay goal but City were level by half-time and ahead within eight minutes of the restart. They racked up 15 attempts on target.

Brentford were unmistakably Brentford against United: a back three, wing-backs, physical, primed to press and a nuisance at set-pieces. That was in spite of the absences of Ben Mee, Ethan Pinnock, Aaron Hickey, captain Christian