Manchester United could set unwanted 35-year record when they face Brentford

Manchester United return to Premier League action on Saturday with an almighty cloud hanging over the team.

The Red Devils have made their worst-ever start to a Premier League campaign, amassing just eight points from the opening seven games. As Erik ten Hag trudged his way down the Villa Park touchline two weeks ago, many fans must have wondered whether that was the last time they would see the Dutchman as United manager.

Yet, he lives to fight another day - or seven, perhaps, between the October and November international breaks. United face a relatively kind run of fixtures over the next four weeks, with Brentford, Chelsea and Leicester City at home in the league, and West Ham United away.

Sandwiched in between the Premier League clashes are Europa League encounters against Fenerbahce and PAOK, along with a home Carabao Cup tie with Leicester. But, it’s Brentford first, and a meeting with one of the managers who could have replaced Ten Hag last summer.

Thomas Frank was on the club’s shortlist of possible candidates to become the new boss and has hardly played down speculation about his future this week by saying he is ‘open’ whatever the future throws up. A game against a well-organised, hard-working and much more inexpensively assembled team could really highlight Ten Hag’s shortcomings.

But United have won four of their six encounters against Brentford since the Bees gained promotion, including all three meetings at Old Trafford. Last season was a particularly memorable afternoon for supporters, with a Scott McTominay injury-time brace rescuing all three points.

United haven’t been able to rely on the Scotland international this season following his summer switch to Serie A and their goal tally is suffering with the absence of their joint-third highest scorer from last term.

Indeed, United have managed just five goals in seven league games this season - only Southampton have scored fewer. Ten Hag’s side have failed to score in their last three Premier League matches and, should they do so again, it would set an unwanted record.

United last went four top-flight games without finding the back of the net in April 1989, before Sir Alex Ferguson had won a single trophy as United manager. The inability to score in four successive games against Millwall, Derby County, Charlton Athletic and Coventry City was deemed unacceptable at the time - had Ferguson not won the FA Cup 13 months later then he may not have remained in the United hot seat for much longer.

Ten Hag’s cup record has kept him in a job up until this point, but if he can’t find a way to get his side firing in the league then his days in Manchester might be numbered.