United's mid-table malaise could cost Amorim his job

It is Brentford next, and Ruben Amorim ought to be aware that there is a punishment for Manchester United managers who lose to Brentford. Or there was for Erik ten Hag, anyway. The Dutchman’s second game was a 4-0 reverse at the Gtech Stadium, where the nasty numbers extended beyond the scoreline. Brentford ran 13.8km further than United. So the next day, and in a summer heatwave, Ten Hag made each of his players run 13.8km to compensate. And he, already in his fifties, did likewise.

- RICHARD JOLLY SENIOR FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENT

Which, when United only lost four of their next 40 games, seemed a transformative display of toughness. But, while Ten Hag’s last win as United manager came against Brentford, it was more telling that he was sacked after defeat to West Ham. He visited the London Stadium on three occasions and lost on all three. One of the factors in his ultimate failure as United manager was a malaise against the mid-table clubs.

Amorim has taken this to another level. He goes to Brentford on the back of one of his finest results as United manager, a 2-1 win over Chelsea. His Premier League record is wretched, with just 34 points from 32 games, but it can be divided into three parts.

Against the superpowers, last season’s top four of Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea, he has nine points from as many matches; fewer than United may have hoped for, but not actually disastrous, with a couple of victories and only four defeats.

Against the minnows of the promoted clubs, he has an almost impeccable return: 13 points from five outings, a debut draw with Ipswich followed by wins against Southampton, Ipswich, Leicester and Burnley, albeit after trailing in two of those encounters and requiring a 97th-minute decider in a third.

But the major problem is the other 12 clubs, those who, along with United, finished between fifth and 17th last season. For Amorim, Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, West Ham and Wolves can constitute a dirty dozen.