Yahoo News West Brom 1 Manchester United 2: Romelu Lukaku sends message to his critics as United survive late wobble
Manchester United’s grim pursuit of Manchester City continued with this victory over West Bromwich Albion who face an even grimmer fight against relegation after failing to claim an unlikely point with a desperate late rally.
There was no celebration from Romelu Lukaku as he scored United’s opening goal and it did not appear to be, given the striker had struck a similar pose in the midweek win over Bournemouth, because he is a former Albion player having spent a season on loan at The Hawthorns.
But then there is something essentially gloomy about United under manager Jose Mourinho at present and they ended this encounter running down the clock. Maybe it is simply a fierce determination to try and hunt down, or stay as close as possible, to City who they again trial by 11 points. United also have to cope with another, with captain Antonio Valencia having limped off.
For Albion manager Alan Pardew there is still no bounce for the Baggies but he, at least, saw his side scored their first goal in what was his fourth game in charge. But it is now 17 games without a win for Albion in all competitions, extending an already unwanted club record.
United went in front when Oliver Burke, not for the first time, and on his first Premier League start for Albion, sloppily lost possession and Juan Mata pushed the ball out wide to Marcus Rashford. He shifted it back onto his right foot and crossed for Lukaku to rise in between Jonny Evans and Kieran Gibbs – why was he being marked by the latter? – and power a superb header beyond Ben Foster and high into the net. Once again there was no celebration from Lukaku. And none from Mourinho, either.
It had been tepid, toothless until then with both sides struggling to create. After the goal Albion tried to summon a response with Allan Nyom working his way past Rashford and crossing low towards Salomon Rondon whose attempt to divert it past David De Gea was blocked by Chris Smalling with Valencia hacking the ball clear.
Back came United with Nemanja Matic feeding the ball in to Lukaku who found Mata. He laid it off to Jesse Lingard whose low shot would have been covered by Foster only for Ahmed Hegazi to try and block with the ball spinning off his boot to wrong-foot the goalkeeper. Two-nil to United and they had not, really, created anything.
Finally Albion managed a shot on target, with Jake Livermore forcing De Gea into a save from the edge of the penalty area, but they had struggled woefully to muster any real threat while United had taken a formidable advantage without having to play particularly well.
Pardew needed a response and, maybe, Gibbs should have provided it early in the second-half only to drag his shot wide before Burke burst down the right and hooked in a cross that Rondon only just failed to reach at full-stretch.
At the other end and a Valencia cross was flicked on, inadvertently, by Lingard to Rashford and his half-volley cleared the far post.
Rashford had just been cautioned, after reacting angrily and foolishly to a challenge by Hegazi, and he was booed with every touch by the home fans after that incident. Ashley Young also provoked their anger after barging over James McClean inside the area, pushing him into De Gea and then complaining about the clash when he had caused it. Albion may even have believed they could have had a penalty.
They did score. A corner was earned and Jonny Evans tried to head home with the ball sailing over his head and rebounding off substitute Jay Rodriguez. It flew back into a thicket of players with another substitute, Gareth Barry, stroking it past De Gea from close-range.
Suddenly, and for the first time, United were under pressure with Rodriguez reaching another cross from the third substitute, Chris Brunt, who had taken the corner for the goal, but bulleting a header just wide. United were rocking with another corner conceded, another intense scramble, and somehow the ball was collected by De Gea.
FT: West Brom 1 Man Utd 2
Full time! 77 comfortable minutes for United followed by some desperate defending. But it's three points and they stay in second - 11 points behind Man City.
93 minutes
Good close control from Martial to trap and aerial ball and win United a free-kick. West Brom shouldn't get another chance from here.
Chance missed to finish the game
Rojo smashed a long ball forward and Lukaku was in behind the West Brom defence, Evans did well to get back at him and force him onto his right foot and his shot bobbles wide.
Four minutes added time
More danger as Hegazi swings a ball in but Barry's shot is blocked.
89 minutes
A rare spell of football from United as Martial keeps it in the corner.
87 minutes
Very nearly a calamity from Rojo at the back post, skewing behind for a corner under no pressure. Brunt's delivery is perfect, evading De Gea and finding Evans at the back post. Matic does just about enough and the ball bounces almost across the line into De Gea's arms.
84 minutes
CHANCE! Will West Brom fashion another one? Brunt swings in a tremendous cross from the left, and Rodriguez gets the run on Jones but gets too much on the header and it flies wide of the front post.
82 minutes
Another ball thrown into the United box, but strong defending by Jones wins a foul. De Gea once again kicks it long towards Lukaku and again it does not stick.
81 minutes
United inviting pressure through their own carelessness in possession. Gibbs swings a ball in, and Rodriguez attempts a ridiculously ambitious swivel and volley. Gets it on target, but would have been better off looking for a lay-off.
80 minutes
The game was drifting aimlessly, but now the crowd are up. Mix-up between Brunt and Gibbs lets United's defence have a breather. Mourinho was going to bring on Martial before the goal, and he stuck with that conviction.
GOAL! Barry - West Brom get one back
From the resulting corner, West Brom find their lifeline. Scruffy defending from United, Rojo gets beaten at the back post and the ball trickles across the six-yard box. It was begging to be tucked away and Gareth Barry was the man to stick his toe out and get his team back into this.
76 minutes
The away fans have been signing his name for a while, and Anthony Martial is ready to come on. Phil Jones slips in the United area which gives Rondon a yard to shoot, and it deflects behind for a West Brom corner.
73 minutes
Lazy forward play from Rondon not to get himself back onside. Much better moments later however, Hegazi steps out of defence and fires a risky vertical pass into Brunt who then feeds Rondon down the side's of United's centre backs. His left-foot shot is low and straight at De Gea.
71 minutes
Alan Pardew rolling the dice: Chris Brunt enters the fray. He has excellent set-piece delivery and that looks West Brom's only hope.
69 minutes
United have taken the sting out of this match. West Brom pumping balls forward but with very little quality.
66 minutes
Gibbs clips a long-ball over Young's head to test him out in his new position. Mr. Reliable is up to the task -his renaissance under Jose Mourinho has been magnificent.
64 minutes
Bad news for United fans, Antonio Valencia has gone down clutching his hamstring. No messing around, he pulled up straight away which probably rules him out of the rest of the Christmas period. Marcos Rojo replaces him, and Ashley Young switches to right-back. Luke Shaw ignored...
62 minutes
United's two No.10s Lingard and Mata are finding more space in this second-half, as West Brom's midfield pair try to push up the field and press.
59 minutes
West Brom, to their credit, are taking chances here as they search for a way back into this. Both full-backs were committed forward and Lingard lead the United counter, exchanged passes with Lukaku before shooting straight at Foster from the edge of the area. That's what they did so well at Arsenal a few weeks ago.
57 minutes
United respond to that short flurry of West Brom pressure. Valencia swings in a cross and the ball sits up nicely for Rashford on the half-volley at the back post. Foster was rooted, but it flies just wide on the far post.
55 minutes
Good chance for West Brom. Barry lifts a well-weighted ball over Jones's head that Burke latches on to. He whips a brilliant first-time ball across the area taking Smalling out of the game but neither Rondon on McClean could apply the finishing touch.
52 minutes
Handbags at the Hawthorns. Hegazi found himself isolated with Rashford but holds him off, perhaps unlawfully. Rashford stayed down holding his face which angered the West Brom defender. Rashford then picks up and runs over to get under Hegazi's grill. Yellow card for the United man, and replays showed he went down very easily in the original incident.
49 minutes
West Brom trying to press high up the pitch, but their defence have not pushed up behind their midfield line leaving Lingard with acres of space to receive the ball and turn. He looks for Lukaku with a chipped cross but the Belgian was flagged offside.
47 minutes
West Brom have switched to a 4-4-2 with Barry joining Krychowiak in midfield and Burke playing right up through the middle with Rondon.
We're back under way
So can West Brom make a game of this or are United heading for a simple three points? Stay with us to find out. Gareth Barry on for West Brom.
Jesse Lingard celebrates United's second
Comfortable for United despite a slow start
Solid enough first-half performance by United, and the game has looked easy for them since Romelu Lukaku's opening goal. Until then, West Brom were doing well and United were struggling to zip the ball between the lines with Ander Herrera looking notably low on confidence.
Jay Rodriguez is an option on the bench for Alan Pardew, but it is some quality in cenrtral midfield West Brom really need and that will have to be addressed in January.
HT: WBA 0-2 United
That's that for the first 45 minutes.
44 minutes
A rare shout of excitement from the home crowd as Livermore makes a yard for himself 25 yards out but his effort is straight at D Gea.
42 minutes
McClean swings a cross over the bar and out for a goal kick. West Brom have tried hard, and it is east to see what that they came into the match with a plan. Conceding the first goal has rendered it obsolete however.
39 minutes
Matic drives United forward once again and wins a corner. West Brom are struggling to keep this game alive going into the second half. There is plenty of time remaining, they do not need to chase a goal before half time.
'Park the bus, park the bus...'
United fans mockingly signing City's 'park the bus, park the bus' chant back at them now their team have scored two first-half goals. Not that City fans will be too bothered.
GOAL! 2-0 United
Wicked deflection to Jesse Lingard's shot off Hegazi doubles United's lead.
20 yards out just outside the area, Lingard's strike was heading towards the arms of Ben Foster until the centre back stuck his leg out and the ball ricocheted in.
33 minutes
Panicked defending in the United area. Nyom does well to drive past Matic and swing a cross in that was only partially blocked by Smalling at the near post. Valencia was on hand to smash clear. Burke has been more influential in the last few minutes.
31 minutes
West Brom are now in a tight spot. They need to show more adventure going forward, but that could leave them exposed against the pace of United's forward line.
Incidentally, no celebration whatsoever from Lukaku. A defiant signal to the critics or a mark of respect to his former loan club?
Lukaku's goal
GOAL! Lukaku - 1-0 United
A simple opening goal for Mourinho's side. Rashford whips in a cross from the left, and Lukaku holds off Gibbs on the six-yard line to glance home. Very little movement from Lukaku, the cross was delivered straight onto his head and he just had to direct it into the net.
24 minutes
West Brom take a free-kick short and a deflected shot goes behind for a corner. The delivery was too deep, and Evans can only loop a header over the bar. West Brom really need to maximise every situation like that, but they have been wasteful so far.
22 minutes
Another giveaway by Herrera and then West Brom pop it around him. Fine delivery from McClean but Jones did well to stoop and head clear under pressure from Rondon. A rare spell of possession for the hosts, but they almost look uncomfortable when they are asked to take the initiative and shift the ball.
No right side to Man Utd
19 minutes
Most of United's attacks have come down their left flank, but they are struggling to penetrate West Brom with neat interplay. Their best moments have come from long-balls over the top. Ander Herrera struggling to be productive in possession. What happened to him? He was a goalscoring midfielder at Athletic Bilbao, but has morphed into a water-carrier in England.
16 minutes
Lukaku's oft-criticised hold up play under the microscope again. He did well to hold Evans off but his flick back towards Lingard missed its target. At the other end, Rondon shows him how it's done with a lovely chest control and lay-off,.
14 minutes
These chilly afternoons are not particularly conducive to a good atmosphere, as fans sit on their hands to keep them warm. Danger at West Brom's back post as Young swings a cross in to where Lukaku had isolated Gibbs, but the former Arsenal man did really well to stay touch tight and win the header. You might recall van Gaal's United used Fellaini to that effect against Gibbs at the Emirates in November, 2014.
Little goalmouth action so far
10 minutes
West Brom's midfield is not the most progressive, it is fair to say. They are all staying behind the ball, and there is not really a good passer among them. Rondon is a ray of light, and looks like he could win a foot-race against Jones or Smalling but not much support for him.
8 minutes
Mata has been given the license to drift across the pitch, and he and Lingard are both operating in central positions behind Luakaku. Rashord starting in a fixed position from the left. United are playing without a right-winger essentially, leaving room for Antonio Valencia to maraud forward. West Brom have struggled to string three passes together, United doing all of the probing.
Until a wonderful Rondon backheel set McClean away on the counter-attack, but there was no West Brom player to meet his whipped cross.
4 minutes
Oliver Burke has started on the right, and is up against Ashley Young who is a right-footer at left-back. Driving on his weaker left-side might be the plan. A little better from West Brom there, but a diagonal pass skips through for a goal kick off the surface.
De Gea's long kick forward releases Rashford but his shot from an inside left position is blocked. Sunday league stuff really, Pardew will be worried about the ease with which one punt upfield cut them open.
2 minutes
Torrential rain this morning in the West Midlands. Far from being a leveller, the faster surface should suit United and they have already settled into a spell of possession. The pattern is set, with West Brom reluctant to press too high. They are retreating into their own half, reducing the space in behind their back four.
We're off
Sky have United in a 4-2-3-1 with Mata starting from the right flank. We'll see, but I fancy Rashford and Lukaku will play as more of a front two. The home side kick-off and we are under way. After two botched kick-offs...
Players are on their way out
Pardew going for stick rather than carrot
Alan Pardew has said Oliver Burke is in the team to scare United, and if he fails to do so he might not be on the pitch for too long. That's one way to build his confidence up. The former Crystal Palace manager talked up his abilities as a psychologist and he has got a history of getting a tune out of maverick wingers such as Matthew Etherington and Hatem Ben Arfa.
Why no Mkhitaryan?
Read James Ducker on why a clash of styles rather than a lack of effort is behind Henrikh Mkhitaryan's exile.
Alan Pardew stiffens up his midfield
No four-four-effin-two from Pardiola today, with an industrious midfield three of Claudio Yacob, Grzegorz Krychowiak and Jake Livermore picked to stop United finding their rhythm. It is not the most mobile or athletic engine room though, so they have to avoid turnovers and giving United the chance to counter attack against them, particularly through Lingard.
Looking forward to watching Oliver Burke. His early departure from Nottingham Forest to RB Leipzig would have taught him much, but he left the Bundesliga in search of more regular football. He has outstanding physical attributes for a 20-year-old, and perhaps everyone - player included - needs to show a little more patience.
Jesse Lingard becoming one of Mourinho's reliables
Right then, what is going on with this United team? As Gary Neville points out from the gantry, their back five were all at the club under Sir Alex Fergurson: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Smalling and Young.
The midfield three has a nice balance to it, with Nemanja Matic patrolling in front of the centre-backs, Ander Herrera in a box to box role and Juan Mata supplying the creativity.
The configuration of the front three will be interesting. Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford could play either side of Romelu Lukaku, or Lingard could play in behind the two forwards in more of a 4-3-1-2.
Mourinho speaks
I'm not making rotation, I'm not protecting the players for the matches that are coming up. I'm picking the team that is best to win this match.
Their stadium is always a difficult stadium because their crowd is so supportive and enthusiastic. Very experienced, very physical, capable to defend in numbers and being dangerous on direct football with Rondon and McClean.
West Brom team news: Oliver Burke makes his first Premier League start
�� Our team to face @ManUtd...#WBAMUN#COYB#WBApic.twitter.com/61ywIdKq2w
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) December 17, 2017
Man Utd team: Jose Mourinho starts with a back four
Here it is - #MUFC's starting XI for #WBAMUN! �� pic.twitter.com/wSFom3lKtz
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 17, 2017
Can Man Utd keep their place as the best of the rest?
Good afternoon and welcome to the latest instalment of the Premier League's race for second.
Manchester United travel to West Brom 14 points behind neighbours Manchester City, and cementing their status as top four certainties is a more realistic target for the Christmas period than reigniting a title race.
Jose Mourinho's side have a veneer of solidity, with five league victories either side of their derby defeat against City, but performances have not been so convincing. Two long-range Ashley Young goals gave them a two-goal lead from nothing at Watford, they defended desperately for long periods of their crucial win at Arsenal, and there was little more than a piece of cigarette paper separating them and Bournemouth in mid-week when once again David De Gea was relied upon.
The numbers suggest United cannot afford to keep giving up the volume of chances they are currently - Bournemouth had 14 shots on goal at Old Trafford, seven of them on target - and expect to keep winning. Eric Bailly has been sorely missed, as has Paul Pogba who serves the last of his three-match ban today.
Romelu Lukaku will line-up against his former club, for whom he scored a hat-trick against United in that crazy 5-5 draw that brought down the curtain on the Sir Alex Ferguson era. No Henrikh Mkhitaryan these days, who has been sent to Coventry by Mourinho since his limp performance at Stamford Bridge.
Alan Pardew promised to bring adventurous and expressive football to the Hawthorns, so naturally they are yet to score a goal under him. There have been some bold selections however, with Pardew fond of picking three strikers in the same XI, usually Jay Rodriguez, Salomon Rondon and Hal Robson-Kanu. The latter is asked to fill on the right flank when West Brom defend in a 4-4-2 shape. That doesn't look a natural fit, and United might look to focus their attacks down that flank where Anthony Martial likes to operate.
