West Brom 1, Manchester United 1
West Brom earned a battling point in windswept and wet conditions at the Hawthorns as they drew 1-1 with a tired Manchester United.
Embed from Getty ImagesMbaye Diagne’s header was cancelled out by a quality finish by Bruno Fernandes while Harry Maguire had a second half penalty award overturned after a pitchside VAR monitor check by referee Craig Pawson and saw his last minute header tipped onto the post by the ex-United keeper Sam Johnstone.
It was the eighth time that United had conceded the opening goal in 12 away games in the Premier League but the first time that they had not recovered to win the game this term – and a point will do neither side any favours.
United looked clueless and tired against Sam Allardyce’s organised men but should have done better with the chances that they did carve out against the Baggies who might have scored a couple more goals through Diagne and were full value for the draw at the end having now taken points off United, City, and Liverpool this season.
A point at West Brom, though, was enough to send the Reds up to second, ahead of Leicester City on goal difference but still 7 points behind Manchester City who have a game in hand over the rest of the top 4 even though the Reds earned their 19th consecutive unbeaten away game.
Manchester United made five changes from the side that was taken to extra time in the FA Cup against West Ham.
David De Gea was given a warning shot by United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who suggested pre-match that he shouldn’t take his place for granted after recent errors.
In the end, De Gea was named as goalkeeper alongside Luke Shaw, Scott McTominay, Bruno Fernandes, and Edinson Cavani while Dean Henderson, Alex Telles, Nemanja Matic, Donny van de Beek, and Mason Greenwood stood down.
But the Reds were behind after just 83 seconds when Mbaye Diagne showed more desire to head home past De Gea from 6 yards out after comprehensively beating Victor Lindelof to a looping cross by Conor Gallagher to score his first Premier League goal.
It was the 8th time that United had conceded the opening goal in 12 away games in the Premier League and the earliest goal that the Reds had shipped a goal in the league since January 2018 against Spurs.
The Baggies defended stoutly against the expected United reaction with Marcus Rashford surrounded before he could get a shot off – he was flagged up for offside anyway.
Sam Johnstone had an easy save to make from Fred as United’s attacking intent fizzled.
Anthony Martial and Diagne both shot wide in the blustery conditions at the Hawthorns as United failed to make the most of their early dominance.
De Gea had to be on his toes to tip over a header from Robert Snodgrass who met a Conor Gallagher cross with a firm header after 27 minutes.
The Reds lacked confidence against the kind of set pieces and crosses that are standard with Sam Allardyce sides.
Bruno Fernandes had been quiet throughout the game but the Portuguese produced the magic to get the Reds level after Harry Maguire’s foraging up the left wing released Luke Shaw and his cross was volleyed off his shin past the outstretched arms of Johnstone from 11 yards out shortly before the break.
It was his 19th goal of the season and should have been the impetus to go on and win the game as they have done on seven previous occasions when the Reds have gone behind on their travels.
Lee Peltier had sustained an ankle injury earlier in the first half and was replaced at half time by Darnell Furlong.
United put the Baggies under pressure from the start of the second half and Rashford’s early cross after the restart was begging for a touch to turn it goal wards but Martial and Shaw were slow to react.
The Reds committed more players forward but the Baggies reminded them that they were also an attacking threat when Mathias Pereira saw a shot go past the back post after Ainsley Maitland-Niles threaded him through after 55 minutes.
Penalty award overturned by pitch side review as Manchester United denied spot kick and late winner for Harry Maguire
Johnstone smartly saved a deflected shot from McTominay while Fernandes’ free kick after the hour mark drew a soft penalty for the Reds when Harry Maguire was adjudged to have been fouled by Semi Ajayi but also looked offside in any case.
Craig Pawson was invited to review his decision on the pitch side monitor and overturned his penalty decision – deciding contact was insufficient.
Mason Greenwood replaced the ineffective Martial after 66 minutes while Jake Livermore replaced Okay Yokuslu a minute later.
Greenwood and McTominay had efforts cleared off the line by Johnstone and Furlong after a Luke Shaw corner – United’s best chances on goal in the second half.
Maitland-Niles wasted a chance to cross for Diagne after West Brom broke against United, his cross was misjudged.
And Diagne outmuscled Maguire on another break for West Brom but the loose ball wouldn’t come down for a shot in time and De Gea made the block after the Senegal striker opted to volley the ball instead of head it.
Donny van de Beek was brought on for the final 11 minutes, replacing Fred as United needed more creativity.
Robert Snodgrass took a booking to stop Marcus Rashford from cutting inside from the left on his way into the box with the ball.
Fernandes floated the ball into the area from 20 yards out rather than shoot and the Baggies.
Snodgrass with withdrawn for Matt Phillips as the Baggies made their final change with 3 minutes to go and Diagne blazed over this third chance of the half from 6 yards out after a superb raking cross from the right.
Greenwood’s last minute cutback went unconverted as United looked out on their feet at the end of the attritional game as Fernandes’ tame long range shot in added time went straight to Johnstone and Shaw’s cross to Maguire was headed firmly goalwards only to be tipped onto the post by the Baggies keeper to preserve the point.
GOALS – West Brom 1, Manchester United 1
West Brom 1, Man Utd 0: 2. Mbaye Diagne headed the home side into the lead after he met Conor Gallagher’s cross from the right and comprehensively beat Victor Lindelof to the ball
West Brom 1, Man Utd 1: 44. Bruno Fernandes met Luke Shaw’s cross with a volley off his shin which flew past the outstretched arms of Sam Johnstone from 11 yards out.
MATCH STATS – West Brom 1, Manchester United 1
West Brom: Johnstone, Peltier (Furlong 46), Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend, Yokuslu (Livermore 67), Snodgrass (Phillips 87), Maitland-Niles, Gallagher, Pereira, Diagne
West Brom subs not used: Button, Robson-Kanu, Robinson, Sawyers, O’Shea, Grant
Booking: Gallagher 37 (foul on Fred); Bartley 61 (obstruction on Scott McTominay); Maitland-Niles 79 (foul on Mason Greenwood); Snodgrass 85 (foul on Marcus Rashford); Diagne 89 (foul on Marcus Rashford)
Goal: Diagne 2
Man Utd: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Fred (van de Beek 79), Rashford, Fernandes, Martial (Greenwood 66), Cavani
Man Utd subs not used: Henderson, Bailly, James, Telles, Matic, Williams, Tuanzebe
Goal: Fernandes 44
Referee: Craig Pawson