West Brom Vs Man Utd Report

Salomon Rondon scored the only goal of the match
as West Browich Albion defeated 10-man
Manchester United 1-0, dealing a blow to the
visitors' top-four hopes.

United came into the contest buoyed by four wins in
a row in all competitions, but their task at The
Hawthorns was made tougher when Juan Mata
picked up the first Barclays Premier League red card
of his career with two quick-fire bookings in the first
half.
Louis van Gaal's side responded well to that setback
and came close to opening the scoring through
Marcus Rashford as they looked to counter West
Brom, who struggled to carve out many meaningful
chances despite their advantage.
Yet Tony Pulis' men found their breakthrough
midway through the second half thanks to Rondon's
clever finish from close range - his fourth goal in six
league matches.
Van Gaal's side pushed for an equaliser, but diligent
West Brom defending ensured the visitors remain
sixth in the table and three points behind
Manchester City in fourth, having played one more
fixture.
United, who welcomed back Chris Smalling, Matteo
Darmian and Michael Carrick to the starting line-up,
started brightly, but Craig Dawson missed the first
decent chance when he headed wide following
Rondon's teasing cross.
The home side began to look an increasing threat on
the break and from set-pieces as United laboured in
possession, with belief among the home fans
growing further when Mata was sent off for two
yellow cards picked up in the space of three minutes
- the first for blocking a quick free-kick, the second
for a late swing of his left foot to bring down former
team-mate Darren Fletcher.
United were forced on to the defensive, but, barring
a low drive from Saido Berahino which David De Gea
saved comfortably, West Brom were struggling to
make their numerical advantage count.
Indeed, it was United who next came closest to
breaking the deadlock just after half-time, as
Rashford's low shot from the edge of the area
deflected narrowly wide of Ben Foster's left-hand
post after a strong run from Anthony Martial, before
Jesse Lingard clipped the top of the net with a
looping drive from 25 yards.
Berahino stabbed substitute Sebastien Pocognoli's
cross narrowly over the crossbar, but United failed
to heed the warning as the full-back picked out
Rondon in space just six yards out and the
Venezuelan controlled the ball superbly before
drilling low into the corner past De Gea.
Van Gaal threw on Memphis Depay in hope of a
similar comeback to that produced by 10-man
Liverpool at Crystal Palace earlier in the day, but
West Brom held on for a win that takes them to
within a point of the top 10 and leaves United facing
an uphill battle to keep pace with the challengers for
a UEFA Champions League place.