Manchester United have won against West Brom by a score of 2-1 at the Hawthorns. Goals from Lukaku and Lingard in the first half gave United a comfortable lead, before a Barry goal late put pressure on United to hold on for the victory.
Mourinho kept a similar side to the one that beat Bournemouth midweek, with a few changes. Young came in for Shaw at left back, while Rashford replaced Martial and Herrera replaced McTominay in the starting XI.
United started on the front foot, controlling possession and linking up nicely in the West Brom half.
Mourinho’s side created the first genuine chance of the game. Young cut inside from the left wing and delivered an excellent cross to the back post. It was well dealt with by Gibbs, who got there first to head it away from danger.
The pace of the game grinded to a halt, as neither team was able to do much of anything with the ball.
Jonny Evans had a chance to score against his former club, but his header from a corner flew well over the bar.
United begun to gain control of the match, and were able to grab a goal. Rashford picked the ball up on the left wing and cut inside. He whipped in a cross to the back post, where Lukaku rose highest to head it home. It was another subdued goal celebration from the Belgian, but this was probably a result of the time Lukaku spent at the Hawthorns earlier in his career.
West Brom winger Burke made a dynamic run through the heart of the United defense, but was stopped by a brilliant tackle from Smalling at the edge of the area.
West Brom came close to grabbing an equalizer. Wonderful skill from Nyom created space on the wing. His low cross found Rondon, but his shot was blocked by Smalling before being cleared away by the rest of the United defense.
West Brom would rue that missed opportunity, as United grabbed a second goal right after. Mata found Lingard at the top of the penalty area, and the Englishman got a shot off. It took a massive deflection off a West Brom defender and rolled past a hapless Foster into the back of the net. It was a fortunate goal, but one United fans feel they deserve, as they were the better team throughout the half.
The Baggies pushed late in the half to try and cut the deficit before halftime, but couldn’t get anything past a well set up United defense.
A minor scuffle broke out early in the half. It started when Rashford tried to get in behind Hegazi, but went down after a confrontation. Rashford felt he was elbowed, and went to have a few words with the Egyptian defenders. The two came close before being pulled apart by teammates, and Rashford was given a yellow as a result of the incidence.
West Brom should’ve halved the deficit soon after, as Burke broke free down the right wing. The youngster hit a cross into the area, where there were two West Brom players, but neither could get on the end of the cross.
Rashford could’ve made it 3 for United, when the ball bounced into his path, but he hit his volley just wide of the goal.
Valencia went down in a sight worrying to United fans. He looked to have pulled up with a hamstring injury, and was taken off for Marcos Rojo as a result.
West Brom began to push bodies forward in an attempt to get anything from the game, and created several chances that United were forced to deal with.
The pressure paid off as West Brom were able to halve the deficit. A corner was whipped into the area, and United were unable to clear it away. The ball bounced around the area, and fell to the feet of Barry, who poked it home.
The home side almost grabbed the equalizer when a cross found the head of Rodriguez, but his header went just wide of the United goal.
Bedlam continued, as West Brom came closer and closer to scoring a second. The first chance came when Rojo completely fluffed up a clearance, almost hitting it past De Gea into the United net. Thankfully, it somehow bounced wide of the post.
The resulting corner lead to another dangerous chance. De Gea couldn’t get out to grab it, and the ball bounced off McTominay on the goal line, before somehow finding the hands of De Gea.
That proved to be the last chance of the game, as United were just about able to hold on for the 3 points.
United’s next match is on Wednesday, as they face Bristol City in the quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup.
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