Manchester United moved three points clear in the Premier League with a hard-fought win over West Bromwich Albion. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men were far from their best but headed goals from Wayne Rooney – his first from open play since March – and Javier Hernández earned a narrow victory at the Hawthorns.
With rivals Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City kicking off later, United took advantage of the lunchtime fixture to re-establish a lead at the head of the Premier League table. It was from a vintage United performance though, with the Reds lucky to retain all 11 players on the pitch and the side’s passing poor.
But a stunning performance from Rooney dragged Ferguson’s side to only a second Premier League victory on the road this season. It’s a result, according to Ferguson, which could drive United towards the title.
“It was a really tough game. They’re a very good football team, they’re refreshing and proved that today,” Ferguson told Sky Sports.
“Over the years we’ve had to battle out games and we had to do that today – it’s a great result.
“In the second half there were moments when we started to play a but better but when we had to make changes with one or two injuries and we were just hanging on defensively.
“Wayne Rooney today was out of this world. He was fantastic, he drove us on. I’m very pleased for Wayne, he’s got his goal and that’s him off the mark. He’s jumping with confidence now, I’m really pleased for him.”
Ferguson made four changes to the United side that drew with Birmingham City on Boxing Day, including resting veteran goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. With Ryan Giggs unwell and Nani not yet fit, Ferguson handed a rare start to French winger Gabriel Obertan and pushed Darren Fletcher into an unfamiliar wide role.
The changes created a dysfunctional United midfield, with both Michael Carrick and Anderson guilty of some wasteful passing and chances thin on the ground. The visitors defence was little better, with veteran Gary Neville frequently caught out of position.
Indeed, the hosts played far the better football in a first half that could have seen United reduced to 10 men. Neville, recalled at right-back, clumsily fouled Graham Dorrans with the veteran United’s last man and fortunate not to both concede a penalty and see red. Foy waved play on much to the hosts’ ire.
Yet United had taken the lead after just three minutes, with Rooney nodding home from Evra’s cross. The header seemed to have little power but crept inside Scott Carson’s right-hand post for just the striker’s third goal of a troubled season.
But the Baggies, whose attacking midfield dominated the centre of the park, were deservedly level on the quarter-hour when the impressive James Morrison hammered home a curling 20-yard shot. Captain Nemanja Vidic was culpable for not achieving greater distance on a defensive header but that takes away nothing from the quality of Morrison’s effort.
The former Middlesboro player, alongside midfielders Dorrans, Chris Brunt and Jerome Thomas, had United chasing shadows for much of the opening half. Brunt was unlucky with another long-range effort that dipped just over Tomasz Kuszczak’s bar.
If United was fortunate to go into the break even then the patter of the match changed little in the second half, with a repeated tactical changes doing little for Ferguson’s side.
The matched turned on two further incidents. First, Ferdinand – not having his best day at the office – clipped Thomas inside the area, with Nigerian Peter Odemwingie firing the resulting penalty wide. It took much of the wind out of the striker’s sails, who had previously offered ample support to West Brom’s impressive midfield.
Then, with Darron Gibson and Hernández on for the ineffective Dimitar Berbatov and Gabriel Obertan, United struck with 15 to go. Mexican striker Hernández nodded home Rooney’s corner for his fifth goal of a profitable first season in England.
“Credit to West Brom, they play some good football and they’re not scared to pass the ball,” said Ferdinand.
“You’ve got to dig deep in these games. These are the games you can make big ground in the league. You’ve got to win games, simple as that. I don’t care how we win. In these situations when you’re not at your best all that matters is the win.”
Indeed, United showed plenty of grit in playing poorly at the Hawthorns for a rare away victory this season. But in Rooney had the outstanding player on the pitch. The former Evertonian, who described 2010 as a “nightmare,” offered plenty of pace and penetration to an otherwise poor United performance.
“It was important that he [Rooney] got a goal,” added Ferdinand.
“I’m sure it was playing on his mind a little bit but he’s got his goal now. He gets in the position to score goals and he got one today.”
On this evidence Rooney could well fire United to a 19th domestic league title come May, with seven points from the festive programme and Stoke City to come on Tuesday night an excellent return for Ferguson’s men.
By the end Rooney was hobbling on the perennially injured left ankle although the word came back that the player will make Tuesday’s fixture. Fit or not, Rooney might just need a little more support from his team-mates in future.
Match Facts
West Brom – 451 – Carson; Cech, Pablo (Tchoyi 71), Scharner, Reid (Zuiverloon 64); Brunt, Morrison, Thomas, Mulumbu (Fortune 90+4), Dorrans; Odemwingie
United – 451 – Kuszczak; Neville (Fabio Da Silva 71), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Fletcher, Anderson, Carrick, Obertan (Gibson 60); Berbatov (Hernandez 60), Rooney.
Attendance – 25,499
Man of the Match – Rooney
Possession: West Brom 62% – 38% United
Attempts: 17 – 5
On Target: 8 – 3
Corners: 4 – 5
Fouls: 8 – 13
It was as much psychological today as it was being shit
We looked nervy having won just one measily fucking away game
Hopefully now we’ll look more assured and confident at White Hart Lane
Great 3 points for MU . Lucky for them that their opponent missed the penalty kick otherwise
Well it is supposed to a sign of a good side that you play badly and still win. We are stretching it a bit at the moment! Still unbeaten in the league somehow 🙂
Bit unfair calling Carrick’s passing wasteful, he completed 90% of them.
Carrick has improved recently but he still gets knocked off the ball too easily. Another Carrick sacking almost let WBA for a goal. Its like a QB fumbling and going for a pick 6! Its a Carrick speciality unfortunately.
I did not think Carrick was that bad today.
By the way, how can Hernandez score the winner and yet Rooney grabs the headline? I mean you could have found a way to incorporate both of them if Rooney HAD to be there. Honestly….
carrick and fletcher played as though they were strangers
woeful from 2 quality players
define quality
ffs
something non existent in your posts
Evra has been below his usual all season, but yesterday it was his worst performance ever. I wonder if his head is already in Spain after all those rumours in the summer.
Did you guys read that Fergie is to bring in Kaka on a loan deal to boost the midfield? Today’s news is saying Kaka has fully recovered from injury and Fergie was working on a deal with Mourinho to bring Kaka in on some loan deal and an uption to buy the player if he performs to satisfaction. Will have to keep an eye on this story to see if there is any truth to this or not. Because there was another story last week saying Fergie was interested in signing Ronaldinho on loan to strengthen the midfield. So many rumours out there.
This shows why Neville should never play.
stunning performance from rooney? he was good, but not that good.
anyway, neville should retire, and fergie needs to stop playing central midfielders on the wing.
@kramer
agree with you mate!rooney was good but by no means was he stunning.in fact he was made to look so good because others were absolutely horrible!!his pace has gone down considerably.its a worry that we can no longer dominate midfield even against a mediocre opponents.also i feel ferdinand has lost a bit of pace himself but the good thing is that a below par rio is better than most of other defenders in the league!!
Kaka – can’t see it. Where would he play in the side without disrupting Rooney, Berbatov and Nani? Don’t think he would be brought in as a benchwarmer, starter or nothing.
I believe this talk is all coming about because Park will be out for a month and this is probably a concern to Fergie. If he is that concerned, he should just spend some of that money and buy a world class midfielder now instead of waiting untill the summer. A bright spark in midfield would do the trick! I hear Rooney will be out for three weeks with another ankle injury.
Kaka on loan sounds far too good to be true, usually transfer window bollocks. I know Real have a record recently of getting rid of great attacking midfielders, to let one of hte best players in the world go out on loan? I’d be delighted if it happened, and I think kaka and berba would be amazing together, but I can’t see it happening.
The Kaka ‘story’ is complete bollocks from the Sunday Star – the N’Zogbia rumour is sadly far more likely.
we’ll sign ashley young in the summer
WHAT KNOBHEAD SAID….. personally i think its a good signing with young
bolluxs
Heskey for Utd..and Carragher ffs
Not me… it would be a good signing at a reasonable price… but I can almost guarantee, we’d pay about £20 million too much.
Real are desperately chasing Barca… can’t see them giving away a player like Kaka… even if he’s playing badly… he’s a great option, should they need him.
And I don’t think Fergie would want Ronaldinho… not with his loose reputation…
I’m hoping he starts against Bale.
Think Tyson v Lewis.
It’s a good thing that Neville played today…
Got to get him ready for Bale.