Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this afternoon's Premier League encounter as West Bromwich Albion welcome Manchester United to The Hawthorns. We should have some team news through shortly...

There's plenty to play for today, but for different reasons. West Brom are looking for a win to keep their hopes of Premier League survival alive, while United can stay in the hunt for European football with a victory.

WEST BROM: Foster; Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Yacob, Mulumbu; Amalfitano, Gera, Brunt; Anichebe

WEST BROM SUBS: Myhill, Morrison, Thievy, Vydra, Sessegnon, Dawson, Berahino

West Brom coach Pepe Mel has made four changes following the team's 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers two weeks ago. Steven Reid, Claudio Yacob, Zoltan Gera and Victor Anichebe all come into the starting XI. Meanwhile, James Morrison, Saido Berahino and Thievy Bifouma drop to the bench.

MAN UTD: De Gea; Rafael, Jones, Smalling, Evra; Carrick, Fellaini; Mata, Rooney, Januzaj; van Persie

MAN UTD SUBS: Lindegaard, Giggs, Vidic, Young, Fletcher, Kagawa, Welbeck

United boss David Moyes has opted to five changes following his side's Champions League defeat to Olympiacos last week. Phil Jones and Rafael are both given the nod in defence, while Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata and Adnan Januzaj all return. Nemanja Vidic has to settle for a place in the bench following after agreeing a move to Inter Milan in midweek.

There are sure to be a fair few eyes on Robin van Persie this afternoon amid rumours that he is not too happy at the moment with the style of play that David Moyes has introduced at the club. Former Netherlands international Ronald de Boer claimed earlier this week that the striker was unhappy at Old Trafford, something which Moyes was quick to dismiss.

WBA's Chris Brunt: "I've met David Moyes a few times and he knows the game inside out. But just as Fergie was given time, he needs it too." — Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 8, 2014

RECENT FORM:

WEST BROM: DLDLDD
MAN UTD: WLDDWL

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has had some interesting things to say about Van Persie and the reports that he is not happy at the club. You can read what he's had to say this morning here.

While United are dealing with a few problems, West Brom also have their share of troubles behind the scenes. There are reports that Pepe Mel is already under fire after failing to improve results, despite the Spaniard taking charge only two months ago. On top of that, the club has had to deal with the Nicolas Anelka 'quenelle' row.

42 - Manchester United have now named a different starting XI in every one of their 42 competitive matches this season. Tinker. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 8, 2014

Looking at the table, West Brom can move four points clear of the relegation zone if they win this afternoon. United will leapfrog Everton in sixth place if they come away from The Hawthorns with three points.

HEAD TO HEAD: It comes a little surprise to see that Man Utd have better record when it comes to past meetings between these teams. The Red Devils have won 51 games compared to West Brom's 39. Meanwhile, there have been 27 draws.

While Man Utd boast the superior head-to-head record, West Brom caused a shock at Old Trafford earlier in the season when they earned a surprise 2-1 win in the league. Morgan Amalfitano and Saido Berahino scored the goals for the Baggies on that day, while Wayne Rooney netted in response for Man Utd. Can the Midlands club do the double over the champions this afternoon?

13 - The last team to draw more of their opening 27 games of a top-flight season before WBA this term were Man Utd (15) in 1980-81. Pools.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 8, 2014

Of course, who can forget this fixture from last season when the team's played out an incredible 5-5 draw in what was Sir Alex Ferguson's last game in charge of Man Utd? More of the same would be nice this afternoon...

Just under five minutes to go until this one gets underway and there's a real sense of excitement around The Hawthorns. For the record, it's a fine day in the Midlands with the sun shining and the temperature fairly warm.

Both teams are starting to emerge in the tunnel as we approach kickoff. Lots of intense faces in there. West Brom are in their traditional blue and white stripes, while Man Utd are in their distinctive red kit.

KICKOFF! The players are out, the pre-match handshakes have been done, and it will be West Brom to get us underway. Here we go!

West Brom have started very brightly here as they look to get at Man Utd early. One attack sees the visitors unable to clear the ball due to some comical defending, but they eventually see out the danger. The home side have begun with intensity.

Man Utd have settled a bit now following their sluggish start to the match. They're beginning to control possession, though they've done little to trouble West Brom so far. Away from the action on the pitch, the away fans are making plenty of noise in their corner of the ground.

It's been promising so far from a West Brom perspective. They certainly don't look like a team labouring near the bottom of the table. Instead, they're knocking the ball around with a lot of confidence and intent. Anichebe in particular has looked lively up front for the hosts.

Something of a half-chance for the home side as Anichebe runs at the Man Utd defence before bursting into the penalty area. Smalling and Jones are both with him before the former makes a good tackle to thwart the danger. That was some decent defending from the England international.

YELLOW CARD: Man Utd winger Adnan Januzaj is the first player to go into the book this afternoon for a deliberate handball. The youngster did his best to get on the end of a Mata cross, but he was adjudged to have used his arm when trying to bring the ball down.

Man Utd crank up the pressure with a couple of corners, though they fail to make anything of them. The champions are just starting to find their rhythm with their passing and movement. Fellaini seems to be very up for the challenge today. He's causing West Brom all sorts of problems in the box with his physicality.

It's still Man Utd who are controlling this match. However, David Moyes may be a little concerned that his players have not created any real openings as of yet. Still, there is still a long way to go at The Hawthorns. Yacob gets a talking to from referee Jon Moss after clattering into Mata. That wasn't a particularly smart challenge from the West Brom midfielder.

45 - Manchester United have their lowest points tally (45) after 27 games of a league season since 1990-91 (41). Concern.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 8, 2014

One area where West Brom have looked good so far today is in midfield. As you would expect, Yacob and Mulumbu are running their socks off, trying to give the visitors as little time on the ball as possible. As a result, Man Utd are rushing their attacks a bit.

That's disappointing from Mata. The Spaniard had the chance to whip a dangerous free kick into the box, but his delivery was a poor one that West Brom dealt with. There's a good tempo to this game, but it hasn't been entirely inspiring from an attacking point of view.

SAVE! Man Utd nearly take the lead, but they're denied by a fine save from Foster! Januzaj's cross from the left was met by the head of Rafael, only for his effort to be tipped onto the bar by the West Brom goalkeeper. That was a brilliant, instinctive stop.

Will that chance force both of these teams to attack a bit more? Man Utd continue to dominate in terms of possession. However, it's just not happening for them up top.

We have the opening goal of the game and it's gone to Man Utd thanks to a great header from Phil Jones! Van Persie whipped in a powerful free kick from the right side, and the defender was able to get in front of his marker and nod past Foster. There was not stopping that.

Man Utd have certainly looked the more likely to score so far this afternoon, so it's hard to argue with them taking the lead. Is that goal going to see them take a few more chances going forward now? How will West Brom react?

CHANCE! West Brom come very close to an instant equaliser as Olsson's header back towards goal from a corner is met by Yacob. However, the midfielder can only nod over the crossbar from close range as a number of bodies battle for the ball.

14 - Robin van Persie has scored (11) or assisted (3) 14 goals in 16 Premier League starts this season. Classy.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 8, 2014

SUBSTITUTION: West Brom are forced into the change as Claudio Yacob goes off with what appears to be a knock. James Morrison is on in his place. Five minutes to go until half time.

CHANCE! Close again for West Brom! Anichebe shows tremendous strength inside the box to hold off Jones before turning and shooting narrowly wide of goal. He's been a real handful this afternoon.

Now then! A moment of confusion there as Foster comes outside of his box to meet a long ball from Mata, only for the ball to strike the goalkeeper on the arm. However, he gets away with it. That would have been a red card had the officials decided to penalise him.

There will be two minutes of added time at the end of the first half...

Referee Jon Moss blows the half-time whistle and it's Man Utd who lead 1-0 thanks to Phil Jones's goal on 33 minutes. The visitors have been on top for much of the match so far, but a lack of quality in the final third means that West Brom are still in this.

1 - Man Utd are leading at half-time in a Premier League away game for the first time since December 15 (vs Villa). Rare. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 8, 2014

From West Brom's point of view, that can take some heart from that opening 45 minutes. They've shown plenty of energy and enthusiasm while defending doggedly at the back. They've also been competitive in midfield thanks to Mulumbu and Yacob, but they will have to do without the latter after he went of injured with five minutes left to play in that half.

Looking back on the game's only goal, it was a fantastic delivery from Van Persie to set up Jones. The Dutchman smashed the ball into a crowded penalty area, allowing Jones to just get his head on it and guide it past Foster.

You have to say that another goal for Man Utd would surely kill this game off. David Moyes will probably be telling his players to get at West Brom early, force them back and try to land the fatal blow as soon as possible. However, if the hosts can continue to defend well then they will always have the opportunity yo go up the other end and nick a goal.

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The players are back out and it will be Man Utd to get us back underway. No changes for either side during the interval.

It's been an encouraging start from West Brom as Anichebe drags a shot narrowly wide of De Gea's post with an effort from the edge of the box. The hosts wanted a penalty minutes before that when Gera went down under a challenge from Carrick, but referee Jon Moss was correct to wave away the appeals. Nothing doing there.

YELLOW CARD: Robin van Persie goes into the book for a pretty forceful tackle on Amalfitano. That was ugly from the Dutchman.

CHANCE! Some decent link-up play from Anichebe and Gera ends with Gera weaving through the Man Utd defence and getting a shot away. However, his effort is a tame one that De Gea easily deals with. West Brom will need to keep this up if they want anything from the match. They've got the visitors on the ropes a bit here.

Van Persie, who has already been booked, is a very lucky boy to still be on the pitch after chopping down Reid and getting nowhere near the ball. West Brom want him off the pitch, but Jon Moss instead gives him a stern talking to. Other referees might well have sent that striker off there.

That incident involving Van Persie seems to have really fired West Brom up as Mulumbu's cross is cleared away by Mata before the visitors get rid of the danger. The atmosphere inside The Hawthorns has also changed, with the home fans making a right old racket.

This game has got a good end-to-end feel about it now as we enter the final 30 minutes. Man Utd are continuing to surge forward whenever they can, while West Brom are looking dangerous on the counter-attack.

SUBSTITUTION: Man Utd are making a change now as Van Persie is replaced by Welbeck. You get the feeling that David Moyes does not want to risk the Dutchman getting sent off as this match starts to heat up.

That could well be game over as Man Utd double their lead through Wayne Rooney. Some patient build-up play from the champions allowed Rafael to receive the ball down the right wing, and his cross was met by the head of Rooney who couldn't really miss.

That goal from Rooney came at the perfect time because West Brom were just starting to build up a head of steam. As it is, the whole mood of the game has changed. The home fans have been silenced, while the visiting supporters sing their hearts out.

It's worth noting that in the aftermath of Rooney's goal, West Brom made a change with Saido Berahino replacing Chris Brunt.

Just under 20 minutes to play at The Hawthorns, but Man Utd aren't resting on their laurels just yet. Although they might be 2-0 up, a goal for West Brom would change everything. Credit to the home side, they're still giving it a go.

CHANCE! Close to a third goal for Man Utd as Mata feed Rooney, who plays in Welbeck. The substitute finds himself at a tight angle and fires high over the crossbar. The England international seemed to snatch at his shot there.

SUBSTITUTION: Another change for Man Utd now as Shinji Kagawa comes on for Adnan Januzaj.

CHANCE! That's more like it from West Brom! Anichebe does well to slip in Gera inside the penalty area, but he can only see his powerful drive kept out by De Gea from close range. The hosts are starting to cause the visitors one or two problems as we head into the final 10 minutes of the match.

CHANCE! That is a super block from Rafael to deny West Brom a possible goal. Amalfitano's deep cross fell to Berahino at the back post, but his effort was diverted away from the goal by the Brazilian. He threw himself in front of that.

It's clinical stuff from Man Utd as they put the icing on the cake through Danny Welbeck. Rooney was afforded plenty of time on the edge of the box, allowing him to feed his strike partner. Welbeck took a touch to compose himself before shooting past Foster and into the back of the net.

1 - Wayne Rooney is the first player in @premierleague history to record double figures for both goals & assists in five seasons. Icon. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 8, 2014

SUBSTITUTION: Man Ut'd final change of what has been a satisfactory afternoon sees Rafael leave the pitch Nemanja Vidic.

The visitors are just going through the motions now as they try to run the clock down. They've been impressive for large parts of today's match and it's hard to argue that they don't deserve this scoreline.

There will be three minutes of added time...

The full-time whistle goes and it Man Utd who leave The Hawthorns the happier thanks to a comfortable 3-0 win over West Brom. Phil Jones opened the scoring with 33 minutes on the clock before second-half goals from Wayne Rooney and substitute Danny Welbeck sealed the victory.

Anyway, that's the end of our live text coverage for today's match but don't forget that we have commentaries of this afternoon's other games in the Premier League. You can find them right here. Thanks you for your company, and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye!