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West Brom logo
Premier League
Mar 6, 2016 at 4pm UK
 
Manchester United logo

1-0

Rondon (66')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Mata (26')

Live Commentary: West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Manchester United - as it happened

Read how West Bromwich Albion ended Manchester United's four-game winning streak with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates.
2

Manchester United travelled to West Bromwich Albion in the final game of matchday 29 in the Premier League looking to make it five wins in a row in all competitions.

In the end it was a game of few chances, with West Brom getting the win thanks to Salomon Rondon's second-half strike after Juan Mata had been sent off in the first half.

Relive all the action at The Hawthorns with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.


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Hello everybody! It's almost time for the final game of matchday 29 in the Premier League as West Brom take on Man Utd at The Hawthorns!

First things first, the team news and there is good news for Manchester United, who have a much more recognisable backline than they've been able to select in recent weeks. Full lineups on the way...

WEST BROM XI: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Chester; Yacob, Gardner, Fletcher, Sessegnon; Berahino, Rondon
Subs: Myhill, Anichebe, McClean, Pocognoli, Lambert, Pritchard, Sandro

It's an unchanged lineup for the home side, with Saido Berahino and Salomon Rondon again leading the line.

It's an unchanged lineup from West Brom, with Saido Berahino and Salomon Rondon again leading the line. The Baggies got an impressive 2-2 draw at leaders Leicester in midweek, so no surprise that Tony Pulis has stuck to his guns here.

In Rondon, West Brom have a striker in great form. The Venezuelan has scored in three of his last five Premier League games, having failed to score in his previous nine in the competition.

© Getty Images


As for United, Van Gaal has made four changes to the side that squeezed past Watford in midweek. Two are at the back, with Varela and Fosu-Mensah replaced by Darmian and Smalling, while further forward Schneiderlin and Memphis drop out for Carrick and Lingard.

Quite surprising to see Memphis especially dropped to the bench. The Dutchman seemed to be in the groove the last couple of weeks, but Van Gaal has opted for Lingard to join the likes of Martial and Rashford, who makes his first away start, in attack.

Someone at The Hawthorns had a few too many last night!

Even though United are in great form at the moment, I'm sure most United fans will be glad to see a much more recognisable backline today. The return of Smalling should be massive, while Darmian's presence at right-back is a positive even though Varela has sparkled in recent weeks.

Man Utd fans, I've got some bad news for ya. Liverpool have just beaten Crystal Palace with the last kick of the game. Andre Marriner pointed to the spot in the 95th minute and Christian Benteke has just tucked it home to give the Reds three points. It's an impressive win given that Jurgen Klopp's men were 1-0 down and had James Milner sent off before their late rally.

Three points for Liverpool moves them up to seventh and within three points of United. Both have now played 28 games, so if United extend the lead today Liverpool will have a chance to claw it back soon.

And here's our match report on Liverpool's win. It's their first maximum at Selhurst Park since December 1997 and a big confidence-booster ahead of the Europa League last-16 tie against Man Utd, which starts this week.

Aaaaanyway, enough about Liverpool. Let's start properly building up to the 4pm kickoff that we're all here for - West Brom vs. Man Utd. Both teams are in good form coming into this and it could be a cracker!

Man Utd have had plenty of defensive problems recently, but this man is pretty reliable eh?

The Baggies have collected seven points out of a possible nine in their last three Premier League games to ease their relegation worries - they're now 12 clear of the drop zone - while Man Utd are going for three straight league wins for the first time since September.

However, United's last two wins over Arsenal and Watford both came at home. Away from Old Trafford, Van Gaal's men have won just one of their last seven Premier League away games (D3, L3).

The Red Devils are usually pretty reliable on the road in March, though, having won their last SEVEN away games in the third month of the year. The last time they lost a Premier League away game in March? A 3-1 defeat at Liverpool in 2011.

If United are to continue that trend today they will have to do what no side in five league games since Christmas has been able to do; win at The Hawthorns. Tony Pulis's side have won three and drawn two at home of late.

Speaking of Pulis, the Welshman has lost 11 of his 13 Premier League games against Manchester United (W1, D1), while United are unbeaten in their last 11 league games against West Brom at The Hawthorns (W9, D2).

© Getty Images


STAT: That run includes nine Premier League games - a competition record by an away side at one venue. United's last league defeat at The Hawthorns was on 31 March 1984, when Steve MacKenzie and Cyrille Regis scored in a 2-0 home win.

West Brom have won on two of their last three trips to Old Trafford, but they were beaten 2-0 in this season's reverse fixture in November, when Lingard and Mata scored the goals.

In May 2013, this fixture saw the highest scoring draw in Premier League history when the two sides drew 5-5 in Sir Alex Ferguson's final game in charge. Remember it? Let's hope for something similar today!

© Getty Images


Click here to see what the Premier League looks like right now, with Man Utd sixth and West Brom 13th. United are down from where they started the weekend, but a win today would take them back level on points with Man City in fourth and just two points behind third-placed Arsenal! Anything less and they'll stay sixth. West Brom will climb up to 11th and above Everton should they triumph.

West Brom have been among the goals of late, but they're struggling to keep many clean sheets and it's hard to imagine that changing today against a Man Utd side that have had four wins and 12 goals in the last 10 days.

STAT: The Baggies have kept just one clean sheet in their 19 Premier League games against the Red Devils. Rashford will no doubt be licking his lips at that.

Here come the two teams out of the tunnel. Bastian Schweinsteiger, who Van Gaal said would return at some point this month, has just sent this good luck message on Twitter

PREDICTION: This should be a pretty close contest and I'm going to sit on the fence and go for a 1-1 draw.

KICKOFF! Off we go in the West Midlands. United in red tops and black shorts today.

SHOT! The visitors are seeing plenty of the ball early on and they've just had their first shot through Martial, who spun past Yacob and then dipped a drive straight at Foster from about 20 yards.

First corner of the game for United, who have dominated possession so far.

The visitors play it short and it comes to absolutely nothing. Never understand that.

It's gonna be a long old afternoon for the Baggies if they sit off this much for the whole game. 74% possession United have had.

Tremendous run from Mata down the right and he then picks out Martial on the other side. The Frenchman looks for a shooting opportunity, but West Brom smother the chance out.

First moment of note for West Brom as Rondon curls over a cross to the back post. Right-back Dawson is surprisingly forward and gets up above Martial but can't direct his header goalwards.

Good again from the Baggies as Fletcher finds the run of Rondon, whose cross is behind Berahino and United clear away.

Here's Mata battling for the ball early on

© Getty Images


Was just about to type how nothing had happened the last few minutes, but then West Brom have a half-chance. Fletcher floated the ball in to Gardner, who flicked the ball back for Berahino, with the striker's first-time shot blocked through to De Gea.

Almost a penalty for West Brom! Blind carelessly raised his foot to reach a high ball and referee Mike Dean says free kick. It was right on the edge of the box but you have to say that's probably the right call...

Gardner, who scored a great free kick at Leicester in midweek, curls it past the wall but Martial clears it out for a corner.

Gardner's floated delivery from the corner is easy for De Gea to claim.

Pulis will be happy with what he's seen the last few minutes after a slow start

© Getty Images


You're expecting the net to bulge, but McAuley heads wide somehow! It wouldn't have mattered anyway as the offside flag was up. West Brom really testing the United backline with a succession of set pieces.

BOOKING! Mata is the first player cautioned for stupidly blocking a free kick when he had not retreated the full 10 yards.

RED CARD! JUAN MATA SENT OFF!

Well well! Just two minutes after getting booked, Mata is sent off by Mike Dean! This one is just as silly as the first, with Mata going in late on Fletcher. It's one of those that you'd say is harsh for a second booking, but Mata should not be taking a risk like that.

CLOSE! Now with a man advantage, West Brom look to go in front as Dawson tries a spectacular volley that has De Gea really worried but dips just wide of the far post.

Ooh, look who's here today. Maybe to watch young Rashford?

© Getty Images


Fletcher's deep cross at the back post is headed on to the roof of the net by Rondon, but he was out of play already, so goal kick West Brom.

The Spaniard's first-ever red card in club football!

© Getty Images


Crucial block from Smalling to prevent Berahino's effort going goalwards. West Brom really buoyed by that red card, United have done very little since.

SHOT! De Gea tested for the first time this afternoon as Sessegnon pings a volley at goal. Decent effort, but still pretty easy for the Spanish stopper.

CHANCE! Good ball down the line to Lingard and he finds Martial in the area with a cutback. The youngster looks to curl into the far corner, but McAuley makes the block.

BIG tackle from Yacob to prevent Lingard's shot going anywhere. The crowd like that one.

I think Van Gaal will be pretty happy if his side can make it through to half time unscathed. What then, though? Do they just hope to hang on for a draw with 10 men, or go for the win at all?

Berahino pokes it through to Rondon, who was being played onside by Rojo, but the Venezuelan's shot is blocked. Baggies corner...

Gardner and Sessegnon work it quickly, with the former able to get into the box before his shot is blocked.

Just the one minute of added time at the end of the first half.

Really good wing play from Lingard down the left and United now have a corner in the dying stages of the opening period...

HALF-TIME: WEST BROM 0-0 MAN UTD

It comes to nothing and Dean brings the half to a close. He's been at the centre of the half's main incident, sending Mata off for two quick bookings.

© Getty Images


We'll be back for the second half very soon, don't go anywhere!

OK then. Second half just a couple of minutes away. Will there be any half-time changes? Mata's not the kind of player that you need to replace so maybe not from a United point of view.

KICKOFF! West Brom get us back underway. No changes yet from either Pulis or Van Gaal.

What does seem to have changed with the visitors is that Martial is now the lone striker, with Rashford having to come out to the right and cover for Mata.

CHANCE! Superb work down the left from Martial, who cuts back for Rashford and the young striker wins a corner as his shot is deflected wide.

Arsenal have come back to earn a point with 10 men this weekend, Liverpool came back to win with 10 men earlier today. Is it a good weekend for teams who have had players sent off?

"Penalty!" screams Rojo, but Dean says no. Gardner was outside the box anyway so it would have just been a free kick had Dean deemed that it hit his arm.

CLOSE! This has been a good start to the half for the 10-man visitors. Lingard has a pop from outside the box and it dips onto the roof of the net. Good effort!

WEST BROM SUB: Big blow this for the Baggies as Dawson hobbles off injured to be replaced by Pocognoli.

Pocognoli is left-footed, so he has gone to left-back and Chester is now where Dawson was on the right.

BOOKING! Bad, bad defending from West Brom as they let a high ball drop and Martial nips in between McAuley and Olsson before the latter brings him down right on the edge of the box. Blind fancies this...

It's Herrera who takes it though and he shoots into the wall. Disappointing, to say the least.

Half a chance for West Brom as Berahino meets Pocognoli's cross and directs the ball wide of the mark.

MAN UTD SUB: Schneiderlin takes Herrera's place in midfield.

It was a bright start to the half for United, but the game has quietened down again now. Really needs a goal.

GOAL! WEST BROM 1-0 MAN UTD (SALOMON RONDON)

The man in form breaks the deadlock! It's the Venezuelan's fourth goal in six league games and a fine finish too. Pocognoli fired over from the left and Rondon was given too much time to take a touch and then slam low into the corner.

WEST BROM SUB: Change out wide for the hosts, with McClean taking Sessegnon's place down the left.

What now Louis? Surely we'll see Memphis and/or Fellaini soon.

© Getty Images


West Brom just need to be careful of sitting back too much now that they have the lead. United are a team in good form and will feel that they can create at least a couple more chances in the final 20 minutes or so.

MAN UTD SUB: Here comes Memphis and he replaces Rashford, who did very little.

Is this goal going to end up being the winner? Looks that way at the moment.

© Getty Images


Man Utd are doing very little to suggest that they stand any chance of scoring a late equaliser. The Baggies look very comfortable.

MAN UTD SUB: Young defender Fosu-Mensah is on for Darmian.

That was United's last change and a little baffling that Van Gaal did not throw Fellaini on to try to do cause some problems in the West Brom box. Full-back for full-back when you need a goal? Not very ambitious.

WEST BROM SUB: Pulis shores up his midfield by replacing Berahino with Sandro.

It's FOUR minutes of added time. Enough for an equaliser, but the visitors do not deserve one.

Into the final minute and United do have the ball in West Brom's half...

FULL-TIME: WEST BROM 1-0 MAN UTD

Back to the drawing board for United then, who see their winning streak end at four games. For West Brom, it's 10 points out of a possible 12 in the league - their best run for three-and-a-half years.

All 10 of the Baggies' Premier League wins this season have been by one goal and they just about deserved it today. Once Man Utd had Mata sent off, it was always going to be difficult for the visitors, who offered very little.

Anyway, that's all we've got time for on this commentary. Thanks a lot for joining SM. I'll leave you with our on-the-whistle match report and urge you to keep your eyes peeled for some reaction from The Hawthorns. See ya!

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West Bromwich Albion's Welsh Head Coach Tony Pulis gestures from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, north west England, on November 7, 20
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