West Brom 1-2 Manchester United
New Year, but same old story – that was until Wayne Rooney turned the tables and inspired a twist in both his own form and his clubs fortunes as he seemed to personify change. Chicharito came off the bench to score the winner – just as he did in United’s only other away win of the season – but it was Rooney’s performance and attitude that will be the lasting memory of this game at the Hawthorns.
United took an early lead through Rooney – Gabriel Obertan carried the ball wide left and held it up before knocking it back to Patrice Evra whose cross was headed in by last season’s top scorer. Coming after less than 3 minutes, it seemed as if the proverbial monkey was off of Rooney’s back with a New Year and fresh slate, and he celebrated in kind.
Early goals at home for United settle the team down and allow them to fully express themselves against teams who are forced to play for a result; away from home, however, and the Red Devils tend to get complacent, believing they can keep the ball without any undue pressure; against enterprising opponents like West Brom – who have already shown that a 0-2 deficit at Old Trafford doesn’t faze them – this would never be the case.
A long cross field pass in the 14th minute was headed down by Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra didn’t react quickly enough in the floating of the pass to close down James Morrison; the former Middlesbrough midfielder reacted magnificently to Vidic’s wayward clearance to half volley into the top corner. It’s fair to say that Tomasz Kuszczak had no chance (in because of illness), and neither would have Edwin van der Sar.
United were rocking and should have conceded a penalty and a man – Gary Neville was caught out and brought down Dorrans; referee Chris Foy waved play on but United supporters to a man held their breath with the realisation they’d got away with it; Neville may have temporarily, but the way he was consistently found out means that his first team opportunities will be limited for the remainder of the season and performances such as this one (against, with all due respect, lower mid-table opposition) will probably convince the man himself he simply can’t cut it at this level anymore.
Chris Brunt almost scored in the immediate aftermath of that move but his 25 yard shot curled over; and although the Baggies clearly had the impetus they never really made their pressure count until after the break, when Rio Ferdinand was penalised for a trip inside the box on Jerome Thomas in the 62nd minute. Peter Odemwingie fired the spotkick horrendously wide, however, to give United a reprieve.
The visitors began to ramp up the pressure and should have had a penalty themselves with Thomas clearly used his arm to divert a Fabio cross behind goal; the resultant corner was knocked behind again, but from Rooney’s cross on the second, Chicharito (on for the generally ineffectual Berbatov) converted around 6 yards out.
West Brom pressed but never severely threatened; there was a brief scare with Vidic being forced to clear a goalbound shot but it was dealt with 5 yards out and was never vicious enough to look completely scary; the biggest talking point of the last 5 minutes came from Rooney again. Having been fouled on a break, Rooney gestured to the bench that he couldn’t continue, and came off, putting United down to ten men having made all their substitutes. However, Rooney came back on as the fourth official indicated there would be five minutes of stoppage time, showing incredible character and commitment to the cause – and was, in fact, United’s most potent player and likely to create something in that added time.
United managed to go 3 points clear; at elates temporarily; but importantly, they seemed to have turned a corner in this New Year. And that was perfectly illustrated by a man of the match performance from Rooney, for the first time this season.
Ratings : Kuszczak 6, Neville 5 (Fabio), Ferdinand 7, Vidic 7, Evra 6, Fletcher 6, Carrick 6, Anderson 6, Obertan 6 (Gibson 6), Berbatov 6 (Chicharito 7), *Rooney 9
Leave a Reply