Match Report – West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Manchester United Competition: Barclays Premier League Kick-Off & Date: 4pm, Sunday, 14th August 2011 Venue: The Hawthorns, West Bromwich (Away) Attendance: 25,360 Manchester United got their Premier League title defence off to a winning start, thanks to a late winner from Ashley Young against West Bromwich Albion, at The Hawthorns. With Premier League debuts handed to three Reds, the starting XI was young and inexperienced. That didn’t stop Wayne Rooney putting the away side ahead, but not so long after Shane Long – on his own debut – equalised. But The Devils had the last laugh through ‘The Youngster’… Sir Alex Ferguson started with many fringe players, as the average age of just 24 showed. David De Gea was entrusted with the gloves once again, while old heads Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand controlled the defence, along with Chris Smalling and Fabio Da Silva. Ash Young and Luis Nani were wide as will become custom this term, with Tom Cleverley and Oliveira Anderson playing in the centre behind Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck. Both sides’ opening domestic league fixture got off to a quick start, but the away club were enjoying most of the possesion and many early opportunities. Paul Scharner then tested De Gea for West Bromwich Albion, before – 13 minutes in – The Red Devils broke free and scored the first goal of the game in the midlands. Rooney back-flicked to Young, who repaid Wayne with a juicy pass on the edge of the box. Wazza turned and beat Ben Foster on his left… United took a deserved lead through a nice piece of play that originated with Fabio. Sir Alex’s men could have found themselves further ahead if Rooney and then Nani found the target, while the Portuguese winger – fresh from his heroics against Manchester City at Wembley last Sunday – should have beaten Foster from a corner rebound, but instead fired over the bar. Welbeck was working well up front, but The Reds couldn’t stretch their lead. Either side sported black armbands in respect to those who died during mindless rioting in England over the past week, while a ‘Get Well Soon’ message was worn by West Brom for unwell kitman of 50 years, Dave Matthews. Shane Long – making his debut for Albion – created a chance for Scharner, whose effort was foiled by De Gea. The home side were finding their way back into the game, and a goal was on everyone’s lips around The Hawthorns. Long escaped the challenge of Smalling and Cleverley in United’s box, catching De Gea unaware at his left post, and struck past the Spaniard to get his WBA career off to a flyer. The 24-year-old Irish striker was snapped-up by Roy Hodgson for a bargain £6.5 Million from Championship outfit Reading, where he has had previous experience in the top flight during their promotion in 2006. However, there was some amount of luck in Long’s first goal for the club. De Gea, who received undue criticism from footie pundits last weekend, watched Chris Brunt volley over the bar before he punched Somen Tchoyi’s cross away. The match died-down a little heading towards half-time, but there was no doubt that West Brom went down the tunnels the happier. Early in the second period, captain Vida was forced off through a knock, with Jonny Evans replacing the Serbian powerhouse. Bad news on the injury front ! Shortly afterwards, the lively Welbeck was hauled-off in place of Dimitar Berbatov. Rooney headed poorly wide from a Nani free, before Phil Jones came on to cope with another loss through injury – this time Rio limped off. In the latter stages of the tie, neither side threatened too much, but United remained on top. 1-1 quickly changed to 2-1 in the visitors’ favour though, thanks to some wing wizardry from summer signing: Former Aston Villa flanker Ashley Young. With 9 minutes remaining on the clock, Berbatov passed to Young on the left, who skipped past Chris Brunt and his shot/cross/pass took two deflections; firstly off Gabriel Tamas and decisively Steven Reid to take the ball past former Red stopper Ben Foster and into the back of the net. De Gea was roughed up, but thwarted any late West Brom danger. United’s first League game finished in a victory, with a traditionally late winner (arguably an own-goal)… We’re back in business. United Team: David De Gea, Chris Smalling, Nemanja Vidic (Jonny Evans ’52), Fabio Da Silva, Rio Ferdinand (Phil Jones ’76), Oliveira Anderson, Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young, Luis Nani, Danny Welbeck (Dimitar Berbatov ’65), Wayne Rooney. Goals: Rooney ’13, Steven Reid (Own-Goal) ’81 Bookings: Young ’56, Anderson ’78 CommentsBrian Ross Sun, 14 Aug 2011 6:57:10 pm Made hard work of this, but a win is a win l33bo Sun, 14 Aug 2011 6:57:57 pm where are the fans that said he was a bad signing Arfaan11 Sun, 14 Aug 2011 7:02:03 pm Well playd young,unlucky De Gea keep ur head up StevO Sun, 14 Aug 2011 7:02:17 pm One Helluva Game! United…United… We love you!!! Bill McNeal Sun, 14 Aug 2011 7:39:30 pm l33bo – Beat me to that comment! Pajonse Sun, 14 Aug 2011 7:51:11 pm six weeks without Ferdinand and four weeks without Vidic!!! Fuck!!! very true Sun, 14 Aug 2011 7:53:32 pm @ billy Alihou Sun, 14 Aug 2011 7:55:51 pm i also thought de gea is our best signing and ash is our worst! after this match my opinions completely changed! Tom Sun, 14 Aug 2011 8:54:28 pm De gea is just nervous, there’s loads of pressure on him being at Utd. Plus trying to fill van der sar’s boots. Also the language barrier won’t help. He’ll pull through just needs time. Bill Sun, 14 Aug 2011 9:31:41 pm Still short in midfield Bill McNeal Sun, 14 Aug 2011 10:04:30 pm Short in midfield? l33bo Sun, 14 Aug 2011 10:08:53 pm sorry Billy jus thought I’d comment l33bo Sun, 14 Aug 2011 10:10:01 pm dnt think were short in midfield jus missing abit of steele in midfield David Sun, 14 Aug 2011 10:39:28 pm Still think we miss a bit of magic particulary in midfield Ranks Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:25:20 pm Fergie confirmed Rafael is out for 10 months and needs an op, Ferdinand is out for 6 weeks and will miss the Arsenal and Chelsea and Arsenal games, Vidic could be out for 2 weeks. On the positive side Hernandez is back training in 10 days mihawk Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:54:58 am Need CM i think… Bren Mon, 15 Aug 2011 1:38:32 am Papers linking us with 20m Goetze from Germany- hope so class player would suit the premiership alex should see if he could get kagwa with him another class act PD Mon, 15 Aug 2011 1:24:41 pm We’re not short of bodies in midfield but we are short of a bit of class. Fri, 19 Aug 2011 6:30:31 pm It is a good start for manchester united but believe me without a new midfield we are still nothing against barca and premiership is a problem for us without mid field Comments are closed. |  
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