Manchester United are back out of the the top four after dropping two points away to West Bromwich Albion on Monday. They got an excellent late goal from Daley Blind to salvage a result, but will be disappointed in the performance that resulted in a 2-2 draw.
3 things we learned from Manchester United’s 2-2 draw with West Brom
Yet again, Manchester United were disappointing defensively, dropping points against West Bromwich Albion.
The Red Devils looked out of sorts from the beginning, committing some bad turnovers, and they were made to pay for one just eight minutes into the match. Andre Wisdom made the run forward to start the move for West Brom, catching the entire United midfield and defense out of position on his run down the right. With Luke Shaw caught up the pitch, Blind pinched in to cover, and Marcos Rojo didn't adjust. When Wisdom squared to Stephane Sessegnon, no one was there to close him down, and he placed a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Slowly but surely, Manchester United started to assert control over the game and they were firmly the better side by the half-hour mark. Angel Di Maria forced Boaz Myhill into a tough save on a knuckling shot in the 30th minute. Not long after that, Juan Mata had a chance to take a direct free kick from 20 yards, but put his shot well over the bar and United had to settle for a goalless first half.
To the surprise of everyone, Marouane Fellaini was brought off the bench to start the second half, replacing Ander Herrera, who had looked off the pace. And even more shockingly, Fellaini managed to score a brilliant goal immediately after entering the game, his first in the Premier League for United. He took a Di Maria cross off his chest, controlled, then hit a scorching half-volley into the roof of the net to bring the Red Devils level.
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But the Baggies continued to look threatening, and retook the lead in the 65th minute. Phil Jones and Rafael were both well out of position when Saido Berahino blew between them to get on the end of a through ball by Chris Brunt, then curled a perfect shot around David De Gea, restoring his team's lead.
Louis van Gaal responded by bringing Radamel Falcao off the bench, and while he didn't make a direct impact from the start, his presence might have aided Robin van Persie. The Dutchman appeared to have scored with a brilliant strike from 20 yards in the 74th minute, but the ball struck the inside of the post and bounced away.
As time wore on, an equalizer started to look likely, and Blind was the man who delivered for United. A Rafael cross was headed clear, but only as far as United's defensive midfielder, who stepped up and curled an absolutely gorgeous low shot that looped around Myhill's hand and turned in at the near post. It happened immediately after West Brom made a defensive position, bringing Youssouf Mulumbu on for Sessegnon, and Blind's goal was the result of the type of space that Mulumbu was brought in to take away.
United got the ball into the West Brom penalty area plenty of times between then and the final whistle, but the Baggies defended well -- if a bit frantically -- at the end to hang on to a point.
West Bromwich Albion: Myhill, Pocognoli, Lescott, Dawson, Wisdom, Brunt, Gardner, Morrison, Dorrans, Sessegnon (Mulumbu 86’), Berahino
Goals: Sessegnon (8’), Berahino (66’)
Manchester United: De Gea, Shaw, Rojo, Jones, Rafael, Blind, Di Maria (Young 77’), Herrera (Fellaini 46’), Mata (Falcao 72’), Januzaj, van Persie
Goals: Fellaini (48’), Blind (87’)
3 things
1. Saido Berahino is legitimately good -- After six goals in eight Premier League games, with the one scored on Monday being of the highest quality, Berahino can’t be thought of as a flash in the pan anymore. He’s finally added composure in front of goal to the great movement, pace and technique that he’s always had, and he’s going to score more.
2. United's defense isn't improving -- If this group is any good, it should probably be a bit better by now. There weren't any youngsters like Tyler Blackett and Patrick McNair in this team -- it was a group of expensive, experienced professionals. And they were awful.
3. Juan Mata is broken -- The Spaniard hasn’t had a single good performance for the Red Devils this season, and he might have been at his worst on Monday. The rumors of him getting sold in January are going to heat up even more after this performance.
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