Premier League Full time report - Manchester United 2-2 West Bromwich Albion
Manchester United have done it again, for the 5th time this season; the Red Devils managed to let a lead of 2 goals slip and ended the match at 2-2 against West Bromwich Albion. But this time the one thing different
was that it was a home game, and one that they really should have won. Now Manchester United have managed to draw 5 of their 8 games this season so far, four of which were away from home.
There was a clear lack of direction in the United midfield especially in the 2nd half, and they looked like a whole different team. All 4 goals in the game came courtesy of errors from a field player or the goalkeeper.
The first half saw Manchester United dominate the proceedings and they were all over West Brom. The visitors did show some aggression and gave enough evidence of wanting to go home with something. West Brom has been the only team
from the three that have been promoted showing willingness to go at their opponents rather than sitting back.
Right from kick off West Brom threatened with a good move, but it was Manchester United who got the ball rolling. Nani made a good run from centre of midfield and was brought down just outside the box. The Portuguese took the free
kick himself and let fly a thunderous shot; West Brom keeper Scott Carson could not get hold of the ball and deflected it away, but only so far to Javier Hernandez who was rushing in from the wall to tap in from 4 yards. United had started to look threatening
and the visitors at that point were pegged back in their own half.
Manchester United got their 2nd through another mistake; it was West Brom’s defender Nicky Shorey who slipped and Nani latched onto the ball. The right winger made his way into the box, and played a neat one-two with
Dimitar Berbatov before slotting it home easily to make it 2 nil.
Manchester United continued to dominate the first half and should have got at least one more goal, but the half ended at 2-0. Ryan Giggs was substituted just before the end of the half due to an injury and Darren Gibson came on.
The 2nd half though was an entirely different story; West Brom came out with a new vigour and played a more attacking brand of football. The home side should have known better considering how often they have let such
leads slip. The visitors continued to press but Manchester United could have made it 3-0, had Nemanja Vidic’s header from a corner been couple of inches inside as it bounced out from the post.
Moments later West Brom got a free kick near United’s by-line and Chris Brunt sent in a low quick drive that was deflected in via deflection from Patrice Evra. Edwin van der Sar did well to pull it out but it had already crossed
the line.
West Brom had a sniff of something right then and there was a sense of anticipation for the visitors. There were fears of another lead slipping from the hands of Manchester United, as the home side started to look nervous. They
did have couple of good attacks at the other end but could not make them count.
West Brom on the other hand caught United on a break and Chris Brunt sent in a seemingly harmless cross, but somehow Edwin van der Sar failed to gather the ball and dropped it in the path of Somen Tchoyi who had the easy job of
tapping it in.
Sir Alex Ferguson reacted by sending on Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes, but things did not change much. It was a pretty open game in last few minutes but Manchester United failed to get the winner and it ended 2-2. Two more points
dropped by United and some serious thinking needs to be done by Sir Alex if he is to keep his team in the title hunt.
Tags: