Man United struggle to keep up with their blue neighbours, point each at Hawthorns

With Edinson Cavani turning 34 today, he was hoping to mark it with a third successive Premier League goal. The Uruguayan's first three Premier League strikes came as a substitute, while his last three have been as a starter. Manchester United were unbeaten in 18 Premier League away games before coming to Hawthorns, their longest such run on the road in top-flight history. There have been six longer runs by four different teams in the top-flight, most recently a 21-game run for Liverpool between January 2019-February 2020.

West Brom manager Sam Allardyce won two of his first three Premier League matches against Man Utd, both at Old Trafford in 2001-02 and 2002-03 with Bolton. Since then, he has won just one of 22 matches against the Red Devils, winning 2-1 with Sunderland in February 2016. West Brom have not quite had the new manager bump they were hoping for under Big Sam, with just one win since he arrived at the club.

And straight from the gate, an incredible start from West Brom as they took a very quick lead. Diange was a handful against Spurs and he finally makes the breakthrough here. In the 2nd minute, Gallagher loops a cross into the area and the West Brom striker does wonderfully well to get himself around Lindelof to fire a header into the back of the net. Lindelof was calling for a foul and VAR did have a look - but the truth is, Diagne was just physically stronger. After just 83 seconds, Mbaye Diagne has scored the earliest Premier League goal conceded by Manchester United since Christian Eriksen's 11 second strike in January 2018.

Nothing new for the Devils to concede first. Man Utd have conceded the opening goal for the 8th time in 12 PL away games this season. They’ve recovered to win on all previous 7 occasions. Right away they tried to get back and equalize but it just looked like a combination of United's lack of creativity and WBA's better than usual positioning on the pitch. Finally, in the 23rd minute, Man Utd had their first opportunity. Rashford sent in a wicked cross from the right flank, but Peltier deflected the ball wide just ahead of Martial.

Just as United tried to establish dominance after their solid attempt, West Brom put De Gea in danger again. Maitland-Niles is given space and time to drive down the left before cutting the ball back to Townsend at the top corner. Snodgrass is up and sends a powerful header goalwards, but it takes a fingertip from De Gea to send the ball over the bar. Huge, huge save from De Gea.

A sixteen-table-spots difference was nowhere to be seen until the 45th minute. United held the ball, passed it around the 30-meter line but pretty much lacked that final penetrating pass to cut through the home team’s defence. West Brom did not seem bothered with the futile attempts of the guests. Then just minutes before the halftime whistle, Bruno Fernandes showed off his superb ability as he volleyed the ball from inside the box into the top left corner. Luke Shaw collected another assist and the score changed to 1:1. Fernandes has scored in 11 of his 19 PL away appearances for Man Utd. He’s yet to be on the losing side in a PL away game since joining in January 2020.

An energetic start of the second half. A couple of chances on both ends, none of them too close to scoring but intense enough to keep the players motivated. Referee Craig Pawson decided after a VAR check in the 63rd minute that there is no penalty for Man Utd - Maguire fell inside WBA’s box but a probable offside of the Man Utd captain and lack of intensity on the Ajayi’s tackle was enough for Pawson to call off the initial penalty ruling.

The guests continued with their attacks. Two super Man Utd chances but Johnstone and Furlong saved them! Maguire noded down Shaw's delivery, finding Greenwood but his attempt was saved by Johnstone's outstretched foot. McTominay then tried the follow-up, but Furlong was on the line to boot it away.

WBA was incredibly close to scoring in the 78th minute when Mbaye Diagne weaved through the defence and got one-on-one with the De Gea, but failed to score. Spanish goalkeeper reacted in nick of time. And while United tried to get a grip of the game with several okayish opportunities, hosts were again really close to taking the lead. In the 88th minute of the match, Diagne had a good opportunity when he latched on to a cross from the wing, but his strike from the six-yard box wasn't accurate enough and the ball went inches over the bar.

An incredible goal opportunity was seen as the last shot on the match. I the 95th minute Harry Maguire leaped high to meet a lofted pass inside the six-yard box, but his header only flies onto the right post and away of it.

None of the teams were satisfied with the point they took - Man Utd in their chase for the top of the table, the hosts trying to get out of the relegation zone. But given the circumstances, WBA players and staff headed to their locker room with a greater sense of accomplishment, given they managed to defend themselves against the favourites. Even being close to snatching all three points.

PREMIER LEAGUE 24th Round

Saturday

Leicester - Liverpool 3-1 (0-0)

/Salah 67 - Madison 77, Vardy 79, Barnes 85/

Crystal Palace - Burnley 0-3 (0-2)

/Gudmundsson 5, Rodriguez 10, Lowton 47/

Brighton - Aston Villa 0-0

Sunday

Southampton - Wolverhampton 1-2 (1-0)

/Ings 25 - Neves 53 pen, Neto 66/

WBA - Manchester United 1-1 (1-1)

/Diagne 2' - Fernandes 45'/

19.30: (1.90) Arsenal (3.50) Leeds (4.10)

22.00: (2.05) Everton (3.35) Fulham (3.80)

Monday

21.00: (1.83) West Ham (3.45) Sheffield United (4.60)

23.00: (1.28) Chelsea (5.50) Newcastle United (11.0)

***odds are subject to change