Manchester United came from behind twice and earned a point while under pressure all match as it finished 2-2 at the Hawthornes.
Stephane Sessegnon and Saido Berahino both put West Brom one-up but Marouane Fellaini and Daley Blind both pulled the Red Devils back level, the latter with just three minutes to go.
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Manchester United came out incredibly sloppy, giving away passes all over the field. Angel Di Maria put a wayward ball in the seventh minute across the pitch that wasn’t even close to a teammate and flew embarrassingly out of play.
Daley Blind has been fantastic in the holding midfield role this season, but the home side targeted him with their attacks and overwhelmed him with numbers. It worked, and gave them a lead.
West Brom burst forward and again targeted Blind, and as Andre Wisdom burst with the ball down the right, it sucked the Manchester United midfielder out wide. With the Red Devils defenders on their own, Wisdom cut into the middle for Stephane Sessegnon, and with Marcos Rojo giving him too much space, the Frenchman ripped a sizzler into the top corner.
Manchester United continued to be toothless in build-up play throughout the first half, and manager Louis van Gaal knew exactly the problem. He brought Marouane Fellaini on at halftime to partner with Blind and shore up the flow.
It worked straight away, as Fellaini picked up his first Manchester United goal to level the match just three minutes into the first half.
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A wonderful cross from Di Maria came across the box to a high-pressing Fellaini. The Belgian chested down brilliantly in traffic, but back to wrong-foot defender Sebastien Pocognoli, and rifled home from a tight angle past Boaz Myhill.
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The goal burst Manchester United to life like a phoenix from the ashes, and they began to pummel the West Brom penalty area with dangerous balls in.
But they couldn’t capitalize and it wouldn’t last. A wonderful through ball from James Morrison took advantage of a napping Rafael to play Saido Berahino onsides, and with the 21-year-old through on goal he touched past David De Gea one-on-one to put West Brom up again.
Van Gaal brought on Radamel Falcao for added punch, and just minutes later he found Robin van Persie but the Dutchman hit the post. Eventually more United pressure would pay dividends. Daley Blind pounced on a loose ball just outside the box and threaded the needle to put the visitors back level with just three minutes to go.
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United flooded the attacking area in stoppage time looking for a winner, but it wasn’t enough to get all three points as West Brom’s emergency defending held firm. The point sees West Brom up one place to 13th, while it doesn’t help Manchester United up the table, giving them 12 as they remain in sixth in the table.
LINEUPS:
West Brom: Myhill, Wisdom, Lescott, Dawson, Pocognoli, Gardner, Brunt, Morrison, Dorrans, Sessegnon (Mulumbu 86′), Berahino.
Goals: Sessegnon 8′, Berahino 64′
Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael, Jones, Rojo, Shaw, Blind, Herrera (Fellaini 46′), Januzaj, Mata (Falcao 72′), Di Maria (Young 76′), van Persie.
Goals: Fellaini 48′, Blind 87′
