Manchester United 2 - West Bromwich Albion 0

Brendan Clegg:

It's not really worth dwelling too much on a game against a side who've spent so outrageously since the last time we played them and stole a victory. Generally it was a predicatable result. I was quite please with the lineup - it made sense to me.

Our biggest problems in the first half were inter-related. McClean and Sess were on the wrong wings, presumably because Pulis thougth Marshall would be out on the right and needed JM to double up on him. We have seen before that although there is logic in this, in practice it just doesn't work at all because we can't keep the ball when we do get it, which invites pressure.

So that understandable tactical decision meant that we struggled to keep the ball for 2 passes when we did get it back, and so we could never get out to support Rondon and simply invited wave after wave of attack all half.

I have to say that although we had players in the wrong positions and an isolated Rondon, our quality on the ball in the first half was unbelievably bad. Is this because we spend all of our time in training on defending and shape and not basic passing? Is it because our freuqent free man, Dawson, simply cannot do it? Is it because tactically players like Fletcher and Yacob are told to release the ball quickly at all costs to "move through the pitch"? It's probably a combination of all of these things but is compounded further when we have players out of position.

Finally, in this first period, I dont think Fletcher touched the ball 10 times. He really struggled with their movement and the intensity of the game. I have a huge respect for him but it was pretty clear that although his quality, knowledge and game management can carry him through against the bottom 6 teams in this league, against quality midfielders he has a real problem, and therefore so do we.

The players should take great credit for getting to halftime without conceding. 2nd half Pulis rightly switched them and we looked better straight away - we upped our possession by 10% and, although we obviosuly still under pressure, we had a threat.

We then conceded an avoidable goal although it was interesting to hear Pulis not really blaming Brunt (awful header - Popov against the Villa-esque) or Fletcher (didn't block the cross, didn't close down lingaard when it dropped to him, so effectively in no mans land again), but chose to single out Yacob (probably had dropped a bit deep, but was about 3rd in line for blame in all fairness).

I think the game did hinge on Saido's miss. Sess too 3 players out of the game and fed Dawson who belied his own performance with the best cross you will see all season. It was truly and agonising miss, and our big chance in the game.

The 2nd goal and sending off came as we went gung-ho in the final 5. It was almost identical to the Vardy goal last week. Evans over-committed, high line exposed, undone by pace. McAuley probably should have let Martial run through but to some way credit him, he'd recovered to almost make another fantastic tackle. Evans should probably have not pressed so high again, but the game was pretty much gone. At nil-nil or 1-1 he wouldn't be doing such things.

A final note on this pair - I thought they were absolutely immense in the centre - neither would be out of place in any side in this league in my opinion and both seem to be cut from the same cloth. They deserved better.

• Myhill - 7 Did OK again. Despite the pressure most saves he had to make were routine and no chance with goals.
• Dawson - 5 Tried defensively but struggled badly on the ball.
• Evans - 8 I'm going to ignore the last minute error and focus on the rest of the performance. Outstanding.
• McAuley - 8 Likewise, the penalty aside he was outstanding too.
• Brunt - 6 Unfortunately for him his one error in the game provide crucial.
• McClean - 5 Standard performance. Gives everything you could ever ask for, quality lacking.
• Yacob - 7 Did his job well.
• Fletcher - 5 Improved after the break but the game passed him by.
• Morrison - 6 Harried and pressed to little avail. Looked a bit rusty but should have remained on the pitch.
• Sess - 7 Worked hard defensively and was our best player in their half.
• Rondon - 6 A good battle with Smalling and never gave up running. Will be gutted he wasn't on the pitch for Saido's chance.

• Lambert - 6 Again did well when he came on and used his frame and the ball intelligently when he was given reasonable opportunity to do so.
• Saido - 5 Not just the miss, his touch looked heavy when he came on, didn't look at it.
• McManaman - 5 Couldn't really get into the game in the right situations.