Club News

Manchester United 0 Albion 0

Albion move on to 44 points from 30 matches

  • Resilient Albion deny United to claim share of spoils  
  • Foster saves deny Mkhitaryan and Ashford, twice
  • Fletcher strike spilled by De Gea on to crossbar
  • Attendance: 75,397
  • Albion Star Man: Jonny Evans
ALBION claimed a hard-fought Premier League point following a goalless draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The hosts, chasing a top-four finish, dominated possession but could find no way through a resilient and well-organised Baggies, who stood firm and restricted Jose Mourinho's side to limited shots on target.

Ben Foster was called upon to make impressive saves to deny Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marcus Ashford, twice, as Albion kept a clean sheet and continued their impressive recent record away at United.

The battling point ensures Albion have now tasted defeat just once in their last four visits, winning two of those.

Darren Fletcher came closest for the visitors when his long-range strike was spilled on to the crossbar by David de Gea, with Jonny Evans - also coming up against his former club - among a host of star performers for Tony Pulis' side.

It moves eighth-placed Albion on to 44 points from 30 matches this season, with Watford and Southampton coming up in next week's double header. 

The Baggies made just one change from the side who overcame Arsenal 3-1 before the international break, Hal Robson-Kanu replacing Salomon Rondon in attack following his travels with Venezuela.

Jesse Lingard lashed over the first half-chance of the encounter after 10 minutes before Anthony Martial saw his curling effort deflected wide of the mark midway through the first period.

Martial headed wide at the far post just before the half-hour mark as the hosts dominated possession but were ultimately frustrated by a well-drilled Albion rearguard.

A lively start to the second period saw Baggies skipper Fletcher have his shot blocked by Eric Bailly before Marouane Fellaini pulled wide a clear opening from 10 yards at the other end.

Pulis turned to substitutes James Morrison and Claudio Yacob either side of a fantastic save from Foster in the 66th minute to deny Mkhitaryan after he found himself clean through.

Rondon replaced the hard-working Robson-Kanu in attack but it was Foster again who was called upon to parry away Rashford's long-range strike.

And the Baggies stopper pulled off another top-class save from Rashford's free-kick in the 88th minute, coming after Fletcher's long-range strike had almost caught out De Gea.

United pressed in search of winner but they could find no way past the Baggies backline, who stood firm to secure a share of the spoils.

Albion: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom; Livermore, Fletcher (c); Brunt, Chadli (Yacob 68), McClean (Morrison 57); Robson-Kanu (Rondon 70).

Subs: Myhill; M Wilson, Field, Harper.

BOOKED: Nyom (foul, 46), Livermore (foul, 87), Yacob (unsporting behaviour, 90+5)

Man Utd: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Rojo, Young, Carrick (c), Fellaini, Lingard, Mkhitaryan (Rooney 74), Martial, Rashford. 

Subs: Romero, Blind, Fosu-Mensah, Darmian, Tuanzebe, Willock.

BOOKED: Rojo (foul, 43), Rooney (foul, 90+5), Fellaini (unsporting behaviour, 90+5)

Referee: Mike Dean (Cheshire)