Match Reports

Manchester United 1 Albion 0

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Albion were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Manchester United in an eventful Premier League clash at Old Trafford on Saturday night.

A crazy 10 minutes in the second half decided the game - when Bruno Fernandes netted a re-taken penalty after the Baggies had been harshly denied one just seconds earlier.

Conor Townsend, Karlan Grant, Callum Robinson and Kyle Bartley came close to breaking the deadlock, but Albion couldn't force an equaliser in the closing stages. 

Slaven Bilić made four changes to the side that was beaten by Spurs before the international break, with Branislav Ivanović, Matheus Pereira, Romaine Sawyers and Grady Diangana coming in for Dara O’Shea, Jake Livermore, Filip Krovinović and Callum Robinson.

It was the hosts who made the stronger start - Sam Johnstone fantastically denying Anthony Martial twice inside the opening 16 minutes - but Albion grew into the game and created two good chances midway through the first half.

First Karlan Grant saw a low shot deflected narrowly wide following skilful play from Pereira to play him in, before Ivanović headed past the post when he had got on the end of a dangerous Conor Gallagher corner.

And it was another Gallagher corner that created the best opportunity ahead of the interval - this time Bartley nodding just over the crossbar and onto the roof of the net.

After a goalless first half, it was an action-packed start to the second 45.

Within a couple of minutes the Baggies thought they had won a penalty when Gallagher was brought down inside the area by Fernandes. However, much to the bemusement of the Albion bench, the decision was then reversed by referee David Coote.

United themselves were awarded a spot-kick on the 50 minute mark for a harsh handball against Darnell Furlong, and despite Johnstone superbly saving Fernandes’ initial effort he was judged to have been off his line too early and the Portuguese midfielder netted the re-take.

Johnstone was forced into action twice more as Solskjaer’s side pushed for a second, reacting brilliantly to keep out Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire when they looked set to score.

The result could have been so different for an unfortunate Albion had substitute Callum Robinson’s curling effort dropped in instead of crashing against the woodwork, but even with a late spell of pressure it just wasn’t to be for the Baggies as they returned home empty-handed from a rainy Old Trafford.

Albion: Johnstone, Furlong, Ajayi, Ivanović (Krovinović 79), Bartley, Townsend; Pereira, Sawyers, Gallagher; Diangana (Robson-Kanu 62), Grant (Robinson 62).

Substitutes: Button, O’Shea, Harper, Phillips.