The day started with a minor crash on the way to the coaches that me and CBB had. Although I’m glad to say that both of us and the car survived! I should have known what was to come – as I went to leave the house it started tipping it down with rain. Never a good sign when you’re travelling away to the table toppers!
Pitch inspections was not something I expected and Donny texting us was a surprise. I really thought Man Utd would be more prepared and only believed it when a friend text me. This came through just as we rolled up at Old Trafford. As we got in to the ground we saw no issue with the pitch, no standing water at all, just a little muddy it seemed.
The team showed seven changes with Popov, Mulumbu, Olsson all injured after QPR. Ridgewell, Thorne and Tamas come in. Other changes saw Gera, Morrison, Fortune and Lukaku make way for Rosenberg, Dorrans, Odemwingie and Long. The team looked weak, but I felt if we could keep our heads we could nab something.
One thing that stood out from that line up was the number of players out to prove themselves. Thorne, only a few days ago, was playing at a Championship grounds and now he was at Old Trafford. Could he make the step up? Dorrans has had lots of abuse lately but could he show his old self? Rosenberg hasn’t been given much of a chance by Albion fans but could he prove them wrong? Tamas would also have liked to have shown himself in a good light with a lack of chances this season.
First half
So a side that seemed to have one eye on a New Year’s Day fixture against Fulham kicked off and couldn’t really get going. Early on Ridgewell got into a good crossing position only to find the stand rather than the 18 yard box.
Nothing was happening for Albion. The home side were very much on top of us and that was frustrating for many, but we kept shape and discipline well, sadly a slight lapse in concentration cost us. I heard a lot of fans blame Thorne for the goal but Rosenberg let Cleverly go and that’s when the move really started. The ball came from there and ended at Young’s feet, he got past the Albion defenders and fired a low drilled cross across the box – like one at The Hawthorns on the first game of the season last year – it hit McAuley and found the net. There was nothing Foster could do.
Just before, Shane Long, who had started lively as always, controlled a high ball and ran at the defenders. He got into the box in a wide area and Chris Smalling lunged in. There seemed to be contact on Long and not the ball. However, the referee gave a goal kick. Surely that means Smalling didn’t touch the ball? If he didn’t touch the ball, is that not a penalty? If it’s not a penalty shouldn’t he book Long for diving? He didn’t fall over, that’s for sure!
After conceding early at Old Trafford a side can implode, can get scared and concede 3 or 4 goals in a half. But not this Albion side. We went again. Ok we saw little of the ball, but when they have Carrick in the middle what can you expect? They attacked for a second to kill the game off. Foster denied Welbeck comfortably and he was trying to use his pace all half to outwit Albion’s backline. Kagawa then tried to curl one in only for our Fozzie to save and hold the ball.
Odemwingie came inside as always and jinked inside and out but couldn’t get a clean connection on his shot which rolled wide. Brunt was attempting a long ranger but the pitch wasn’t allowing him to, shaping up the ball would bobble and mean he would have to react.
Foster then produced a fine save after a cross from Valencia found Young on the edge of the box. The former Villa man fired an effort which Foster reacted well and pushed the ball up and onto the bar. It was a very good reaction save from our ‘keeper.
But, as you know, every shot stopper has jittery moments and Foster had his when he slipped, kicked the ball against Welbeck but luckily went wide of the goal.
Half time
We were happy to be at 1-0 going into the break. A good second half and I felt one chance could fall to us and we could bury it. I was hopeful. We had, overall, kept our shape well and distances between the lines were ok. The only downside was after losing my voice pre-game it hadn’t arrived again and it still hasn’t as I type this. It’s horrible trying to shout with no noise coming out!
After the break
The second half began and I have to say it seemed Clarke had told the players to have faith in themselves and reaffirmed their duties. Rosenberg was much better defensively, positional wise he was very good. He pressed in the right areas at the right time. It helped others, ensuring others didn’t have to compensate for him.
After a good first half, Dorrans had come out trying to get us going again, moving and playing through lines but Man Utd had every angled covered – but that is why they are facing Real Madrid in the New Year and we are not.
There were no real early chances for either side. We had a series of corners which came of nothing. An argument happened around us which Sue sorted out, while the Stewards looked on. Thorne then headed the ball back towards goal but his effort was blocked by a United defender.
McAuley got a header in on goal which hit the bar. But it wouldn’t have counted as Moss blew his whistle for a foul by GMac on Smalling. Looking at it back I can see why, but for me Smalling also had a nice grab of McAuley. Is that not a penalty?
We were trying, we were making slow progress and Lukaku came on along with Morrison to try and help our attack. I do love Morrison and he showed why. He picked up the ball and drove at defenders, attacked the space and that is the exact reason why we cannot have him playing the ‘Mulumbu’ role when he makes way for the African Cup of Nations.
Albion continued to press and we had more shots blocked. Lukaku came close to working De Gea but Man Utd were on top of our toes and we couldn’t get the time nor space to get any meaningful shots off.
Anyone that knows me knows I am a big fan of Shane Long but he, along with a few others, were tiring, and you knew Man Utd could counter us. Our boys had given their all.
Foster again kept the score down when Robin ‘dead man walking’ Van Persie got through but seemed to take a touch which meant his contact was not as ‘true’ as he would have liked, still, it was a good save from our Ben.
We attacked but nothing was happening. United pushed down the flanks, made the pitch big. I thought Ridgewell had a weak game and a couple of clearances didn’t go well and as the game went on. He and Jones, who was solid, were getting more and more attacks down their sides. Fortune coming on helped down Jones’ side as he provided good cover with fresher legs.
In the end the goal arrived that killed us. A short corner was taken, Fortune ran to close the option down but no one went with him. It left him 2 vs 1, the ball was then moved across the field, fine by me as we slid across rather well, but we then left Tamas outnumbered on the other side and the ball fell to Van Persie who produced a stunning strike past Foster. If someone had helped MAF we could have stopped it. If someone had got across a few yards to help Tamas we could have stopped RVP having the time to get the strike off.
We still tried to get a goal back but nothing really came of anything as the game came to an end.
On Reflection
Overall, it was a good performance from a weakened Albion side and I am proud of the lads. They gave everything and that one clear cut chance just wouldn’t fall to us. I’m disappointed at losing at Old Trafford! Wow, that shows, in itself how far we have come. I do feel a stronger side could have taken them to the sword and gone to get a point, but that is a pointless comment really. Every side has injuries, we, like them, have to control and contain that making sure we are ready for the next game.
Although I’ve been critical of him in the past Thorne impressed me. His loan spells have gone well. His games for the Baggies, on the whole, have gone well and it seems his mentality allows him to rise to games rather than reserve football when I have been critical of him. He has again shown to me he is good enough and when Mulumbu makes way to join DR Congo he can fill that void.
The older heads really did do a good job for us – McAuley, Foster, Brunt and co. They were always going to need to help guide others through a tough game, and I think they did that very well.
Looking ahead if we get three points against Fulham you can say it was justified to pick the team Clarke did. But if we don’t, well, it will be frustrating. Paying a fair bit for a ticket to Old Trafford at a time of the year when money isn’t always going spare and then losing to Fulham will hurt because you feel we could have taken points from Man Utd with a better side. Still, Fulham are a poor away side and if we keep their wide men and Berbatov quiet we should get the points.
One thing I did think today would show is if West Brom are ready for Europe? The Answer: no. Our squad isn’t bigger enough. We have a strong core and a couple of good subs but nothing more. Nowhere near enough for Europe. The back of the programme tells you that.
Thanks again for everything CBB it was a great day out and really enjoyable. I’m sad not to be going regularly away anymore but we will, without doubt, do more away days in the future. I might see a few of you at Loftus Road next week. I hope you have a great New Year, stay safe and let me leave you with this stat... In the last calendar year, WBA racked up 64 points, which would put them 6th in a table of all Premier League clubs.
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