West Brom 1 Man Utd 0: 10-man Red Devils' suffer big blow to top-four hopes

[RoterTeufel]

West Brom 1 Man Utd 0: 10-man Red Devils' suffer big blow to top-four hopes


 
MANCHESTER UNITED'S winning run came to a halt at the Hawthorns.
 
 The Red Devils were dreaming again of a top-four finish after back-to-back successes against Arsenal and Watford but West Brom striker Solomon Rondon settled the game with a fine second-half strike.
 
 Louis van Gaal's side were put under early pressure by the sprightly Baggies and were reduced to 10 men when Juan Mata picked up two bookings inside 26 minutes.
 
 And the dismissed Spaniard watched on in horror as Sebastien Pocognoli picked out Rondon in the box after the break for the Venezuelan to spin and drill a fine effort past David De Gea.
 
 United wonderkid Marcus Rashford continued in attack as Anthony Martial returned and they started with a zip about their play, popping the ball around as West Brom settled into their formation.
 
 The Baggies soon grew into the game with Chris Smalling being forced into a Saido Berahino shot before Gareth McAuley flashed a header wide.
 
 Mata then picked up his first booking by deliberately blocking a free kick and two minutes later he tripped ex-United midfielder Darren Fletcher and was given his second yellow.
 
 Craig Dawson nearly make the man advantage count straight away when he looped a volley over De Gea only for it to sail inches wide.
 
 United held on until half time and soon after the break Tony Pulis waved his magic wand and brought Pocognoli, a fringe figure this season, on for Dawson.
 
 The trick worked a treat on 66 minutes. Berahino found Pocognoli in space on the left, he whipped in a teasing ball and Rondon pounced to put the hosts ahead.
 
 United dominated the ball as they went on the hunt for an equaliser but Pulis' men knew their roles and defended out the remaining minutes to hold on to a crucial win that lifts them to 11th in the table on 39 points.
 
 The Baggies can start planning for next season but United's hopes of being in next season's Champions League remain under a cloud.
 
 They are sixth in the table and have played a game more than fourth-placed Manchester City.
 
 Could this be the moment United's European hopes went up in smoke?