MANCHESTER UNITED v WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 2nd May 2015, 5:30pm
Old Trafford

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 126th league and cup meeting between Albion and United. The men from Manchester currently lead the way in the victory stakes with 53 wins to the Baggies' 41.

Albion's last game on May 2nd came in 2010 when already promoted Albion ended their Championship season with a 1-1 draw at home to Barnsley, Graham Dorrans scoring a last minute equaliser for the hosts. The Baggies' last win on this date came in 1992 when they won 3-1 at Shrewsbury Town in a Third Division fixture remembered most for demonstrations against then-Albion boss Bobby Gould.

United's last game on this date also came in 2010 when a goal from Nani gave them a 1-0 Premier League win at Sunderland.

Albion last claimed successive league wins at Old Trafford between 1958 and 1959, when they won three consecutive games there.

Defeat for United would see them lose three successive top-flight matches for the first time since November-December 2001.

Albion have scored just 11 Premier League away goals this term - fewer than any other side.

If selected, Baggies' keeper Boaz Myhill will make his 50th appearance for the club.

Albion's last six games: Liverpool (H) 0-0; Crystal Palace (A) 2-0; Leicester City (H) 2-3; Queens Park Rangers (H) 1-4; Manchester City (A) 0-3; Stoke City (H) 1-0.

United's last six games: Everton (A) 0-3; Chelsea (A) 0-1; Manchester City (H) 4-2; Aston Villa (H) 3-1; Liverpool (A) 2-1; Tottenham Hotspur (H) 3-0.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Baggies' boss Tony Pulis could make changes after revealing he has a number of fitness and injury concerns for the Old Trafford trip.

Youssouf Mulumbu returns following suspension and on-loan Andre Wisdom is also available again after missing last week's game against parent club Liverpool.

Manchester United

United captain Wayne Rooney is expected to be fit despite suffering a knee problem last weekend.

Michael Carrick remains out with a calf injury whilst Luke Shaw (groin) and Jonny Evans (sciatic nerve) are also sidelined.

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 7/1, United Win: 2/5, Draw: 7/2.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Berahino 10/1, Ideye 12/1, Anichebe 12/1, Sessegnon 141, McManaman 16/1, Gardner 20/1, Morrison 25/1, Brunt 33/1, Dawson 33/1, Fletcher 33/1, Mulumbu 33/1.

Manchester United: Rooney 3/1, van Persie 10/3, Falcao 4/1, Fellaini 9/2, Mata 5/1, di Maria 6/1, Periera 13/2, Young 7/1, Herrera 15/2, Januzaj 8/1, Smalling 16/1, Valencia 20/1, Carrick 20/1, Blind 25/1, Rojo 28/1, McNair 28/1, Jones 28/1, Evans 33/1, Shaw 33/1.

No goalscorers: 11/1.

www.williamhill.com

REFEREE

Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)

Taylor has refereed two Albion games this season, both ending in 2-0 defeats for the Baggies - the FA Cup quarter final at Aston Villa in March and at home to Everton in September.

He refereed two Albion games last season - the 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea in February and the 1-1 draw at Spurs on Boxing Day.

The Cheshire official has taken charge of two Manchester United games this season - the 1-0 win at Newcastle United in March and the 3-0 win at home to Hull in November.

Taylor has issued 145 yellow cards and nine red in the 34 games he has officiated so far this season.

A full run-down of Taylor's history refereeing the Baggies can be found here

TICKET INFORMATION

Albion were allocated 560 tickets for the game priced at £55 adults, £43.25 18-20s, £28 over-65s/16-17s and £18 under-16s.

WEATHER FORECAST

Light rain, 8°C

FIXTURE HISTORY

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Monday 20 October 2014 - Albion 2-2 Manchester United - Premier League - The Hawthorns
Sunday 19 May 2013 - Albion 5-5 Manchester United - Premier League - The Hawthorns
Tuesday 27 January 2009 - Albion 0-5 Manchester United - Premier League - The Hawthorns
Saturday 7 May 2005 - Manchester United 1-1 Albion - Premier League - Old Trafford
Wednesday 3 December 2003 - Albion 2-0 Manchester United - Carling Cup 4th Round - The Hawthorns
Saturday 4 September 1982 - Albion 3-1 Manchester United - First Division - The Hawthorns
Saturday 27 December 1980 - Albion 3-1 Manchester United - First Division - The Hawthorns
Saturday 30 December 1978 - Manchester United 3-5 Albion - First Division - Old Trafford
Wednesday 1 February 1978 - Albion 3-2 Manchester United - FA Cup 4th Round Replay - The Hawthorns
Saturday 16 October 1976 - Albion 4-0 Manchester United - First Division - The Hawthorns
Wednesday 5 March 1958 - Manchester United 1-0 Albion - FA Cup QF Replay - Old Trafford

LAST MEETING AT OLD TRAFFORD

Manchester United 1-2 Albion
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 28th September 2013, 3:00pm

Manchester United:  De Gea; P Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Buttner; Nani, Carrick, Anderson (Fellaini 67), Kagawa (Januzaj HT); Rooney (c), Hernandez (van Persie 58). Subs not used: Amos (gk), Evra, Welbeck, Valencia.

Goalscorer: Rooney 57

Booked: Carrick 15 (foul), Jones 67 (foul), Buttner 73 (foul)

Albion: Myhill; B Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Yacob, Mulumbu; Amalfitano, Sessegnon (Rosenberg 90), Sinclair (Berahino 13); Anichebe (Lugano 88). Subs not used: L Daniels (gk), Dawson, Popov, Dorrans.

Goalscorers: Amalfitano 54, Berahino 67

Booked: Mulumbu 11 (foul), Amalfitano 86 (foul)

Attendance: 75,042

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Manchester United slumped to their third Barclays Premier League defeat of the season as West Brom recorded a first win at Old Trafford since 1978. Goals from Morgan Amalfitano and Saido Berahino in the second half proved enough for the delirious Baggies despite Wayne Rooney netting for the fifth time in as many games. Not even the second-half introductions of Robin van Persie and Marouane Fellaini could swing the contest back in United's favour as they lost 2-1. Fellaini did think he had equalised when he poked home Nani's low cross five minutes from time but the effort was ruled out for offside. The result, at the start of what was supposed to be an easy run of fixtures, is a shattering blow to new manager David Moyes, whose team have now slipped six points off the pace in the early stages of the title race. More importantly, United have now lost half their league matches and find themselves firmly in mid-table, with the faith the club's supporters vowed to have in their new manager already starting to fray judging by the boos that accompanied the final whistle.

There could hardly have been a greater contrast between the drab fare served up in the first-half and the 10-goal thriller between the sides that served as a fitting epitaph to Sir Alex Ferguson's managerial career in May. Whereas the spectacular show at The Hawthorns had supporters on the edge of their seats, this soporific show had them slumped. United were on top, as expected. But their efforts were sporadic. Rooney, who retained the captain's armband, had one header saved by Boaz Myhill and sent another soaring over the bar. Shinji Kagawa's scheming presented a chance for Alex Buttner, but his scuffed shot was blocked. The nearest United came was when Kagawa countered after some intelligent hold-up play from Javier Hernandez, cut inside Gareth McAuley, then picked out Anderson with an excellent cross. It did seem an offside flag had been raised against the Brazilian. If so, it was a bad decision. Not that it mattered in the end as the midfielder's diving header crashed back off the bar before he hooked a volley over. Yet, for all their dominance of possession, United still lived dangerously at the other end. Substitute Berahino flicked a header just wide from Amalfitano's cross. He then fired an effort straight at David de Gea in the last dregs of the opening period when really he should have done much better.

Moyes cannot have been that impressed as when his side re-appeared after the interval, Kagawa had been replaced by 18-year-old Adnan Januzaj The teenager had no time to make an impact before the visitors seized the initiative. Large question marks hung over the United defence as West Brom celebrated their goal though. For, after nicking possession in front of the dug-outs on halfway, Amalfitano was allowed to stride directly towards goal, brushing off a couple of half-hearted attempts to stop him. Faced with only De Gea to beat, the Frenchman showed admirable composure, lifting his shot over the goalkeeper and in. Moyes immediately called Van Persie off the bench. But before the Dutchman could be introduced, Rooney had levelled. Yet again it was a free-kick. This time from about 25 yards, which the in-form England forward curled expertly home. It was Rooney's fifth goal in as many games and with Van Persie ushered on a few minutes later, Old Trafford expected a routine end to proceedings. The game did not pan out that way though. Sensing their opponents are not the force of old, West Brom went hunting more. And after a couple of close calls - including an Olsson header that hit the underside of the crossbar - they duly went ahead again as Amalfitano laid a superb pass into the path of Berahino, who found the bottom corner. As Moyes had already introduced Fellaini, there was no more he could do other than hope for a change in fortune. It did not arrive. Rather than one of those stirring comebacks this ground had seen so many of, West Brom actually held their own. Indeed, Stephane Sessegnon nearly made the damage even worse, only to slice his shot when glory beckoned. Fellaini had a goal ruled out for offside before Rooney's late free-kick was punched clear by Myhill and Januzaj flashed an injury-time effort wide.

Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Ben Foster spent five years at Old Trafford but made just an handful of first team appearances. The Leamington-born keeper had joined United from Stoke City in July 2005.

Baggies' captain Darren Fletcher joined United as an 11 year old schoolboy and would spend 20 years in total on the club's books before joining Albion on a free transfer in January.

Alan Fettis, who had a short spell on loan at The Hawthorns in 1995, is United's academy goalkeeping coach.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Arthur Albiston, Michael Appleton, Jack Banks, Peter Barnes, Henry Boyd, Paul Bradshaw, Colin Brookes, Andy Comyn, Garth Crooks, Stan Crowther, Laurie Cunningham, Luke Daniels, George Elmore, Arthur Fitton, Johnny Giles, Andy Goram, Jonathan Greening, Graeme Hogg, Jim Holton, Willie Johnston, Tomasz Kuszczak, Mick Martin, Paul McShane, Remi Moses, Michael Nardiello, Jimmy Nicholl, Mike Phelan, Billy Richards, Kieran Richardson, Bryan Robson, Maurice Setters, Arthur Smith, Jimmy Stanton, Luke Steele, Mickey Thomas and Ronnie Wallwork.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS MANCHESTER UNITED