Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Manchester United 2.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho vowed his side would "fight until the last match" after they moved back to within 11 points of Premier League leaders Manchester City by holding on to beat West Brom.
Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring with a header - his second goal in as many games - against the team he played for during the 2012-13 season.
Jesse Lingard doubled United's lead before the break with a shot that deflected off Albion's Ahmed Hegazi.
The Red Devils appeared to be heading for a comfortable win until Albion substitute Gareth Barry poked home from close range with 13 minutes left.
Baggies boss Alan Pardew's two other substitutes almost combined for an equaliser - Jay Rodriguez shooting wide from a Chris Brunt cross.
But, despite finishing strongly, the Baggies could not add to their first goal in four games under Pardew, remain second from bottom and are on a club record run of 17 games without a win.
"Every match we try to win," said Mourinho. "I know the questions are always coming in the same direction and I keep saying the same.
"Last match in the Premier League, Watford at Old Trafford, mid-May... until then, every match we go."
Mourinho said on Wednesday he would be on holiday if he felt the chance of catching City had gone, and his team must keep grinding out the wins while hoping their local rivals falter.
"We don't want to go on holidays," he added. "We want to play until the last match."
United back in the old routine - almost
For much of the game, this had the feel of a routine win for United - underlined by the fact Mourinho barely left the dugout for the first hour.
West Brom certainly unsettled them in the closing stages, but the visitors had done enough to take all three points.
Bringing back Ashley Young, Ander Herrera and Marcus Rashford certainly gave United more impetus than in Wednesday's laboured 1-0 win over Bournemouth.
And Lukaku looks to have responded well to being among those heavily criticised in the wake of last Sunday's derby defeat at Old Trafford.
The 24-year-old has now scored 15 times for United - and three in his past four appearances.
His celebrations were muted for the second game in succession, though that could be because of a reluctance to annoy his former club's supporters.
Changes nearly pay off for West Brom
Pardew's side had showed positive signs as they held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw at Anfield in midweek.
And the former Crystal Palace manager acknowledged that result contributed to him making a mistake in his team selection against United.
"I wanted to show faith but should have brought fresher legs in," he said. "I have to accept blame."
Pardew attempted to enhance his side's attacking play by giving 20-year-old Oliver Burke his first Premier League start.
The Scotland international had few chances to show his pace on the right, though he did offer glimpses of why West Brom spent £15m to buy him from RB Leipzig in the summer.
But the hosts looked a completely different proposition when he was replaced by Rodriguez with 26 minutes remaining.
"Our conviction wasn't there in the first half in terms of passing," said Pardew. "In the second half we started putting balls in the box to test them.
"It was a finish where we could have got something from the game that could have flattered us. It's a lesson learned for myself and the team."
Albion are going to need more than inspired - but fruitless - fightbacks, and Burke's promise to get them out of their precarious position, and reports United want to re-sign Jonny Evans, will concern fans.
Captain Evans lends an air of solidity at the back, but it is going forward where his side - with just 13 goals in 18 league games - need something to change very quickly.
Man of the match - Nemanja Matic (Manchester United)
Baggies on barren run - the stats you may have missed
- Manchester United have won their past three away Premier League games, one more than they managed in their previous 10 on the road.
- West Brom are now winless in 16 consecutive league games - the longest run in their league history (D8 L8).
- Lukaku has scored 10 goals in his past 11 Premier League appearances at The Hawthorns, a run which spans games for West Brom, Everton and Man Utd.
- Barry's goal was his first as a substitute in the Premier League since April 1999 (for Aston Villa against Nottingham Forest), a gap of 6,812 days.
- Barry was making his 36th Premier League appearance against Man Utd, with only Ryan Giggs (38 v Liverpool) appearing more often against a single opponent in Premier League history.
- Pardew has now collected just 28 points from a possible 120 in his past 40 Premier League games (P40 W6 D10 L24).
- Marcus Rashford has had a hand in 16 goals (nine goals, seven assists) in 27 appearances for United this season, one more than he managed in the whole of 2016-17 (15).
What's next?
West Brom's next match is at fellow strugglers Stoke on Saturday, 23 December at 15:00 GMT.
United have a busy week on the road, with a trip to Bristol City for the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Wednesday at 20:00 GMT, followed by a visit to Leicester City in the Premier League next Saturday (19:45).
Line-ups
West Brom
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Foster
- 2Nyom
- 26Hegazi
- 6Evans
- 3Gibbs
- 8Livermore
- 5YacobSubstituted forBarryat 45'minutes
- 20KrychowiakSubstituted forBruntat 72'minutes
- 17BurkeSubstituted forRodriguezat 64'minutes
- 9RondónBooked at 90mins
- 14McClean
Substitutes
- 4Robson-Kanu
- 11Brunt
- 13Myhill
- 18Barry
- 19Rodriguez
- 23McAuley
- 28Field
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 25A ValenciaSubstituted forRojoat 66'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 12Smalling
- 4Jones
- 18Young
- 21Herrera
- 31MaticBooked at 90mins
- 8Mata
- 14LingardSubstituted forMcTominayat 86'minutes
- 19RashfordBooked at 53minsSubstituted forMartialat 79'minutes
- 9Lukaku
Substitutes
- 2Lindelöf
- 5Rojo
- 10Ibrahimovic
- 11Martial
- 20Romero
- 23Shaw
- 39McTominay
- Referee:
- Anthony Taylor
- Attendance:
- 24,782
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home43%
- Away57%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home6
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Manchester United 2.
Booking
Marcos Rojo (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Salomón Rondón (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Phil Jones (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Salomón Rondón (West Bromwich Albion).
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Anthony Martial (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by James McClean (West Bromwich Albion).
Booking
Nemanja Matic (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Ander Herrera (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Gareth Barry (West Bromwich Albion).
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Attempt missed. Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Marcos Rojo.
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Attempt blocked. Gareth Barry (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kieran Gibbs with a headed pass.
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Scott McTominay (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Jay Rodriguez (West Bromwich Albion).
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David de Gea (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ahmed Hegazi (West Bromwich Albion).
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Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Marcos Rojo.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Scott McTominay replaces Jesse Lingard.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jay Rodriguez (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Chris Brunt with a cross.
Comments
Join the conversation
We seem to be struggling to string half a dozen convincing passes together and end up hanging on for dear life at the end of every match.!!
How we are 2nd amazes me...we can't carry on like this...I'm a realist ,not a biased fan..things must get better
What is wrong with these guys?
You have to compare to City (the approach, if not the calibre). They attack and score and score again and again .....
No hanging on required!
You DO realise that Man Utd are the second highest scoring team in the Premier League.
Teams that 'Park the Bus' simply don't score goals
"Not sure how West Brom didn't get a pen for blatant obstruction"
Well if you knew anything about football then you'd know that an "obstruction" even commited in the penalty box is an INDIRECT FREEKICK.
What is goin on at Utd.
I'm happy City is winning but the animosty against man U is becoming energy sapping.
Please lets enjoy different kinds of football. I won't be satisfied just watching only City's kind of football.
9/10 seasons their current point tally would see them still very much in the title race.
As someone else said earlier, if this United team is so bad, what does it say about the teams below 3rd and below.
No doubt though city are unstoppable this season.