Manchester United hold on for three points despite late West Brom scare

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In a week when Manchester United’s lack of flair was a constant source of chatter, their latest victory did little to answer to answer the critics.

Goals from Romelu Lukaku against his former club and Jesse Lingard did at least help United keep cross-city rivals Manchester City just about in sight in the race for the Premier League title.

Yet what had looked set to be a routine win against a struggling West Bromwich Albion became anything but in the closing stages when Gareth Barry’s goal for the hosts left Jose Mourinho’s side holding on.

They held firm, though, in an ugly finale that did nothing to bridge the style gap to Pep Guardiola’s City but which kept the margin of their rivals lead unchanged from the start of the weekend.

Despite a dominant start from United that was aided by some sloppy West Brom passing, it was the hosts who threatened first in the ninth minute.

A backheel from Salomon Rondon freed James McClean on the left and he crossed towards the far post, where Oliver Burke was arriving.

But the former Nottingham Forest man, who was making his full Premier League debut, could not bring the ball under control.

United threatened five minutes later when Ashley Young attacked from left-back and curled a right-footed cross towards Romelu Lukaku at the far post.

But the striker was beaten to the high ball by Kieran Gibbs and was penalised for handball as he tried to keep the move alive.

The early impetus vanished from United’s play and Albion enjoyed a decent spell of possession midway through the first half.

They forced two corners on the left but the initial deliver from Grzegorz Krychowiak failed to reach the near post and the second was over-hit and headed over by Jonny Evans.

Yet United scored on 28 minutes as Burke was punished fully for squandering possession cheaply on the West Brom right.

Marcus Rashford picked up the ball and crossed to Lukaku, who crept between Gibbs and Jonny Evans to glance home a header before declining to celebrate a goal against the club where he launched his Premier League career.

West Brom threatened an equaliser on 34 minutes when Allan Nyom drove from the flight flank towards goal and crossed to the near post, where defender Chris Smalling arrived just ahead of Rondon.

But just a minute later they found themselves 2-0 down when a deflected helped Lingard to find the target.

The midfielder was teed up on the edge of the area by a combination of Lukaku and Juan Mata before hitting a shot that struck Ahmed Hegazi and beat Ben Foster.

West Brom already looked beaten but just before half-time Jake Livermore did at least draw a save from goalkeeper David De Gea with a low shot that the keeper held well.

There was an ill-tempered start to the second half after Rashford went down holding his face following minimal contact from the arm of Hegazi.

The United forward leapt up into a head-to-head confrontation with the Egyptian and was booked by referee Anthony Taylor.

Yet that fiery moment was hardly a sign of things to come in a second half that died a death as a spectacle.

United seemed content to settle for a 2-0 victory and conserve energy for tougher tests to come while Albion lacked the energy and craft to retain possession or make anything from what little of the ball they had.

Rondon drew a comfortable save from De Gea with 17 minutes remaining but that was a rare example of excitement.

Yet four minutes later came the first goal of Pardew’s reign to give the hosts some hope.

Substitute Chris Brunt delivered a corner that bounced in ugly fashion around the goalmouth before Barry poked home his first West Brom goal.

And a rousing finale to a tepid game should have brought a second Albion goal with five minutes remaining when Brunt delivered a delicious cross that found fellow substitute Jay Rodriguez.

But the former England man headed wide of the near post before United defender Marcos Rojo was spared an embarrassing own goal when his scuffed clearance went just wide.

West Brom (4-1-4-1): Foster; Nyom, Hegazi, Evans, Gibbs; Yacob (Barry HT); Burke (Rodriguez 64), Livermore, Krychowiak (Brunt 71), McClean; Rondon. Subs not used: Myhill, Robson-Kanu, Rodriguez, McAuley, Field.

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Valencia (Rojo 66), Jones, Smalling, Young; Herrera, Matic; Mata, Lingard (Lindelof 86), Rashford (Martial 79); Lukaku. Subs not used: Romero, Shaw, McTominay, Ibrahimovic.