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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United are on the verge of the top four after moving level on points with Tottenham to sit just three points behind fourth-placed Manchester City following the 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion, with striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring both goals in a fiery affair at The Hawthorns. Re-live the action here.
- Manchester United beat West Brom 2-0
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic opens the socring with a close-range header inside five minutes
- Swedish striker doubles the lead after the break with a deflected effort
- Win puts United level on points with fifth-placed Spurs
- West Brom remain seventh but seven points behind United
Follow live coverage on our blog below...
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It’s a big game for...
Juan Mata: The midfielder returned to the side in Mkhitaryan’s absence for the 2-1 victory over Palace, but was replaced after 70 minutes by Jesse Lingard. If Mata is given another chance to make the wide-right berth his own today, he needs to show Mourinho why he’s capable of challenging Mkhitaryan for the position when he returns from injury next week.
He was also sent-off in this fixture last year and will want to ensure it doesn’t remain an unhappy hunting ground.
Best stat...
40: The surprising number of time West Brom have actually beaten United in the league out of their 120 meetings. United hold the better record, but they have not been as dominant in this fixture as you might have thought, with the Red Devils holding 52 victories over the Baggies with 28 draws.
Player to look out for...
Salomon Rondon: The Venezuelan striker has found his form at West Brom this season and notched a superb 13-minute headed-hat-trick in Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over Swansea. He also scored against United last season in West Brom’s surprise victory over Louis van Gaal’s side, and he has the physicality to cause the likes of Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo problems at the back.
Likely teams...
West Brom: Foster; Nyom, Olsson, McAuley, Dawson; Morrison, Phillips, Brunt, Chadli, Fletcher; Rondon.
Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Blind; Carrick, Herrera; Mata, Pogba, Rooney; Ibrahimovic.
Past three meetings...
West Brom 1 (Rondon) Manchester United 0, Premier League, March 2016
Manchester United 2 (Lingard, Mata), West Brom 0, Premier League, November 2015
Manchester United 0 West Brom 1 (Olsson), Premier League, May 2015
Form...
West Brom: WWDWLW
Manchester United: DWDWWW
Odds:
West Brom to win: 24/5
Manchester United to win: 69/100
Draw: 14/5
(Odds provided by 888Sport)
Where can I watch it...
West Brom vs Manchester United kicks off at 17:30 GMT. The match will be shown live on BT Sport 1 from 17:00. Highlights will be shown on BBC One at 22:25 GMT.
You can also follow the match as it happens with The Independent’s live blog right here.
66 MINS
A West Brom attack deflates as Valencia steals possession inside of the box and charges out of the danger zone. Nyom had delivered a delicate ball into the box, but despite their aerial excellence, it failed to find a Baggies shirt.
69 MINS
Pogba goes for goal from distance, but he fails to connect with the strike properly and it makes light work for Foster. It's a simple save in the end.
72 MINS
Olsson obstructs Lingard and the United man goes to ground, voicing his frustration about the challenge. Free kick to the visitors.
75 MINS
A West Brom free-kick goes into the box towards McAuley, but Ibrahimovic comes out on top and heads the ball to safety.
78 MINS
Rashford bombs forward with the counter attack, with two teammates to his right. He beats the first defender and then lays the ball off to Rooney, but the experienced striker crumbles and looses possession.
81 MINS
Substitution: Phillips is replaced by Robson-Kanu
Chadli is replaced by Leko
87 MINS
Leko has made a positive impact since his introduction, as his first thought when he picks up the ball is to run at the United defenders. It's a refreshing approach for Pulis' men.
Yellow card: Brunt takes down Rashford, with a brutal shoulder barge.
FULL TIME
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0 - 2 MANCHESTER UNITED
Mourinho's men continue their title chase following a deserved three points at The Hawthorns, thanks to two goals from the magical Ibrahimovic. The home side failed to make a real impact on the game, despite a recent run of flourishing form. It was incredibly one-sided, with United remaining dominant throughout. It was an impressive performance from an ever-improving side.
That's all from us today, but be sure to tune in tomorrow for live updates of all of the Super Sunday fixtures.
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