West Brom vs Manchester United match report: Zlatan Ibrahimovic masterclass proves United mean business

West Brom 0 Manchester United 2: Two goals from striker Ibrahimovic halted West Brom's run of form in a fiery affair that saw the striker show the best and worst of his talents

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice to give Manchester United victory over West Brom (Getty)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic made it 152 goals in his last 170 league games as Manchester United sauntered to a comfortable two goal victory over West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

The Swedish icon showed just why he is un-droppable as United bossed a feisty contest that erupted following Ibrahimovic's robust and downright petulant shoulder charge on Craig Dawson.

By then he had already put the visitors ahead with a close-range header. He added a second ten minutes after the re-start courtesy of a little good fortune but there was no mistaking his quality on the ball after another 90 minute masterclass.

The win sees United go level on points with fifth-placed Tottenham who play on Sunday, but it is more the manner of the victory against an in-form Baggies that will leave the rest of the Premier League in little doubt that the Jose Mourinho's men finally mean business.

Mourinho made three changes to a side who had dug deep to win at Crystal Palace with Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian and Jesse Lingard all coming in. Eric Bailly, Daley Blind and Juan Mata all missed out.

James Morrison made way for West Bromwich in their only change following a 3-1 win over Swansea in midweek. Chris Brunt switched from left-back to right midfield with Craig Dawson reinstated at right-back after a one match ban.

Albion, chasing a fourth straight home win, actually began the brighter but within five minutes had fallen behind. The visitors by this time were already smarting from an ambitious penalty appeal that was waved away by referee Anthony Taylor after Lingard, rather too theatrically, fell on the edge of the penalty area under an outstretched Allan Nyom arm as they chased Marcos Rojo's hopeful punt.

United did not feel aggrieved for long. Paul Pogba passed inside to Antonio Valencia whose long ball down the right sent Lingard clear of Nyom. The striker's cross could not have been placed any better and Ibrahimovic, who had gotten goalside of Gareth McAuley, nodded home a simple 15th goal of a fine season.

United upped the tempo and could have increased their lead when Wayne Rooney's header smacked against Craig Dawson's face and behind for a corner.

Albion were fractions away from a beautifully crafted in-swinging corner by Chris Brunt. The ball flicked off Jonas Olsson's shoulder at the near post and fizzed across the face of goal and wide.

Ben Foster denied Wayne Rooney the chance to equal Bobby Charlton's United goalscoring record with a save of some repute. The skipper's fiercely-struck half-volley from the edge of the area was tipped against the crossbar by a firm hand from the former England goalkeeper.

Lingard and Ibrahimovic combined for the opening goal (Getty)

Ibrahimovic showed the darker side of his game when he was rightly booked for clattering into Dawson late with his shoulder as the defender rose to head clear. It was an ugly challenge with seemingly little interest in challenging for the ball and could easily have warranted a greater sanction from referee Anthony Taylor.

Half-chances came at both ends with Brunt's low shot well held by David De Gea, and Ibrahimovic rolling a delightful pass to send Rooney haring in on goal until Foster raced off his line to smother.

Salomon Rondon, scorer of three headed goals against Swansea, should have done better as he rose between Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo to Matt Phillips' right-wing cross but sent his effort well wide from six yards.

Phillips tried his luck from fully 35 yards but drilled well wide of target.

Rooney remains a goal short of sir Bobby Robson's club record (Getty)

United really should have increased their lead on the stroke of half-time. Matteo Darmian's complete mis-kick turned into a delicious pass but Lingard had left his composure on the team bus as he blazed horribly over the crossbar.

Dawson was walking a disciplinary tightrope four minutes after the re-start after clumsily coming through the back of Ibrahimovic and earning a yellow card.

United profited from a big slice of luck in grabbing their second when, following fine trickery from Rooney, Ibrahimovic picked up the pieces, darted between two defenders and saw his low shot deflect into the corner of the net off Dawson.

Rondon appeared to slap Rojo in the face during one of many clashes (Getty)

Lingard was booked for delaying an Albion free-kick. When the ball was eventually played into the box by Chris Brunt, Gareth McAuley couldn't rise high enough and directed a poor header wide.

United were on easy street by now with Paul Pogba and Michael Carrick pulling the strings. But there was also a niggly edge to the contest harking back, no doubt, to Ibrahimovic's first half misdemeanour. Marcos Rojo and Rondon were both carded in the latest in a number of flare-ups. The pair squared up and exchanged words following Rondon's challenge close to the corner flag. Rondon pushed the defender in the chest and there were suggestions he then slapped the defender.

It mattered not one jot as United played out the rest of the half without fuss.

Teams

West Brom (4-2-3-1): Foster; Dawson (Morrison,74), McAuley, Olsson, Nyom; Yacob, Fletcher; Brunt, Chadli (Leko,82) Phillips (Robson-Kanu, 81); Rondon.

Subs not used: Myhill, Gardner, McClean, Galloway.

Manchester United (4-3-3): De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Darmian; Herrera (Smalling, 90+1), Carrick, Pogba; Lingard (Rashford, 77), Ibrahimovic, Rooney (Fellaini,84).

Subs not used: Romero, Mata, Martial, Blind.