Second-half goals from Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata have given Manchester United a 2-0 win in a closely-fought match with West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford in the Premier League.
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The home side dominated possession from the start, with Lingard and Mata both trying to cross the ball in from out wide, but West Brom had numbers back to make sure their opponents did not get ahead early on.
Wayne Rooney tried to create something for United, but the captain fired wide after latching onto a loose ball in the box, but Mata curled the ball wide after being played in by the striker.
The Baggies finally managed to make a run down the other end shortly before the interval, with Salomon Rondon seeing Chris Smalling turn his effort behind for a corner, which was easily cleared by the hosts.
Boaz Myhill was called into action for the first time moments before the interval though as the home side tried to finish the first half on the front foot, but Anthony Martial left the keeper with a comfortable save as he tried to turn in a free kick from Rooney.
The second half started much as the first had ended, with United still seeing the majority of the ball, but the home side finally managed to break the deadlock less than 10 minutes after the restart as Lingard picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box, calmly curling the ball into the bottom corner.
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West Brom started to see more of the ball as the final half hour approached, with Stephane Sessegnon trying to create something, but the home side's back four held firm.
Michael Carrick tried to double the home side's lead with a curling effort from just outside the penalty area, but the midfielder's finish lacked power, leaving Myhill with an easy stop.
Tony Pulis made a couple of attacking changes in a bid to get back on level terms inside the final 20 minutes, sending Saido Berahino and Rickie Lambert on for the visitors, but it was former United man Darren Fletcher who almost found on equaliser, heading wide from a Chris Brunt free kick.
Berahino was almost on the scoresheet within five minutes of his introduction though, meeting a cross from Craig Dawson before heading just over the crossbar.
Opportunities continued to come at both ends of the pitch as full time approached, with David de Gea having to gather a low cross from Brunt before Mata got it back down the other end.
It was the home side that managed to put the win beyond doubt in injury time though as Gareth McAuley pulled Martial down in the penalty box, earning himself a red card and leaving Mata to double the margin from the penalty spot.
The result, which is Louis van Gaal's side's first league win in three outings, keeps United fourth in the Premier League table, while West Brom sit 12th.
Sian Cowper
