Sam Allardyce: West Brom have a chance of survival playing like that

In a pulsating clash at The Hawthorns, the Baggies played out a 1-1 draw with Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s side but on another day could easily have taken all three points.

Allardyce’s side took the lead after just 90 seconds when Mbaye Diagne out-muscled Victor Lindelof to power in a header.

United pulled level just before half-time with a stunning Bruno Fernandes volley - their only effort on target in the opening 45 minutes.

But while the visitors had chances to win it in the second half, Albion had better ones with Diagne doing good work but ultimately missing two glorious opportunities.

The result leaves Albion 12 points from safety heading into four crucial games against Burnley, Brighton, Newcastle and Crystal Palace.

“I see a squad of players who are getting better and if they apply themselves at that level - or better - in every single game between now and the end of the season they will give themselves a chance (of survival),” Allardyce said.

“We have to be very satisfied with the Manchester United performance - they are a team who haven’t been beaten away from home in 18 matches.

“We had a big opportunity to beat them - to stop that run.

“But to say you got a point from Man United is a big point. We would have liked more obviously.

“But we take the game in context. It was a great performance from the boys. That is now what they have to aspire to every single week now.”

On his team’s overall display against United, Allardyce said: “I’m very pleased.

“We showed excellent application, we were excellent in terms of how we limited Manchester United to very few opportunities.

“Going forward I’m really, really, pleased with how many chances we created.

“But I’m disappointed we didn’t convert more because with the chances we created we should have won the game.

“We had better opportunities than Manchester United to win the match.

“We have to settle for a point but I’m really pleased with the overall performance.

To be able to say I am slightly disappointed with the result, that is a big thing to say when you are a team that is struggling and you come up against Manchester United.

“But that is how I feel, I feel disappointed we didn’t win it.”