West Brom 1 Manchester United 1 - Report

In a thrilling clash at The Hawthorns, Mbaye Diagne put the Baggies ahead after just 90 seconds with an outstanding header that saw him completely out-muscle Victor Lindelof.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side pulled level just before the break thanks to an excellent volley from Bruno Fernandes.

But while United dominated possession after the interval - and saw a Scott McTominay shot cleared off the line - the Baggies had two glorious chances to win it late on.

First Diagne out-muscled Harry Maguire to put himself one-on-one with David de Gea only for the Spaniard to deny him with not one, but two, excellent saves.

Darnell Furlong then whipped in a wonderfully inviting cross which Diagne met but, stretching, sent over the bar.

Incredibly the drama wasn’t over with Johnstone matching De Gea’s heroics with a world-class save to deny Maguire deep into added on time.

Even with that stop, though, the Baggies deserved a point at the very least with Allardyce’s men putting in a display that was transformational compared to the last few weeks.

Both with and without the ball, the Baggies were much improved - with this result giving them a huge confidence boost heading into crucial games against Burnley, Brighton, Newcastle and Crystal Palace.

Report

From the moment he walked through the door, Allardyce felt his January recruits would be key if the Baggies are to secure Premier League survival.

And the for the first time, the boss was able to start all four of the players he signed last month.

Opting for a 4-3-3 formation, Okay Yukuslu made his full debut in the holding midfield role with fellow new recruit Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Conor Gallagher joining him in the middle of the park.

Robert Snodgrass started on the right wing with Matheus Pereira on the left and Diagne the central striker.

Manchester United lined up in a 4-3-3 formation that saw Edinson Cavani lead the line with Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford either side.

In midfield, Fernandes operated slightly ahead of Fred and McTominay.

Solskjær’s side arrived with the best away record in the country. But a blistering start from Albion saw them take the lead inside 90 seconds.

Gallagher sent in a cross that - while dangerous - was more hopeful than expectant.

But Diagne showed bundles of hunger andn desire to completely out-muscle Lindelof before powering a header past de Gea.

Both going forward and defensively the Baggies had settled really quickly.

They looked organised and resilient without the ball. But with it, they were being much more positive and progressive than they had been for a long time.

Constantly snapping at the heels of a United player whenever they got the ball, it meant the visitors - while bright on the ball - had created very little as the clock ticked towards the half-hour mark.

Albion, meanwhile, had come close to grabbing a second with Snodgrass seeing a header tipped over after an excellent Conor Townsend cross.

One big reason the Baggies were playing so well was new man Yokuslu with the Turkish international sweeping up in front of the defence expertly at times and also impressing with his passing.

But as the half-time whistle approached, United started to camp deep into Albion territory.

And just moments before the break that pressure told with Fernandes pulling them level with an outstanding goal.

It was Luke Shaw who claimed the assist with the England full-back standing up a cross.

Like Diagne earlier, though, Fernandes still had everything to do with the midfielder firing in an outstanding volley which found the top corner.

That goal, while out of the top draw, was cruel on the Baggies who had done enough to get to the interval ahead.

Yokuslu and Maitland-Niles had both screened the back-four in a manner which Albion fans haven’t seen this season.

While going forward, Allardyce’s men and been more front-footed and positive on the ball in what, all-round, had been a significantly improved 45-minute display.

Albion were forced into a change at the break with Furlong replacing Peltier at right-back.

But while United continued to dominate the ball following the re-start, Albion almost got themselves back in front with a swift-counter.

First Maitland-Niles did well to find Pereira in the box.

But then drilled a strike across goal that sailed narrowly wide.

There was controversy just past the hour mark when referee Craig Pawson gave United a penalty after he judged Semi Ajayi had hauled down Maguire in the box.

But after being told to check his pitch-side monitor, the referee decided there had been no foul.

Albion made their second change in the 67th minute with Jake Livermore replacing Yokuslu.

United then created a glorious chance to take the lead with substitue Mason Greenwood hitting a low drive which Johnstone brilliantly blocked with his leg.

The loose ball fell then for McTominay but his shot was hacked off the line by Furlong.

With a little over 10 minutes to go, Albion had a chance just as glorious to re-take the lead.

In a foot race with Maguire, Diagne once again proved to strong and muscled the England man off the ball to be one-on-one with De Gea.

The Spainish keeper did well to to block his strike. But the ball ball fell kindly for the forward who looked destined to nod into an empty net.

Somehow, though, De Gea managed to haul himself up off the floor and fling himself at the ball to claw it away with what was a truly incredible stop.

If that save was spectacular, Johnstone made one just as good deep into five minutes of added on time.

A cross into the box was met by Maguire who looked to have placed his header into the top corner.

But Johnstone got across his goal to spectacualrly tip the ball onto the post with the Baggies then able to clear.

Teams

Albion (4-3-3): Johnstone, Peltier (Furlong 46), Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend, Yokuslu (Livermore 67), Gallagher, Maitland-Niles, Snodgrass (Phillips 87), Diagne, Pereira.

Subs not used: Button, O'Shea,, Sawyers, Grant, Robinson, Robson-Kanu.

Man Utd: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Fred (Van de Beek 79), Martial (Greenwood 66), Fernandes, Rashford, Cavani.

Subs not used: Henderson, Bailly, Telles, Williams, Tuanzebe, Matic, James.