A late own goal spared the blushes of goalkeeper David de Gea as Manchester United began the defence of the title with victory at West Brom.
Watch English Premier League match, West Brom Vs Man Utd highlights here.
Venue: The Hawthorns.
Date: Sunday, 14 August 2011.
Kick-off: 1600 BST.
0-1 Rooney 13′
1-1 Long 37′
1-2Head-to-head
– West Brom have lost the last seven times they have hosted Manchester United in the league, a run stretching back to 1984.
– The Baggies came back from 2-0 down to hold United to a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford last season but lost 2-1 at the Hawthorns.
i think SAF should sign John Mensah for cover for Vidic
Man Utd start the season with the same spirit and determination they showed last season – but their “defensive crisis” has started early.
Smalling and Jones may soon have to show just why SAF sees them as the natural heirs to the Rio/Vida defensive axis.
It is something of a mystery why SAF has dropped the young, inexperienced, underweight and non-English speaking De Gea in at the deep end when Lindegaard looks ready and confident. That would have allowed De Gea to be phased in gradually, and without the added pressure.
West Brom will be gutted to have lost by a deflected goal, but despite having periods of good pressure, without Odemwinge they lacked a cutting edge to take advantage.
Despite not making the best of a storming start, United looked the only likely winner at the end, but WBA look to have enough quality under Hodgson to avoid a relegation struggle this season.