United hit back twice to rescue draw at West Brom
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ByEurosport
Updated 21/10/2014 at 00:08 GMT
Premier League, The Hawthorns - West Bromwich Albion 2 (Sessegnon 8, Berhino 66) Manchester United 2 (Fellaini 48, Blind 87)
Bildtext:WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: West Bromwich Albion defenders look dejected as Daley Blind of Manchester United (17) celebrates scoring their second and equalising goal with Marouane Fellaini during the Barclays Premier League match between
Image credit: Getty Images
Marouane Fellaini and Daley Blind scored their first goals for Manchester United as they twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at West Brom.
United have yet to win an away game under Louis van Gaal, but they will be content with the character they displayed here as they dominated large swathes of possession, and probably should have won.
Stephane Sessegnon walloped the ball high into the home rigging for the opening goal on eight minutes, but substitute Fellaini's equaliser was every bit as impressive as he outmuscled Joleon Lescott before drilling the ball beyond Boaz Myhill.
West Brom restored their lead against the run of play courtesy of Saido Berahino's fine run and finish before Blind's curling effort in the closing moments ensured United would not be departing the scene without anything to show for their output.
Van Gaal's side are 10 points behind leaders Chelsea, who they face at Old Trafford on Sunday.
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Manchester United spielte nur 2:2 bei West Bromwich
Image credit: SID
KEY MOMENTS
8' - GOAL! Sessegnon with a blistering finish. No chance for De Gea. Great run and pass from Wisdom. A blistering finish high beyond De Gea.
10' - CHANCE! Lovely pass by Di Maria to pick out Van Persie on the run, but his shot is well clawed out by Myhill, and West Brom survive.
30' - CHANCE! Fine swerving shot from Di Maria, but Myhill made a solid stop as he punched the ball clear.
48' - GOAL! Fellaini thumps the ball beyond Myhill from just inside the West Brom box. Fellaini gave Lescott the slip before walloping that finish high into the net.
66' - GOAL! Berahino with a lovely run and finish to gallop onto the Brunt pass. United again come unstuck. Defence all over the place at the back.
74' - CHANCE! Van Persie sees a shot come crashing back off a post before Januzaj lifts the rebound over the bar. So close to a second equaliser for the visitors.
87' - GOAL! Blind with the finish low and hard from 25 yards. Might have taken a deflection, but Myhill couldn't get across his goal to make the stop. 2-2.
KEY STATS
Man United also equal their club record of remaining winless in their first four Premier League away matches of a season. They also failed to win their first four away from home in 2010/11, but eventually won the championship.
Both sides draw for only the second time in 19 matches at The Hawthorns (last being Alex Ferguson’s 5-5 (in May 2013) draw in his final game at Man United manager).
Man United equal their PL club record from 1996, by remaining winless in six successive away matches and have drawn four of their last five away matches in the PL (W0-D4-L1).
Blind’s first ever goal for Man United – his last club goal came for Ajax on 2 February, against FC Utrecht.
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Manchester United's Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini (R) shoots past West Bromwich Albion's Belgian defender Sebastien Pocognoli to score their first goal
Image credit: Getty Images
TALKING POINT
Are United improving? Seem to be looking in better shape. Didn't collapse like a cheap suit when they fell behind. They will be encouraged by their attacking movements, but the defence remains a cause for concern.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United): Perhaps there is a future for the Belgian international at Old Trafford. Injected some impetus into the visiting side's play, and scored a lovely goal.
PLAYER RATINGS
West Brom: Myhill 7, Wisdom 7, Lescott 6, Dawson 7, Pocognoli 6, Gardner 6, Brunt 7, Morrison 7, Dorrans 6, Sessegnon 7, Berahino 8. Subs: Mulumbu 6.
Manchester United: De Gea 7, Rafael 7, Jones 6, Rojo 6, Shaw 6, Blind 7, Herrera 5, Januzaj 6, Mata 6, Di Maria 7, van Persie 6. Subs: Fellaini 8, Young 6, Falcao 6.
THE MATCH IN A TWEET
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