Zlatan Ibrahimovic fires Manchester United to victory at West Brom with classy double

Manchester United consolidated their recent good form, winning their fourth game in a row thanks to a brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. They stay sixth, but are now level on points with Tottenham in fifth.

West Brom, in the midst of a decent run themselves, started well, pinning United back with perceptive passing, but went behind after five minutes when Jesse Lingard's run into space invited Antonio Valencia to thump a long ball down the line. A fine cross then followed, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic headed past Ben Foster.

United could easily have extended their advantage, Wayne Rooney coming closest with a drive against the bar, before, on 56 minutes, Ibrahimovic scored his 16th goal of the season, nipping past a couple of challenges on the left edge of the box before flicking up and drilling low; Craig Dawson's deflection ensured the ball beat Foster, though it would probably have done so in any event.

A brief flashpoint between Salomon Rondon and Marcos Rojo looked like it might entertain later on, but referee Anthony Taylor booked both and the game petered out thereafter.

Why did it take so long for United play like United? Manchester United are playing very well now, but are also 13 points behing Chelsea - who also have a new manager, tasked with tidying up Mourinho's mess. There is no excuse for how long it took Mourinho to deduce that Michael Carrick is indispensable, likewise that Ander Herrera is better than Marouane Fellaini and that 4-3-3 suits his players better than 4-4-2.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) The kind of game for which he was bought. Under Louis van Gaal, United were good in the big games, but struggled to beat teams below them. A scorer of Ibrahimovic's pedigree will ensure that now happens a lot less.

West Bromwich Albion: Foster 6, Dawson 7, McAuley 7, Olsson 6, Nyom 6, Yacob 6, Fletcher 6, Chadli 6, Brunt 5, Phillips 6, Rondon 5. Subs: Morrison, Robson-Kanu 6, Leko 6.

Manchester United: De Gea 6, Valencia 7, Jones 7, Rojo 6, Darmian 6, Carrick 7, Herrera 6, Pogba 6, Lingard 7, Ibrahimovic 8, Rooney 6. Subs: Rashford 6, Fellaini 6, Smalling 6.

5 - GOAL! West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Manchester United (Ibrahimovic) This is a lovely goal! Valencia has the ball at right-back and immediately, Lingard is on his bike. Valencia humps down the line, it lands in his path and he lets it bounce, controlling a brilliant cross into the middle, where Zlatan punches the header home.

12 - And Brunt produces a jazzer, too - swerving in like billy-o, all the more so when Olsson is up first at the near post. But no one's gambling at the back, the ball rushes out for a goalkick.

23 - Lovely from United - Lingard's movement causing disruption again. He appears down the left, cuts back a cross, and Rooney takes a touch, then smacks a shot goalwards. It looks like it's going in too, but Foster gets a very good touch to tip it against the bar.

31 - Fantastic play from Phillips - nashing by Lingard and Valencia and swinging over a perfect cross for Rondon, mooching about between Jones and Rojo. He's up well too, but flashes a free header wide.

45 - United keep it moving - and Valencia gets round the back, crossing for Lingard who can't get there. But the ball ends up being lifted back in, Darmian totally miscues a volley - no, really - and Lingard touches brilliantly into his own path. He's in! So he smashes over the top for no reason whatsoever!

56 - GOAL! West Brom 0-2 Manchester United (Ibrahimovic) Rooney wriggles down the left and knocks into Zlatan on the corner of the box, who mooches between two defenders, flicks it up, takes his time, and shoots low towards the far corner - whereupon Dawson's deflection makes sure it finds its way into the net.