Manchester United 0-1 West Bromwich Albion : 5 Talking Points

#4 United must be more ruthless against defensive-minded teams

Lukaku was left frustrated

United's woes have not so much come against the teams from top six, as against sides who come up against the Old Trafford outfit with the objective of coming away with a point.

Defeats against newly-promoted Huddersfield and Newcastle, an undeserved victory against Brighton, in November via an own-goal, and now a morale-damaging defeat against lowly West Bromwich Albion could all be seen as missed opportunities by Jose Mourinho's side and have ultimately accumulated to conceding the title to their neighbours with a month of the season still to play.

United's occasional reluctance to take the game by the scruff of the next and wear out their opponents despite bossing possession have often come back to bite them.

Today's performance against the league's basement outfit was another example of such a case. Alexis Sanchez's tendency to drive himself with the ball rather than maneuver it through the defence takes the sting out of an attack and ultimately cramps him for room.

Lukaku's first touch, despite his recent good form, still needs improving and the overall finish isn't clinical enough to seal games.

In the end, United were consigned to long balls and crosses in reaction to going behind. West Bromwich Albion were set up for exactly that kind of a situation, helping them grab an unlikely victory to put the title race to bed, once and for all.