To repeat the much used cliché, morning did not show the day.
You could be forgiven for thinking that with Manchester United 1-0 up versus West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns in under three minutes, the headlines would be on Wayne Rooney’s first goal from open play since March.
The headlines will still be on Rooney’s header but West Brom did manage to claw their way back into the game, James Morrison’s maiden Premier League strike making it 1-1, till second half substitute Javier Hernandez settled the tie with another header.
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This was after Peter Odemwingie had won and fluffed a penalty, after Gary Neville had not been penalised for an infringement on the West Brom striker. Replays suggested it was a blatant penalty and Neville should probably have seen red.
Once again it wasn’t a convincing display from the Red Devils but they rode on their luck and took their chances to win only their second away match this season.
Tomas Kuszczak’s inexperience was always going to be tested by West Brom and tested he was when Morrison’s perfectly timed volley, the home side’s first shot on target, swerved into the far corner. There wasn’t much the keeper could do about the goal but the defence should have closed Morrison down.
Gabriel Obertan tried his best, using his pace and trickery, starting the move that led to Rooney’s opener, but he is no Nani and the Portuguese international was sorely missed. West Brom attacked at will and United lacked cover at the back. While Obertan fared decently on the left, Anderson and Darren Fletcher were fairing miserably on the right.
After the break, Rooney was shifted to the left and Obertan switched to the right, while Dimitiat Berbatov was deployed as the lone striker. Anderson, Fletcher and Michael made formed a 3-man central midfield. This was immediately effective as United began attacking.
The attack seemed more potent when Hernandez came on for the lacklustre Berbatov. The Mexican looked very likely and scored off a corner after a defensive lapse from the hosts.
United have been riding their luck all season. Despite an average performance overall, they find themselves unbeaten and top of the table at the start of the new year. They rode on their luck again as they edged West Brom who deserved at least a point for their efforts.
Morning did not show the day. But dusk was as dark as dawn for West Brom.
