PREMIER LEAGUE
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LIVE COMMENTARY
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Rondon has actually managed to pick the ball up a couple of times already, and despite the isolation, he has did well to beat away the unsuccessful challenge of Blind. West Brom may have some joy with the powerful Venezuelan againt the United defender - if they can get the ball to him.
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Perhaps predictably, Man Utd are dominating possession in these early stages with West Brom sitting deep with nine men behind the ball. Rondon is the away side's lone striker today, and you get the feeling he may be fairly isolated this afternoon if this pattern continues.
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We are under way at Old Trafford!
The teams have made their way to the pitch and we are almost ready for kick-off!
West Brom (4-5-1): Myhill; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Brunt; Sessegnon, Fletcher, Morrison, Yacob, McClean; Rondon.
Man Utd (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Young, Smalling, Blind, Rojo; Carrick, Schweinsteiger; Lingard, Mata, Martial; Rooney.
TEAM NEWS...
West Brom have enjoyed a typically solid beginning to the season under the pragmatic tutorship of Tony Pulis, and currently find themselves in 12th place with 14 points taken from 11 matches. Like United, goalscoring has been an issue for them this season as they have managed to record just 10 goals in the Barclays Premier League. Under the former Crystal Palace boss, the Baggies have been defeated just twice in their last nine top-flight fixtures on the road.
Despite their slight profligacy in front of goal, the Red Devils currently find themselves in the last Champions League qualifying position with 21 points taken from 11 matches – four points behind joint-leaders Arsenal and Manchester City and one point behind high-flying Leicester.
Apart from perhaps Van Gaal himself, the figure that has came under the most pressure due to the recent abject results has been Wayne Rooney, who has had a below-par season up until this point. However, there is cause for optimism for England's top goalscorer as he managed to claim the only goal of the match in Tuesday's vital Champions League victory over CSKA Moscow. The 30-year-old also has a superb record against West Brom in recent years, having been involved in 11 goals via scoring or assisting in his last seven starts against the Baggies.
However, despite a massive improvement at the back, Louis van Gaal and his charges have came under plenty of scrutiny in recent weeks for their lack of prowess at the opposite end of the pitch in the final third, as they have netted just twice in their past five games in all competitions, while also being involved in two consecutive goalless draws in the league against Manchester City and Crystal Palace. This brand of football has been criticised this week by club legends such as Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, who believe a club of United's stature should be implementing more entertaining tactics for the fans.
Today's clash sees two of the sides with the best defensive records in the league come head-to-head. Man Utd have kept more clean sheets than any other team in the division so far this season, while West Brom have not conceded in four out of their first five away matches.
I'm Martin Macdonald, and it is my pleasure to take you through the action.
Good afternoon football fans! Welcome to LIVE coverage of the Barclays Premier League clash between Manchester United and West Brom from Old Trafford!
"A Man who Never Made a Mistake, Never Made Anything"
-David Gemmell
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