West Brom 0 Manchester United 2 - Report

Analysis

The Swedish striker netted a goal in each half to ensure the Baggies final home game of 2016 ended in defeat.

Ibrahimovic headed home after just five minutes to open the scoring and then struck early in the second half with a shot which deflected in off defender Craig Dawson.

The Baggies, who had won their previous three home games, found chances at a premium, with Chris Brunt registering their only attempt on target.

Albion had netted ten goals during the winning run at home but found United a far tougher nut to crack.

Bar a first half header which drifted wide, top scorer Salomon Rondon was well shackled by United's centre-back pairing of Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo. Indeed, such was the frustration of Albion's top scorer, he was lucky to escape with only a yellow card after aiming a needless slap in the direction of Rojo during the second period.

Defeat meant the Baggies remained seventh in the Premier League, though they are now six points behind United, who remain sixth. If anything, this game was a reminder of the gulf which exists between the top six and the rest of the division.

Ultimately, it was the extra bit of quality from Ibrahimovic which made the difference, in a game where the hosts showed no shortage of effort but lacked the nous to open up a stubborn visiting defence.

That said, the 35-year-old's performance was not without controversy. Ibrahimovic was himself perhaps lucky not to avoid more serious punishment than a yellow card after an airborne barge on Dawson midway through the opening half, which left the Albion man on the ground.

With their team in form, there was an unmistakable air of optimism around The Hawthorns at kick-off. Yet it was undone in an instant when Ibrahimovic netted the opener with less than five minutes on the clock.

The ball seemed to move from deep in the United half to the back of the Baggies net in the blink of an eye. Antonio Valencia's long-ball down the flank was fired across the box first time by Jesse Lingard and Ibrahimovic, who had peeled away from Gareth McAuley at the far post, made no mistake with the header.

The goal unquestionably knocked some of the wind out of Albion's sails and they would have trailed by two midway through the half but for a brilliant save from keeper Ben Foster, who tipped Wayne Rooney's drive onto the bar.

Gradually, the Baggies began to find some joy in the final third. Brunt shot straight at David De Gea from outside the box, before Rondon headed wide. A better finish from Darren Fletcher then might have delivered an equaliser but the skipper miscued hit shot horribly after Albion's best move of the match.

As it was, the hosts were perhaps fortunate to enter the interval only a goal down, Lingard wasting a superb chance to double United's lead when he blasted over the bar after Matteo Darmian's sliced volley had fallen perfectly into his path.

Luck deserted the hosts 11 minutes after the restart, however, when Ibrahimovic did increase the advantage. The Swedish striker skipped past challenges from Matt Phillips and McAuley before firing a shot which flew past Foster and into the far corner, thanks to a large deflection off the unlucky Dawson, was was trying to block it.

Albion pushed forward in search of a way back but none came. Phillips had a shot blocked while Paul Pogba sent an effort straight at Foster as the game petered out.

Key moments

5 - GOAL - Ibrahimovic puts United ahead as Albion are undone at the back. Valencia's long-ball is crossed first time by Lingard and Ibrahimovic heads home at the far post.

12 - Almost a leveller for Albion. Brunt's inswinging corner flicks off the back of Olsson and flys wide of the far post.

22 - Ben Foster denies United a second, pushing Wayne Rooney's drive onto the bar.

23 - Ibrahimovic is booked for a hefty challenge on Dawson. Swede jumped into the Albion man. Many home fans want a red.

31 - Better from Albion. Rondon rises to meet Matt Phillips' cross but sends his header wide of the far post.

39 - Albion's best move of the match to date ends with Darren Fletcher completely miscuing his shot from 15 yards out.

45 Big let-off for Albion as Darmian's sliced attempt falls perfectly for Lingard but he fires over the bar.

56 - GOAL United are two up. Ibrahimovic again the scorer. His shot from just inside the box deflects off Dawson and into the far corner.]

78 - Paul Pogba fires an effort straight at Ben Foster from outside the box.

Teams

Albion (4-2-3-1): Foster; Dawson (Morrison 74), McAuley, Olsson, Nyom; Yacob, Fletcher (c); Brunt, Chadli (Leko 82), Phillips (Robson-Kanu 82); Rondon Subs not used: Gardner, McClean, Galloway, Myhill (gk).

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Darmian, Herrera (Smalling 90), Carrick, Lingard (Rashford 77), Pogba, Rooney (Fellaini 84), Ibrahimovic Subs not used: Blind, Mata, Martial, Romero (gk).

Position in the table

Seventh. No change.