Darren Moore: It was a game too far for West Brom

The Baggies drew a blank at The Hawthorns for the first time this season, and lost ground on the top three after falling to Kieran Dowell's 14th-minute header.

It was Albion's seventh game in 22 days, and came four days after an emotionally-draining 3-2 win at Loftus Road.

United, on the other hand, had three extra days to prepare for the match.

Moore was pleased with his side's effort, but believed lethargy took its toll.

"I said to the lads that I had no complaints at all because they gave everything," he said. "I just think that maybe it was a game too far.

"I know us and we were just a little but short in terms of getting that final push towards the end.

"We got in some really good threatening positions but we just couldn't get that elusive touch to get back into the game.

"We were just lacking that bit of extra spark really which was needed in a game like this.

"It was a tight game. United got the goal and I was very impressed with how they defended.

"They were resolute and stuck to their task.

"The keeper pulled off some wonderful saves, the one at the end with Jefferson Montero, he's not only saved it, he's held it.

"But credit to the boys they couldn't have given anymore and while they give that I can have no complaints. We move on."

It's now five league games without a win at The Hawthorns for Moore's men, who haven't tasted victory at home since Boxing Day.

That contrasts dramatically with their form on the road, where they have won eight of the last nine in the league.

"I put that down to teams coming here and putting men behind the ball and making it really difficult not wanting to play open football," said Moore.

"Which is no problem, that is the way it is, that's the way their tactics are.

"So at the moment our results have been coming on the road.

"But we want our home fans to see us win and we will be looking at that before our next home game."

Albion did have the ball in the net five minutes before the end but Jay Rodriguez immediately held his hand up to indicate he had handled it.

"The referee dealt with it," said Moore. "He's held his hands up (and admitted it) so we move on."

Dwight Gayle returned from a two-match ban for diving and was booed by the away end during the match.

But in the 90th minute, Gayle went over a Richard Stearman leg in the box in an off-the-ball incident.

"The guys said that downstairs," said Moore. "I've not seen it. You've said it, and so have others, so there must have been something in it. But I've not seen it so can't comment."

With Norwich, Leeds, and Middlesbrough also winning, Albion lost ground on all their promotion rivals this weekend.

And it could prove to have wider ramifications after Ahmed Hegazi was forced off with an ankle injury.

"We'll wait and see in the next 48 hours what's happened with him," said Moore. "He looked in a lot of discomfort."

But Moore did give a positive update on Jacob Murphy, who was not involved in the squad at all.

"He's played four games in 10 days so it was just a bridge too far," said Albion's head coach. "He had a strain so we had to leave him out. It's just the volume of games."