West Brom 0 Manchester United 2: Zlatan Ibrahimovic nets twice as Jose Mourinho’s side pass tough Baggies test with flying colours
Giant Swede took just four minutes to open the scoring before crafting a second out of nothing to seal all three points
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ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC was the star again as Jose Mourinho's Manchester United cruised past West Brom at the Hawthorns.
The Swede nodded home after four minutes after a great cross from Jesse Lingard before doubling the lead in the second half with a deflected strike from the edge of the box.
Wayne Rooney smashed the bar with a rasping drive in between the two strikes, as United were rarely troubled by the hosts.
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Ibrahimovic was however embroiled in a controversial incident before the break and could've seen red for a forearm smash which left Craig Dawson flat on his back.
And right on half-time Lingard should've doubled the lead, but thrashed at his shot and fired over the bar.
After the interval, United continued to get in behind the Baggies defence and doubled their advantage after Ibrahimovic beat two men with ease and smashed a deflected shot into the corner.
Tony Pulis' side pushed for a way back into the game but United looked strong defensively and never looked in danger of conceding.
They go into the Christmas period with a favourable run of games with both eyes firmly on the top four.
Facts, stats, goals & lols
Only Ruud van Nistelrooy netted more goals in his first 16 Premier League appearances (12) than Ibrahimovic (11, level with Van Persie and Cole).
The Swede has netted in 100 of his 170 league games since the start of 2011/12 (152 goals in that period).
Wayne Rooney has registered nine assists this season in all competitions for the Red Devils, more than any other player.
- Many Baggies fans felt Ibrahimovic should have gone in the first half when he clattered into Craig Dawson but replays showed it was a shoulder charge and not an elbow. It was the right call by the referee to show just a yellow card.
- Wayne Rooney still waits to get that all time scoring record and still stands one behind Sir Bobby Charlton who was in attendance as usual.
- Rooney did have one cracking effort in the first half, however, superbly tipped onto the bar by Ben Foster.
- Salomon Rondon’s hat-trick of headers against Swansea in the midweek was the first in the top flight since Duncan Ferguson did so against Bolton 19 years ago.
- It is testament to United’s defence that they restricted Rondon to just one header in this game which went well wide.
- Interesting that the Baggies most vociferous fans are singing how pleased they are to have Tony Pulis right now after voicing their displeasure at his style of football earlier in the season.
- That is one defeat in 13 in all competitions now for United since that 4-0 humiliation at Stamford Bridge.
- Pulis made it very clear in his programme notes that he expects to spend in the New Year transfer window to bolster his squad saying: “I have stated before that the club needs stability but also the opportunity to invest in quality players.”
- Jose Mourino brought in four players in the transfer window but it is like he has acquired another four with the turnaround in form of Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, Ander Herrera and Matteo Darmian.
The big picture
Next five fixtures
West Brom
Arsenal (a) - Dec 26
Southampton (a) - Dec 31
Hull (h) - Jan 2
Derby (h) - Jan 7
Spurs (a) - Jan 14
Manchester United
Sunderland (h) - Dec 26
Middlesbrough (h) - Dec 31
West Ham (a) - Jan 2
Reading (h) - Jan 7
Hull (h) - Jan 10
