Manchester United Thrash West Bromwich Albion 5-0 and Break League Record

Shuggo Scott by Contributor Written on January 27, 2009
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Great but surprising news for Man United. Rio Ferdinand and Ji-Sung Park were back in the starting lineup for United and Wes Brown started on the bench, which is fantastic news considering the recent defensive injuries we have had recently.
The match was delayed for half an hour because of congestion on the roads. Before the match West Brom had a decent record at home.
United started off well with a few early chances. Dimitar Berbatov hit a shot on target from Park's ball but his shot was saved comfortably by WBA keeper Scott Carson.
It wasn't all Man United at the beginning. West Brom were handed a corner in the second minute and luckily for Man United Michael Carrick was on hand to clear the ball off the line.
Carrick was in on the action, threading the ball through to Park, who shot straight at Carson. Both teams were looking to attack, which is great because too many teams stick nine or 10 players (which I can understand) behind the ball but West Brom are a footballing team.
After recovering from a virus, Cristiano Ronaldo was looking a bit better than he did against Spurs, but his body language wasn't quite right. There was a moment in the first half when Ronaldo didn't track back, United players turned to him and I assume they asked him why not and he didn't look that bothered.
The first goal of the game came in the 21st minute when Berbatov played a one-two with Carrick and slotted the ball past Carson.
United nearly went 2-0 up when Ronaldo crossed the ball into Carlos Tevez but Tevez' shot hit the sidenetting.
Around the half-hour mark United should have been given a penalty when Gary Neville was tripped in the box. Why we weren't given a penalty I don't know why.
At 39 minutes in there came an incident that basically changed the game when Paul Robinson was sent off for West Brom. Robinson went into a 50/50 tackle on Park and Rob Styles showed a straight red card to Robinson. For me, it wasn't a sending off, it was a tad harsh. It was a heavy tackle but there was nothing malicious about it.
Not long after the sending off United got a second goal. Ryan Giggs took United's free kick and Carson caught it but dropped it right in front of Tevez, who hit it into the back of the net.
Second half and Giggs had an early chance for Man United but his lob went wide. On 49 minutes in and West Brom had a free kick two yards outside United's penalty area when Neville brought Chris Brunt down. The Baggies' free kick, which was taken by Brunt, went just over the bar.
Berbatov did have the ball in the back of the net from Carrick's ball through but it was ruled out for offside, which was correct but only just.
After 60 minutes United had a third goal and the scorer was Nemanja Vidic, who headed in Giggs' corner.
United nearly lost their clean sheet when Ryan Donk hit Edwin Van Der Sar's bar, so close for the Baggies and United were so close to not getting the Premier League record of 11 consecutive clean sheets.
United went 4-0 up and the goal scorer was Ronaldo. Unbelievably it was Ronaldo's first league away goal this season. It was a beautiful pass by Giggs to put Ronaldo through and Ronaldo slammed it past Carson.
Carrick so nearly had a goal but he slid the ball just wide, as United has been absolutely fantastic.
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written on January 27, 2009 Breaking News


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