Manchester United Continue To Find Ways To Win Despite Injuries

Manchester United kicked off their 2011/12 English Premier League with yet another victory. With Patrice Evra and Rafael out of the lineup, Alex Ferguson started Chris Smalling and Fabio in the back line. 

With United losing both their center backs midway through the second half, somehow they managed to still get the full three points. With the score tied at one and just 10 minutes remaining in the match, it appeared that United was going to follow in the footsteps of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool with a draw. New signing Ashley Young made sure that was not the case with a fortunate deflection with beat Ben Foster to give the Red Devils the lead.

With Young appearing to having attempted to cross the ball, the slight deflection off of West Brom defender Steven Reid was enough to get the ball past West Brom's goalkeeper. With last year’s title fresh in their minds, this weekend's performance brought back memories of how champions grind out matches. 

With David Gea making a brilliant save from a Paul Scharner strike, he then showed his lack of concentration, allowing he Hawthorns back into the match with a slow rolling Shane Long strike. Longs strike looked to be controlled by De Gea until he went down for it and the ball made its way underneath his arms, leaving Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic in apparent disbelief.

One important note to remember from this goal was the fact that none of United's players actually went over to give De Gea some encouragement after the mishap. 

The goal gave West Brom a morale boost and just before half they were getting up the field and applying pressure to a dazed and confused United back line. 

So what can we take from this Manchester United performance? Although they didn’t put in the greatest of performances, they still managed the victory. While many teams look to play the beautiful game and impress fans, United are out looking for the three points and nothing more. If that means to play a sloppy game and still manage the victory, then so be it.

At times many teams and coaches forget that the essential to being a champion is not only playing beautiful and free flowing soccer. If you want to be a champion, you have to win titles and grind out victories, which is what Manchester United has been and will continue to do. 

In those games where they appear to be down and out and just not themselves, somehow they manage to dig down deep and pull off the win. 

United will be put to the test yet again with Rio Ferdinand not available for the next five to six weeks, and Vidic possibly out for two or three weeks. Last season Alex Ferguson dealt with this same issue, and when many doubted the back line, they still managed the EPL title. Could things be different this time around without the command and leadership of Edwin Van der Sar?