WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1, MANCHESTER UNITED 0
Just when Manchester United thought they had turned a corner after a poor December the Reds were brought back down to earth after Salomon Rondon’s 66th minute goal earned West Brom a first win over the United at the Hawthorns since 1984.
Three morale boosting wins against Shrewsbury Town, FC Midtjylland and Arsenal had also seen the emergence of a new United youth prospect in Marcus Rashford as he scored four goals in the Midtjylland and Arsenal games.
But it was a moment of madness from a most unexpected Reds player which handed the initiative to the Baggies in the first half of the game at The Hawthorns and ultimately dented United’s title hopes.
Juan Mata’s 26th minute sending off for a second booking in the space of three minutes left United down to ten men for most of the game and they were punished when a defensive mistake by Chris Smalling allowed Salomon Rondon the room to convert substitute Sebastien Pocognoli’s cross in the second half for his fourth Premier League goal in six games.
Mata had already been booked by referee Mike Dean for encroaching on a free kick after 23 minutes when he seemed to mistime a tackle on former Reds midfielder Darren Fletcher less than three minutes later and Dean gave the Spaniard his marching orders.
It was Mata’s first ever career red card and Van Gaal took little comfort from opposite number Tony Pulis’ assessment that Mata’s second yellow card was harsh.
“It was a 0-0 game after 10 v 11 but it wasn’t the smartest foul of Mata. When you give a red card, two yellow cards, within five minutes it’s a little bit unbelievable when you know the character of Juan Mata.” said Van Gaal.
“Juan Mata has to know also that he has the first yellow card, and the referee can whistle.”
Van Gaal could at least take encouragement from the fact that United restricted the Baggies’ chances during the game but he knew that this was an opportunity missed to keep the pressure on City in fourth.
“We were very good organised but they had one chance and one goal.
“We have lost three points, these kind of matches you have to win if you want to be champions or first three in the table, certainly when you have to close the gap because you have lost too many matches already.
“We have played five matches in two weeks. It’s not positive for us to play 60 minutes with ten players.”
Defeat meant that United fell to sixth place in the Premier League, three points above Liverpool who have a game in hand.
United have won just one of their last eight Premier League away games, drawing three and losing four.
And they face a difficult March with a run of games that could see their European ambitions wrecked within a fortnight.
The Reds face Liverpool across two legs in the Europa League, West Ham in the FA Cup quarter finals and a Manchester derby against a City side who remain three points ahead of them in fourth place with a game in hand.
And with two tough games at home to Everton and away at Spurs at the beginning of April United have a very difficult month ahead of them.