Match Preview: Manchester United vs West Bromwich Albion

Manchester United vs West Bromwich Albion

Barclays Premier League – Saturday 28^th September, 2013 (15:00 KO BST) – Old Trafford, Manchester

The Teams

United

David Moyes on beating Liverpool and Saturday’s game: “The players showed they were hurt. We’ll try to give the fans something to shout about again tomorrow.”

• Robin van Persie is once again available after missing the last 2 games with a groin injury.

• “Whether we use him or whether he don’t, he has trained today and is back fit,” said David Moyes.

• Tom Cleverley is also back in contention after returning to training this week.

• “He has done some training today and hopefully he won’t be too far away tomorrow either,” Moyes added.

• David Moyes faces selection headaches with Rafael, Jonny Evans, Nani and Javier Hernandez all getting minutes under their belts – and impressing – in Wednesday’s League Cup win over Liverpool.

• Darren Fletcher is currently the only long-term absentee.

• Despite putting in a solid performance in midweek, Ryan Giggs is unlikely to feature.

• Cup-tied on Wednesday, Maroune Fellaini is likely to come back into the side.

• Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick are also likely to return. Jonny Evans will be hoping to keep either Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic out of the side.

• Team selection will be made with one eye on Wednesday’s difficult-looking trip to Ukraine to take on Shakhtar Donetsk.

Predicted line-up: De Gea, Jones, Evans, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Fellaini, Valencia, Rooney, Kagawa, Hernandez

Home record: P2 W1 D1 L0 F2 A0 Pts4

Home record vs West Brom: P61 W33 D16 L12 F123 A75

 

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West Brom

Steve Clarke on taking his side to Old Trafford: “I’ve never been afraid of going to Old Trafford. You have to relish it – it’s fantastic. You go there, you go on the pitch, look at the crowd, it makes you feel good. It should make you ready to play the best you can.”

• The match will mark Steve Clarke’s 50^th game in charge of West Brom.

• The Baggies are unbeaten away from home this season, drawing both of their fixtures.

• Last weekend’s 3-0 victory over Sunderland was their first win of the season.

• Ex-United goalkeeper Ben Foster misses out with a foot injury.

• Claudio Yacob returns after recovering from a dead leg.

• Chris Brunt (groin) and Matej Vydra (hamstring) have been ruled out.

• Nicolas Anelka and Victor Anichebe face late fitness tests but could feature.

• Steven Reid and Shane Long made their own comebacks from injury in the midweek League Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to Arsenal. Both will likely play some part.

Predicted line-up: Myhill, Olsson, Ridgewell, McAuley, Jones, Mulumbu, Yacob, Morrison, Sessegnon, Sinclair, Long

Away record: P2 W0 D2 L0 F1 A1 Pts2

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Previous meetings at Old Trafford

United 2-0 West Brom (29-12-12)

United 2-0 West Brom (11-03-12)

United 2-2 West Brom (16-10-10)

United 4-0 West Brom (18-10-08)

United 3-0 West Brom (26-12-05)

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Officials

Referee: Michael Oliver.

The 28-year-old official has taken charge of 3 Premier League matches this season, brandishing 11 yellow cards. He has yet to send a player off or award a penalty. Was last at Old Trafford for United’s 4-0 win over Wigan in September of last year, where he awarded the reds an early penalty, which was subsequently missed by Javier Hernandez.

Assistants: P Kirkup, S Long.

Fourth official: A Taylor.

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Notes

Should he feature, Phil Jones will make his 50^th league appearance for Manchester United.

United have scored at least 2 goals in the last 11 matches against West Brom.

Michael Carrick has made 26 interceptions this season, 8 more than any other Premier League player.

United have never lost to West Brom in the Premier League. The reds have won 11 and drawn 3 of 14 encounters.

United are undefeated in 27 of the last 30 Premier League matches at Old Trafford.

3 of West Brom’s 4 league goals this season have come in the last 15 minutes of matches.

Score prediction: United 2-0 West Brom

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