Manchester United under-21s got back to winning ways today after losing to Liverpool at the start of the week with a 4-0 win away to West Brom at the Hawthorns.
It was good news for United right from the start as after recovering from back surgery during the summer, Nick Powell was back in the line-up. First teamer Jonny Evans also made the journey down to the midlands for some game time.
Jonny Evans started at the back with Michael Keane, meaning that manager Joyce, moved United captain Tom Thorpe into central midfield.
United found themselves on top in the opening 10-minutes keeping the ball well in midfield and trying to break through the West Brom defence, Henriquez playing on the last man trying to find space while Jesse Lingard doing much of the running in midfield.
It was Nick Powell who opened the scoring for United, a header which was scrambled over the line from a corner in the 15th-minute. 0-1. Moments later Powell had the chance to make it 2-0 after some good work to win the ball back by Lingard found the feet of Powell who smash a 20-yard shot just wide.
West Brom’s first attempt came in the 28th-minute with a curling free-kick around United’s wall, which was calmly palmed out of the danger by Ben Amos.
Angelo Henriquez made it 2-0 to the visitors just before half time, a great pass from Powell found Lingard with space on the left to slot the ball across the six-yard box for Henriquez to slot home.
Manchester United dominated the first half as we went into the break at the Hawthorns. Cole, Lingard, Powell, Henriquez and Januzaj working hard through-out.
After a quiet opening to the second-half, United were awarded a penalty after Henriquez was bought down in the box, Adnan Januzaj converted from the spot into the top corner to make it 3-0.
West Brom looked totally defeated after the hour mark, giving the ball away cheaply and their defence making it easy for the likes of Januzaj and Lingard to penetrate.
Tom Lawrence came on for United in the 77th minute eager to make up for his pass back mistake against Liverpool, replacing Adnan Januzaj while Nick Powell came off for Joe Rothwell.
Manchester United made it 4-0 in the 80th minute after Varela put it into the path of Lawrence to slot home. Too easy for United.
The match really filtered out towards the end, with United playing keep ball for much of the time. Final whistle, West Brom 0-4 Manchester United.
Conclusion:Manchester United much the stronger side through-out the game, West Brom could not deal with the talents of Januzaj, Lingard, Cole and Powell – Great 80-minute run out for Nick Powell after recovering from injury, showed moments of magic at times keeping the ball in midfield.
Next match for Manchester United under-21s is not until Monday 16th September 2013, against Bolton Wanderers at Salford City Stadium.
SQUAD: Amos, Varela, Evans, M.Keane, Blackett, Cole, Thorpe, Lingard (82′ Pereira), Januzaj (77′ Lawrence), Powell (78′ Rothwell), Henriquez
FINAL SCORE: West Brom 0-4 Manchester United
(Powell 15′, Henriquez 42′, Januzaj 54′, Lawrence 80′)
