Subdued Jose Mourinho sees Man United hold firm to record 2-1 win over West Brom

Aditya Devavrat 23:58 17/12/2017
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  • Manchester United ground out a 2-1 win away to West Brom on Sunday to keep their faint title dream alive, cutting the gap to Premier League leaders Manchester City back down to 11 points.

    It was far from a vintage United performance as they had to hold on at the end to secure all three points, but a win is a win, and this Manager Microscope dissects the tactics that saw United get all three points.

    Jose Mourinho wore a scowl throughout and rarely got up from his seat, but he said he was happy with his team’s performance and the result. Here’s an analysis of how the Portuguese fared.

    BASIC RED DEVILS STATS

    Shots – 7

    Shots on target – 3

    Pass success – 82%

    Aerial duel success – 65%

    Dribbles won – 8

    Tackles – 11

    Possession – 57%

    STARTING FORMATION [4-2-3-1]

    Despite success with three at the back last month, Mourinho has reverted to his usual 4-2-3-1 in recent fixtures and stuck with that again, allowing him to field four attacking players against what he no doubt expected to be a compact and defensive West Brom side.

    Marcus Rashford came in for Anthony Martial in the only change from United’s mid-week win over Bournemouth, starting alongside Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata behind Romelu Lukaku, while Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic continued in midfield as Paul Pogba served the last game of his suspension. Phil Jones started for a second straight game after returning from injury, alongside Chris Smalling, while Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young took up the full-back positions.

    Mourinho's formation promised attacking football.

    Mourinho’s formation promised attacking football.

    TACTICAL TURNING POINTS

    Patient attacking play

    United built slowly but with thought, as they had to do against a West Brom side set-up to contain first. Mata saw a lot of the ball and popped up everywhere, despite starting on the right wing, and Lingard was equally mobile in his No. 10 position.

    The movement between those two created United’s second goal, but it was Rashford’s play hugging the left touchline that opened the scoring. His perfect cross left Lukaku with little to do to head the ball in and score for the second straight game – signs that the striker’s form is returning.

    Lingard’s goal to put United 2-0 up was fortunate in that his seemingly innocuous shot took a huge deflection, but credit to Mata’s movement to emerge on the left wing, dribble inwards and at the heart of the defence, and then lay the ball off to Lingard to shoot.

    Foot off the gas

    Sitting on a two-goal lead, United were content to control the game rather than kill it off completely, although they did come close to scoring a third on occasion. The Baggies also made some tactical tweaks to come out of half-time looking a more dangerous side.

    However, United’s inability to take the game to West Brom was frustrating. Perhaps the experience of last month’s 4-2 win over Watford, when they took a 3-0 lead but saw it slip to 3-2, influenced the choice to hold firm rather than putting their foot to the throat, but the decision to shut up shop, more or less, was disappointing – and nearly came back to haunt them.

    Withstand late barrage 

    The inability or unwillingness to push on nearly cost United, as West Brom scored in the 77th minute to set up a nervy finish. From that point, it was all the home side, as United’s back line had to withstand a barrage. In fairness, other than one moment when David de Gea flapped at a corner, only to gratefully see it bounce back into his arms, West Brom didn’t have a clear-cut chance to equalise.

    Jones and Smalling took responsibility in dealing with the crosses, with ample help from Nemanja Matic – who was partially at fault for West Brom’s goal, caught ball-watching as a corner went just inches over his head before ricocheting back into the goalmouth. The midfielder made up for it over the next fifteen minutes, while Herrera did well to cut out any attacks that came through the middle, and United hung on for victory.

    Lingard and Lukaku's goals meant Mourinho racked up another win.

    Lingard and Lukaku’s goals meant Mourinho racked up another win.

    OUR VERDICT

    Mourinho set United up to create and take chances, and saw his side do just that in the first-half. They built a platform for a big win by going into half-time with a 2-0 lead.

    But whether he instructed his charges to sit back in the second period, or West Brom just found another gear, United rarely threatened to extend that lead and put the game beyond doubt. They defended well when they were put under pressure as their hosts chased an equaliser, but they shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place.

    In the end, however, three points, away from home – and against a team that was coming off of holding Liverpool to a 0-0 draw – is a result Mourinho will take any day, regardless of whatever criticism he may face.

    It may have been a subdued Mourinho and United, but they still won.

    It may have been a subdued Mourinho and United, but they still won.

    YOUR VERDICT

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