Barclays Premier League

FULL-TIME

It's a vital three points for Manchester United but West Brom were anything but push-overs at Old Trafford today. The Baggies came close numerous times in the second-half and nobody looked more like scoring than Romelu Lukaku after his introduction. Sir Alex Ferguson will be delighted to have kept a clean sheet today; Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans were both faultless at centre-back and Michael Carrick was excellent in midfield. Manchester City beat Norwich 4-3 so United remain seven points clear at the top. West Brom remain in sixth place.

MORE ON THAT GOAL

After a blocked Paul Scholes shot the ball falls to Robin van Persie who beats Ben Foster with a curled shot from 18 yards. That's secured all three points for United, surely.

GOAL!

Robin van Persie doubles United's lead!

BRILLIANT SAVE FROM FOSTER

Another Antonio Valencia run down the right opens up the West Brom defence. He plays it back to Danny Welbeck who curls a shot at goal which Ben Foster tips wide. Foster has kept West Brom in the game today.

LONG-RANGE EFFORT

With five minutes remaining United are attempting to keep hold of the ball. Peter Odemwingie wins back possession though and attempts another long-range shot which almost sneaks inside David de Gea's far-post.

WEST BROM SUBSTITUTION

Marc-Antoine Fortune has come on for Graham Dorrans.

UNITED SUBSTITUTION

Paul Scholes comes on to replace Tom Cleverley.

LUKAKU LOOKING DANGEROUS

West Brom have been the better team in the last ten minutes and Romelu Lukaku has looked incredibly dangerous. He's had three shots blocked by United defenders.

GOOD SAVE BY FOSTER

Patrice Evra plays in Ashley Young in the box but his left-footed shot is parried back out by Ben Foster.

WEST BROM SUBSTITUTION

James Morrison replaces Chris Brunt.

POOR KICKING FROM DE GEA

David de Gea's kicking has been very poor today. His last two clearances have picked out unmarked West Brom players.

OFF THE BAR!

Gareth McAuley looks to make up for his earlier own goal with a header from a West Brom corner which rattles the bar. Jonny Evans is first to it though and he clears.

WEST BROM SUBSTITUTION

Markus Rosenbuerg comes off to be replaced by Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku.

UNITED SUBSTITUTION

Shinji Kagawa is replaced by Robin van Persie.

VALENCIA YELLOW CARD

That's a very poor challenge from Antonio Valencia on Peter Odemwingie. He lunges in late after the ball has gone and is shown a yellow card for his troubles.

CRUCIAL BLOCK BY EVRA

Peter Odemwingie beats Chris Smalling down the left-wing and cuts inside before finding Graham Dorrans on the edge of the box. Patrice Evra slides to block his shot though and it's deflected behind for a corner.

WEST BROM POSSESSION

Shane Long gets three crosses into the box in the space of a few minutes but the United defenders head each one clear. The Baggies are enjoying more of the ball though and it looks like the game is livening up.

LONG-RANGE EFFORT FROM BRUNT

Shane Long holds the ball up on the edge of the United box and lays it back to Chris Brunt who has to navigate his way around the referee to get to the ball. He manages to hit a powerful, low shot with his right-foot which David de Gea holds on to.

UNITED START THE HALF WELL

It's a very bright start from United. Despite being outnumbered down the right, Antonio Valencia and Shinji Kagawa manage to work the ball into the box. Tom Cleverley gets a shot away but it's blocked.

SECOND-HALF

West Brom start the half with the ball after some intense work from the Old Trafford groundsmen at half-time.

HALF-TIME

It's been a somewhat subdued first-half at Old Trafford and the wet weather isn't helping the quality of the football. Manchester United have had the most of the chances and should arguably lead by more than one goal. West Brom aren't totally out of it yet though, they've had a few chances of their own and an early goal from them in the second-half could turn this game around.

WEST BROM FINISHING STRONGLY

West Brom end the half with a couple of chances from free-kicks. Chris Brunt almost finds the head of Shane Long with the first before Chris Brunt strikes the second against the wall with an attempted shot.

MISTAKE FROM FOSTER

Ben Foster is almost left red-faced after misjudging a back-pass from Gareth McAuley. The goalkeeper slips as he attempts to clear and strikes the ball against Danny Welbeck who is closing him down. Thankfully it deflects behind, but it could just as easily have gone in.

GREAT RUN FROM ODEMWINGIE

Peter Odemwingie cuts inside from the left-wing to beat Chris Smalling and Antonio Valencia before hitting a shot just wide of David de Gea's goal. That's much more promising play from the Baggies.

VIDIC DOMINANT IN THE AIR

United force another corner which is floated to the back-post. Nemanja Vidic beats two defenders to the ball but can't direct his header goalwards. West Brom will need to defend set-pieces a lot better if they're to get anything from this game today.

MORE CHANCES FOR UNITED

An Antonio Valencia cross picks out Ashley Young who is free in the box again. Young strikes a lethal shot which is pushed over the bar one-handed by Ben Foster for a corner. After a goal-mouth scramble, Michael Carrick hits it low at goal and it has to be cleared off the line by Gabriel Tamas.

GOLDEN CHANCE FOR YOUNG

United have another good chance and it really should have been 2-0. Danny Welbeck cuts inside from the left and shoots but it's deflected off the outstretched leg of Graham Dorrans and falls to the unmarked Ashley Young in the box, his header is way over the bar though.

KAGAWA RUNNING THE SHOW

Shinji Kagawa almost sets up two goals in the space of 30 seconds there. After a wonderful one-two pass with Antonio Valencia the Japanese international picks out Danny Welbeck in the box but his header is cleared. Kagawa then brings the ball back into the box and lays it back to Michael Carrick on the edge but his shot is blocked.

WEST BROM WITH THE BALL

West Brom finally enjoy a spell of possession and they almost make it pay. They work the ball up the pitch with some excellent passing but the final ball to Shane Long is cut out by Nemanja Vidic.

EXCELLENT VISION FROM CLEVERLEY

Tom Cleverley plays an inch-perfect ball to Danny Welbeck 60 yards away. Welbeck is unable to control it though and Ben Foster gathers it up.

UNITED IN CONTROL

The Red Devils have dominated possession since taking the lead. Tom Cleverley and Michael Carrick are winning the midfield battle and Shinji Kagawa looks dangerous every time he touches the ball.

MORE ON THAT GOAL

A brilliant scooped pass from Shinji Kagawa allows Ashley Young in behind the West Brom defence and his driven pass across goal hits Gareth McAuley's leg and goes in past Ben Foster.

GOAL!

Gareth McAuley puts the ball into his own net to gift Manchester United the lead.

PENALTY SHOUT

There was a shout for a penalty for handball there as Antonio Valencia struck the ball against Gareth McAuley in the box. The referee only gives a corner and replays show that it was the correct decision. Nemanja Vidic did manage to get his head to the corner but it went high over the bar.

EARLY DORRANS EFFORT

Graham Dorrans has an early shot from about 35 yards out with his right foot, it's well wide though and David de Gea watches out.

KICK-OFF

We're underway here on a very wet Old Trafford pitch.

WEST BROM TEAM NEWS

Former Manchester United player Ben Foster starts in goal with Billy Jones, Gabriel Tamas, Gareth McAuley and Liam Ridgewell in defence. The returning George Thorne will join Chris Brunt, Peter Odemwingie, Graham Dorrans and Markus Rosenberg in midfield with Shane Long spearheading the Baggies' attack.

MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS

David de Gea starts in goal despite yet another costly goalkeeping error against Newcastle on Boxing Day. Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra make up the United defence with Antonio Valencia, Tom Cleverley, Michael Carrick and Ashley Young in midfield. Shinji Kagawa returns from injury to play just behind lone-striker Danny Welbeck.

THE MATCH GOES AHEAD

The match will go ahead after the Old Trafford pitch is deemed playable by referee Jon Moss.

PITCH INSPECTION

Today's game is subject to a 1:15pm pitch inspection after heavy rain in Manchester.

REF WATCH

Jon Moss will take charge of today's game. He has refereed ten games in the Premier League this season and has given out 27 yellow cards, one red card and four penalties.

WEST BROM EARLY TEAM NEWS

Jonas Olsson, Goran Popov, Youssouf Mulumbu and Claudio Yacob will all miss out through injury. The Baggies have recalled George Thorne from a loan spell at Peterborough for cover.

MANCHESTER UNITED EARLY TEAM NEWS

Wayne Rooney continues to be sidelined with a knee problem picked up in training while Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs will likely be rested after starting against Newcastle. Danny Welbeck, Ashley Young and Shinji Kagawa could all play a part after returning from injuries.

BAGGIES AIM FOR SHOCK WIN

West Brom are currently in sixth place in the league but they could go as high as third with a win today. After a strong start to the season the Baggies' form dipped but has improved again recently with six wins from the last ten games. West Brom have been one of this season's surprise packages and a win at Old Trafford today would really help their push for a surprise European place.

IN-FORM UNITED HOPE TO MAINTAIN LEAD

Manchester United's last-minute winner against Newcastle on Boxing Day will no doubt have given them added confidence going into this tricky fixture, especially after extending their lead at the top of the league to seven points. Sir Alex Ferguson knows that he has to patch up his leaky defence if he's to maintain the lead through to May however – the Reds have already let in 28 so far this season.

MATCH PREVIEW

Manchester United did the double over West Brom last season and the Baggies haven't won at Old Trafford since 1978. Both teams come into the game on impressive form – United are unbeaten in seven while West Brom have won their last two matches. The Reds lost to Blackburn this time last year and they'll be desperate not to end another year on a loss.