West Brom v Manchester United – e-Football Preview

Article by e-Manchester United Corespondent Tony Gillies

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It always feels like a lifetime when your team misses a weekend match and given our last performance in Athens some fans would be grateful not to see us play again until the start of next season. But this Saturday we are back in action and travel to the Midlands to face West Bromwich Albion who are looking to complete their first league double over us since the 1959/60 season in which both games finished 3-2 to The Baggies.

We've had many disappointing and eyebrow raising results this season, none more than the 2-1 defeat to West Brom at Old Trafford back in September their first win there since 1978. Since that victory they have had a change in management Steve Clark has been replaced by Pepe Mel who is unbelievably fighting for his job after just SIX games at the helm. Both he and David Moyes are in desperate need of an upturn in fortune to save their jobs. Defeat for either side on Saturday could well spell the end of one of them. It's very unlikely United would part with Moyes before the end of the season but anything but a win here especially after the poor performance against Olympiakos would be seen as not good enough.

Two of the six games Mel has taken charge of West Brom so far has seen them draw with Liverpool and Chelsea at The Hawthorns which given the form the two title chasers are in they; to me seem like 2 massive points gained rather than 4 points lost. So I won't be expecting an easy game on Saturday lunchtime, if we are to win we are going to have to fight and scrap for every ball and make sure we take our chances when they come and keep it tight at the back. If we perform like we did at Crystal Palace I have no doubts we will leave with the three points but as we all know; this season especially no game is a gimme.

Team News

There are doubts surrounding Javier Hernandez, who picked up a knock whist away on International duty with Mexico.. Phil Jones is still struggling so may be kept for the visit of Liverpool next weekend. Nani is still side-lined with a hamstring injury. Rafael and Jonny Evans should both return to the squad to face The Baggies following injury. So David Moyes has near on a full strength squad at his disposal.

One To Watch

Victor Anichebe - The former Everton man is in good form heading into the match, scoring both equalising goals against Liverpool and Chelsea. David Moyes should know all about Anichebe; a regular in his Everton squads over the years and will no doubt be wary of his threat in front of goal.

Last 5 Meetings (All Competitions)

Sept 2013: Man Utd 1-2 West Brom
May 2013: West Brom 5-5 Man Utd
Dec 2012: Man Utd 2-0 West Brom
Mar 2012: Man Utd 2-0 West Brom
Aug 2011: West Brom 1-2 Man Utd

Predictions

Starting XI - De Gea, Rafael, Evans, Smalling, Evra, Carrick, Fellaini, Januzaj, Mata, Rooney, van Persie.

@e_ManchesterUtd - West Brom 1-2 Man Utd
Fans Predictions

@UsmanAK9, a United fan from Manchester is predicting a comfortable 3-1 victory for the Reds.

West Brom supporter Liam Crowe is predicting The Baggies to repeat their scorelines against Liverpool and Chelsea with a 1-1 draw.

So nobody is predicting a repeat of the 5-5 goalfest witnessed here on the final day of last season, a lot more riding on this match for both teams. What are your predictions for the match?

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