Red Devils held by stubborn Baggies

Manchester United were held by a stubborn West Bromwich Albion to a goalless draw at Old Trafford this afternoon.

With six key players missing through suspensions and injuries, Red Devils manager, Jose Mourinho, picked a front four Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford but no place the returning Wayne Rooney as he made due with a place on the bench. 
For the Baggies, manager Tony Pulis recalled James Morrison who missed Arsenal game due to an ankle injury while Wales international Hal Robson-Kanu replaces Salomon Rondon in attack.

First Half

The home side dominated possession early in the game but struggled to create clear chances as the Baggies defended deep in the half.

Martial had the first real chance of the game as he climbed highest to meet Jesse Lingard cross but his header went wide.

At the other end, Hal Robson-Kanu was fouled on the edge of the box by Marcus Rojo and Chris Brunt freekick was blocked by the wall.

However, it was the home side that continued to dominate possession as Lingard walked his way through a sea of legs but his final shot was blocked. Antonio Valencia delivered a cross into the box, Felliani met it at the back post but his intended cut-back for Martial did not happen as the Frenchman slipped inside the box.

Marcos Rojo was shown a yellow card as he impeded Robinson-Kanu on a breakaway but nothing came out of the freekick as the first half ended goalless.

Second Half

Manchester United came out flying in the second half as they look to take complete charge of the game.

An inter-change between Valencia and Rashford released the English youngster inside the penalty area but his shot was blocked and the follow-up strike by Michael Carrick was also charged down by the Baggies defence.

At the other end, former United midfielder almost gave the away side the lead when he received a pass inside the 12-yard area but his right foot shot was blocked by Eric Bailley.

The home side created another opportunity as Martial, Lingard, and Rashford combined to set up Henrikh Mkhitaryan who was quickly closed down but the ball fell to Felliani and he blasted it wide.

Martial created an opening for himself as he picked up the ball up from 30yards, ran towards goal before unleashing a right foot shot that went narrowly wide.

Mkhitaryan found himself free inside the box after a clearance fell of his path but his dink over Fraser Foster in goal missed target and that left Mourinho frustrated on the touchline as he threw his water can away. 

Rashford found space and lets one fly from 20yards but Foster made a quality save. The pressure continued as Ashley Young wriggled his way past two defenders but his cross was blocked for a corner.

David de Gea nearly cost a howler as he let a shot from Fletcher slip from his hands but it came back of the post. At the other end, Foster produced a fantastic save from a Marcus Rashford freekick.