Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Manchester United 0.
West BromWest Bromwich Albion1Man UtdManchester United0
West Brom earned their first home league win against Manchester United for 32 years as Salomon Rondon's low strike beat the 10-man visitors.
United played for more than an hour without Juan Mata, who received two bookings inside three minutes.
But Albion created little until Rondon found space to fire in substitute Sebastien Pocognoli's dangerous first-time cross from the left wing.
United rarely looked like equalising as they lost ground on the top four.
The Red Devils are sixth in the Premier League table, failing to move back above West Ham and remaining three points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City.
Victory moved Albion up to 11th, their tally of 39 points almost certainly securing top-flight survival for a sixth successive season.
See how Albion's rare home win over United unfolded
Mata's red mist
Manchester United looked assured in the opening 25 minutes as they dominated possession against the Baggies, albeit without really troubling home keeper Ben Foster.
But the entire complexion of the match turned on the stupidity of the normally-intelligent Mata.
The Spain international was shown his first yellow card for rashly blocking Darren Fletcher's quick free-kick, then he was given a second when he needlessly clipped the heels of the former United midfielder within three minutes.
Within seconds of Mata's dismissal, Albion almost took the lead when Craig Dawson's ambitious 25-yard punt looped over David De Gea but dropped just past the wrong side of the left-hand post.
An Albion onslaught failed to materialise in a dour end to the first half, while United almost opened the scoring through Marcus Rashford's instinctive drilled shot and Jesse Lingard's dipping angled drive before the hour mark.
But the home side gradually grew in stature as United tired, finding the breakthrough through Rondon's smart finish.
"I thought we looked flat when they went to 10 men but the advantage of 11 v 10 seemed to get us through in the end," said Scotland midfielder Fletcher afterwards.
Baggies close to safety
Many Albion supporters have not warmed to Tony Pulis since his arrival in January 2015, complaining about the style of football the ex-Stoke manager has brought to The Hawthorns.
But what they cannot dispute is the fact the Welshman has steered them away from a relegation scrap for the second successive season.
Pulis faced heavy criticism last month after a dire 1-0 defeat at Newcastle left them six points above the drop-zone and without a win in five games.
However, their fortunes have dramatically improved and they have now taken 10 points - three wins and a draw - from their past four matches.
In addition to almost securing survival, Pulis has also achieved something that no Albion manager has since March 1984 - a home win against the Red Devils.
Once the home side went ahead - with their only on-target shot of the second half - they did not look like relinquishing their slender lead.
United switched to a 4-4-1 formation after Mata's dismissal, leaving French youngster Martial as an isolated lone striker.
Despite a brief spell where United threatened through Martial and Lingard, the visitors failed to force Albion keeper Foster into a single save.
Man of the match - Salomon Rondon
Post-match reaction
West Brom manager Tony Pulis: "Them going down to 10 men affected the game. We watched Liverpool go down to 10 before this game and they won 2-1. You're never comfortable against top teams with pace up front and they have pace. Once we got the goal we kind of settled down.
"Second half we were definitely off the pace a bit but the goal was a smashing finish [by Rondon]. It has taken him time to settle in and he has had ups and downs but they love him to death here.
"At the start of the season before the nonsense with Saido I was looking forward to them playing together. Since Saido has come back in the two of them have looked really lively together and we look a threat.
"The most important thing is the next game - as you've seen this year, results have been off the radar. Let's get 40 points, I think that's definitely enough to be safe."
Stats of the day
- All 10 of West Brom's Premier League wins this season have been by a one-goal margin.
- Rondon is Albion's top scorer in all competitions this season with eight goals
- Manchester United have won just one of their last eight Premier League away games, drawing three and losing four
- Mata picked up two yellow cards just 26 minutes from the kick-off, faster than any player in the Premier League since Swansea defender Chico was sent off for two bookings in April 2014.
What's next?
The Baggies are back in Premier League action on Saturday, travelling to title-chasing Arsenal knowing that a win could move them into the top half.
Meanwhile, Manchester United's attention switches to the Europa League and the away leg of their last-16 tie against Liverpool. Their next league game is a trip to neighbours City on Sunday, 20 March.
Line-ups
West Brom
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Foster
- 25DawsonSubstituted forPocognoliat 55'minutes
- 23McAuley
- 3OlssonBooked at 58mins
- 4Chester
- 29SessegnonSubstituted forMcCleanat 69'minutes
- 5Yacob
- 24Fletcher
- 8Gardner
- 33Rondón
- 18BerahinoSubstituted forGuimaraes Cordeiroat 88'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Anichebe
- 13Myhill
- 14McClean
- 15Pocognoli
- 17Lambert
- 20Pritchard
- 30Guimaraes Cordeiro
Man Utd
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1de Gea
- 36DarmianSubstituted forFosu-Mensahat 83'minutes
- 12Smalling
- 17Blind
- 5Rojo
- 16Carrick
- 35Lingard
- 8MataBooked at 26mins
- 21HerreraSubstituted forSchneiderlinat 62'minutes
- 9Martial
- 39RashfordSubstituted forDepayat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Depay
- 20Romero
- 27Fellaini
- 28Schneiderlin
- 30Varela
- 47Weir
- 51Fosu-Mensah
- Referee:
- Mike Dean
- Attendance:
- 24,878
Match Stats
Home TeamWest BromAway TeamMan Utd
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away1
- Corners
- Home4
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away7
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Manchester United 0.
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Attempt missed. Timothy Fosu-Mensah (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
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Offside, Manchester United. Marcos Rojo tries a through ball, but Anthony Martial is caught offside.
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Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Darren Fletcher tries a through ball, but Craig Gardner is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Sandro replaces Saido Berahino.
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Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Jesse Lingard.
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Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Salomón Rondón tries a through ball, but Craig Gardner is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Timothy Fosu-Mensah replaces Matteo Darmian.
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Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Jonas Olsson tries a through ball, but Saido Berahino is caught offside.
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Marcos Rojo (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Craig Gardner (West Bromwich Albion).
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Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Sébastien Pocognoli tries a through ball, but Salomón Rondón is caught offside.
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Foul by Chris Smalling (Manchester United).
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Salomón Rondón (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Memphis Depay (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Craig Gardner (West Bromwich Albion).
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Memphis Depay replaces Marcus Rashford.
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Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Salomón Rondón (West Bromwich Albion).
