Manchester United vs West Bromwich Albion 0-1: Player Ratings

Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion - Premier League
West Brom's win meant that City clinched the Premier League title

SCORE: Manchester United 0 - 1 West Bromwich Albion (Jay Rodriguez 73')

On a week full of upsets, the football world delivered another shock as relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion beat Manchester United to hand the Premier League title to Manchester City.

The United team, which so defiantly wrestled back from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 in the Manchester derby, just didn't turn up.

It was a balanced first half which saw both teams creating some chances, but failing to score. It was the Baggies who got the first real opportunity of the game as Jake Livermore's shot had to be saved by David De Gea.

There was some bit of controversy in the 18th minute as Craig Dawson fouled Ander Herrera in the box, but United's calls for a penalty was turned away by the Referee. In the very next minute, Ben Foster pulled off a brilliant double save, first to prevent Romelu Lukaku and then Alexis Sanchez.

Even though United made a few changes in the second half, the killer blow was delivered in the 73rd minute as Rodriguez scored from a corner to break the deadlock.

The Red Devils piled men forward after the goal, but their efforts proved to be futile as West Brom held their own to see off the game and secure all three points.

Here's a look at the player ratings from this match:


West Bromwich Albion

Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion - Premier League
The Baggies put in a solid performance to get the win

Ben Foster (8/10):

The former Manchester United shot-stopper was phenomenal in goal. Foster pulled off some fantastic saves, notably the header from Lukaku in the 66th minute to deny the Red Devils from taking the lead.

Ahmed Hegazi (8/10):

The Egyptian defender was solid at the back throughout the game and was always in the box to thwart any dangerous balls coming in. Hegazi made 14 clearances and two vital interceptions in the match.

Craig Dawson (7/10):

The English defender did get a lucky one early on in the match, as his tackle on Herrera was not deemed a penalty. But otherwise, the English defender put in a strong performance and had a hand in the Baggies goal as he forced Matic to commit an error.

Kieran Gibbs (6/10):

A good performance from the former Arsenal man on the left side of the West Brom defence. Gibbs made two vital blocks and five interceptions throughout the game.

Allan Nyom (7/10):

As the commentators stated during the game, Nyom was like a man possessed as he did not back off from the challenge of facing Sanchez on the right side of the West Brom defence. He also made four clearances and had a passing accuracy of 100%.

Chris Brunt (6/10):

The captain of the Baggies was solid in midfield and it was from his delivery from a corner that West Brom took the lead.

He completed two take-on's during the game and had a passing accuracy of 92%. Brunt made way for Claudio Yacob in the dying moments of the game.

Jake Livermore (6/10):

Livermore had the first big chance in the first half for West Brom as his shot was saved by De Gea. The English midfielder was also strong in defending as he made three interceptions and two clearances throughout the game.

James McClean (7/10):

McClean put in a strong shift for the West Brom in the attacking sense. The Irish winger delivered seven crosses and also helped in creating four chances for his team.

Matthew Phillips (6/10):

The former QPR winger was very industrial in his team's cause. Phillips completed three take-on's and won 50% of his aerial duels.

Jay Rodriguez (9/10):

Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion - Premier League
Rodriguez was phenomenal against the Red Devils

The former Southampton man was one of the best players on the field as he was lively from the get-go.

He robbed Matic and Herrera in the first-half to create chances for his team and was on hand to head in the goal that proved to be the winner and title clincher for Manchester City. Rodriguez won all of his aerial duels in the match as well.

Salomón Rondón (6/10):

Rondon had three headers, of which two were comfortable saves for De Gea. The Venezuelan striker also completed one take-on and won 49% of his aerial duels before making way for Daniel Sturridge in the 85th minute.

Substitutes:

Grzegorz Krychowiak - N/A

The Polish midfielder replaced Phillips in the 77th minute as the Baggies were looking to see off the game.

Daniel Sturridge - N/A

The on-loan Liverpool striker came in to replace Rondon in the 85th minute.

Claudio Yacob - N/A

Replaced Brunt in stoppage time and didn't have much time to create an impact on the game.

Manchester United

Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion - Premier League
United looked like a shadow of the team that won the Manchester Derby

David De Gea (7/10):

The Spanish goalkeeper made a good save to deny Livermore in the first-half and did not have any difficult stops to make.

He would consider himself unfortunate to pick up the ball from the back of the net in the 73rd minute.

Chris Smalling (7/10):

The English defender looked assured in defence and did a good job of marking Rondon throughout the game. He made five clearances and three interceptions also.

Victor Lindelöf (6/10):

The Swedish defender had a good game at the back, as he made five clearances during the game. He completed one take-on and his tackles were spot on as well.

Ashley Young (6/10):

Young had a decent game for United, as he had a passing accuracy of 88% and was always seen venturing forward on the left flank. He made two interceptions and also created one chance.

Antonio Valencia (6/10):

Valencia, much like Young, was always venturing into the opponent's half. The Ecuadorian had a passing accuracy of 92% and also made three blocks during the match.

Nemanja Matic (6/10):

The Serbian midfielder would want to forget the match quickly as his header from West Brom fell into the path of Rodriguez to slot it home. Matic did have a passing accuracy of 92% and won all of his aerial duels.

Paul Pogba (6/10):

Pogba was unable to recreate his Manchester Derby heroics today. He was one of United's better players in the first half and was booked for a handball in the West Brom box. He was later replaced by Martial in the 58th minute.

Ander Herrera (6/10):

Herrera would feel unlucky not to see United win a penalty as replays showed he was tackled by Dawson in the box.

He did have a 96% passing accuracy and was taken off before the start of the second half.

Romelu Lukaku (6/10):

The Belgian striker would have been disappointed to see his header being saved by Foster. Apart from that, he was ready to venture out of the striker's role and go on the right wing and take on the defenders as well.

Alexis Sánchez (7/10):

Along with Pogba, Sanchez was very lively in the first half. He created three chances and completed four take-on's during the entire match.

Juan Mata (6/10):

The hardworking midfielder did give his all for the team's cause. He helped in creating four chances throughout the match and had a passing accuracy of 87%.

Substitutes:

Jesse Lingard (6/10):

Coming in for Herrera at the start of the second half, he almost made an instant impact when he had a shot on target. Lingard also completed one take-on and had a passing accuracy of 91%.

Anthony Martial (6/10):

Martial replaced his compatriot Pogba in the 58th minute, but couldn't create many opportunities today. He did complete one taken in the match.

Marcus Rashford - N/A

Came in to replace Young in the 75th minute, but the young forward was unable to create any impact on the game.

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