Forever Man Utd

Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez put leaders Manchester United in charge of their Barclays Premier League clash with 10-man West Brom at The Hawthorns.

Berbatov struck in the 22nd minute after exchanging passes with Michael Carrick.

Albion defender Paul Robinson was harshly sent off after a challenge on Ji-Sung Park before Carlos Tevez took advantage of a Scott Carson mistake to double United's lead a minute before the break.

Rio Ferdinand was a surprise inclusion in the Manchester United side to face West Brom in their Barclays Premier League clash at the Hawthorns tonight.

The England defender has not played since suffering a back problem during the World Club Championships in Japan and had not been expected to return until the weekend meeting with Everton.

Midfielder Ji-Sung Park was also back in the starting line-up after a hamstring setback, while Wes Brown was named among the substitutes. He has been sidelined since undergoing ankle surgery in October.

Gianni Zuiverloon was back in the West Brom side after shaking off a knee problem which had kept him out for the past three weeks, while defender Ryan Donk was passed fit to play despite suffering a groin problem in the weekend FA Cup tie with Burnley.

Paul Robinson skippered the side in place of Jonathan Greening who is facing six weeks out with a medial ligament strain.

Traffic congestion on the M6 meant the kick-off time at The Hawthorns was put back half an hour until 8.15pm.

There were only a few hundred United fans in the ground at the original start time of 7.45pm.

Dimitar Berbatov had the first effort on target after racing on to a pass from Ji-Sung Park but his low drive from a narrow angle was comfortably dealt with by Albion goalkeeper Scott Carson.

But the Baggies, who were bidding for a fourth successive home league win, quickly showed that they were not afraid to take the game to the league leaders.

Ryan Donk had a shot deflected for a corner by Rio Ferdinand and the resulting centre from Chris Brunt was punched clear in unconvincing fashion by Edwin Van Der Sar.

The ball fell to midfielder Gianni Zuiverloon and his shot from 20 yards out was cleared off the line by Michael Carrick.

Jay Simpson was a threat to United in the early stages and he bore down on the United goal after taking advantage of a slip by Gary Neville and saw his shot was deflected for another corner by Ferdinand.

The game was an end-to-end affair with Albion not looking fearful of the daunting task facing them.

Carson got his body behind a left-footed effort from Park and then reacted sharply to come off his line to block an effort from Berbatov.

Cristiano Ronaldo looked to the skies in disgust after dragging a drive wide of Carson's goal when well placed after some neat approach work.

United were looking an increasing threat and after 22 minutes Berbatov put them ahead with his fifth goal in the last seven matches.

The former Tottenham player exchanged passes with Michael Carrick and timed his run to perfection in staying onside before drilling a low shot through the legs of Carson into the corner of the net.

Albion almost went further behind after Ryan Giggs intercepted a square pass from Chris Brunt towards Borja Valero and broke with lightning speed.

He found Ronaldo in acres of space of the left, whose low centre was met first time by Carlos Tevez - whose shot flew only a yard wide.

Gary Neville was then incensed not to be awarded a penalty after being challenged by Brunt - but referee Rob Styles waved aside his protests.

Ronaldo should have doubled United's lead after 33 minutes when he was put clear after great skill by Giggs - but he clipped his shot over Carson and wide.

Berbatov walked off the pitch to have treatment in the right hip area but he was able to resume.

In a rare Albion raid Zuiverloon should have done better when the ball broke to him 12 yards out but he lofted his volley well wide of the far post.

Albion found themselves reduced to 10 men after 40 minutes when Paul Robinson was sent off for a challenge on Park.

It looked a harsh decision with no United players berating Robinson and Neville and Giggs looking to be sympathising with the left-back.

Then a minute before the interval a mistake by Carson led to Tevez doubling United's lead.

The England goalkeeper failed to hold a Giggs free-kick and a grateful Tevez smashed the loose ball into the roof of the net.

HT: West Brom 0 Manchester United 2

Baggies boss Tony Mowbray made a half-time substitute, bringing on left-back Marek Cech and taking off striker Fortune.

Giggs tried to catch Carson out in the first minute of the second period after picking the ball up on the left but his lob drifted wide.

Brunt won Albion a free-kick just outside the box after being brought down by Neville but he lofted his shot just over the crossbar.

Berbatov had the ball in the net for a second time from a Carrick cross but he had just strayed a yard offside.

Albion showed they had not given up hope and Ryan Donk crashed a shot against the post from a narrow angle.

But after an hour Nemanja Vidic ended any chances of a comeback by grabbing United's third goal.

Giggs floated the ball into the near post and Vidic was first to react with a fierce header which Carson could only help into the roof of the net.

Park was yellow carded for a foul on Cech but again it looked a questionable decision from Styles.

Mowbray made a double change, taking off Zuiverloon and Simpson and replacing them with James Morrison and Roman Bednar.

But United were now rampant and after 65 minutes Ronaldo made it 4-0 with a simple finish after being teed up by Giggs

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Last update : 27-01-2009 21:12

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