SAN FRANCISCO, November 22, (THEWILL) – Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes scored his seventh goal of the season with a retaken penalty to help Manchester United claimed a controversial first Premier League home win since July with a 1-0 defeat of West Bromwich Albion.
The Red Devils, who endured their worse home start in the top flight for 48 years, finally secured three points at a ground that used to be such a fortress at the fifth time of trying.
However, to end a six-match run without a home victory that stretched back to last season, they needed some fortune. That was what referee David Coote gave them when he overturned his decision to award struggling Albion a penalty at the start of the second half.
Goal scorer Fernandes must have been relieved after he was adjudged to not have brought down Conor Gallagher and the midfielder was two-times lucky soon after when he was given a second chance to score from the spot.
Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone had tipped away Fernandes’s first attempt after Darnell Furlong was harshly penalised for handball. But because he came off his line too soon, it had to be retaken. And the United talisman did not pass up another opportunity to open the scoring.
Facing his former club, Johnstone made the first of several brilliant stops from an early Anthony Martial header and then produced a superb reflex save low to his left to thwart the United forward again.
David de Gea was in their way when the Baggies had a first sight of goal. Karlan Grant’s shot was tipped wide by the keeper before Martial was denied a penalty when the France international felt he was tugged back by Matheus Pereira.
The visitors believed they had a golden opportunity to take the lead just after the break when the referee pointed to the spot. But, Coute’s pitchside change of heart, which preceded an excellent De Gea stop from Conor Townsend, was one too many for the VAR drama.
Substitute Callum Robinson, in for Grant, struck the bar just after coming on in the 65th minute and Johnstone produced another sharp save to prevent Marcus Rashford from doubling United’s lead two minutes after.
The Baggies’ wait for a win goes on, while United – who were without Paul Pogba due to a knock – are up to ninth.
United will next face Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Albion take on fellow strugglers Sheffield United at The Hawthorns next Saturday.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
