Hernandez Heads Below-par United To Victory At The Hawthorns

Javier Hernandez came on to score the winner for below-par leaders Manchester United at the expense of West Brom, who missed a second-half penalty.

He headed in Wayne Rooney's corner in the second half after Rooney had scored his first goal in open play since March 2010, also with a header.

James Morrison levelled for the Baggies with a stunning strike from 20 yards.

Peter Odemwingie then missed from the spot after defender Rio Ferdinand had brought down Jerome Thomas.

It was an awful scuffed effort which - had it gone in - would have been just reward for West Brom, who were the far superior team at The Hawthorns.

It is not often that United's midfield are overwhelmed but, after the early goal, the quartet of Darren Fletcher, Anderson, Michael Carrick and Gabriel Obertan were chasing striped shirts for much of the match.

There seemed to be little communication with the backline while they were often runners-up in the battle to win the second ball.

But the criticism should be balanced with the tremendous spirit shown by Roberto di Matteo's side.

Former Middlesbrough player Morrison was one of the stars of the show and his fantastic strike after Rooney's opener, was the ignition for what was to follow.

Another player who shone at a murky Hawthorns was Scottish international Graham Dorrans, given great freedom to roam by United.

He was involved in the most contentious moment of the match when his run into the penalty area was checked by United veteran Gary Neville.

The full-back was the last man and appeared to clip the legs of Dorrans as he was about to shoot.

However, referee Chris Foy waved play on, much to the bemusement of the Baggies players and Di Matteo, who continued the debate with official Mike Halsey on the sidelines.

Chris Brunt completed the impressive trinity of Baggies midfielders. Like Dorrans, the ex-Sheffield Wednesday was also given far too much space to exploit.

Seconds after the penalty appeal, Brunt curled a brilliant effort from 20 yards over the bar and after the break both he, with another left-foot strike, and Dorrans, who fired into the side netting, went close to adding a second.

West Brom had started the second 45 minutes as they played most of the first.

Paul Scharner was next to be left exasperated, when he headed Brunt's left-wing corner two yards wide after he was left alone on the edge of the six-yard area.

Their pressure should have paid dividends midway through the half when Foy, this time, pointed to the spot after Ferdinand clipped the ankle of the tricky Thomas.

However, Nigeria international Odemwingie, who missed from the spot against Arsenal, fluffed his lines by pushing the ball past the right-hand upright.

And as is the football cliche, they were punished for the miss a few minutes later.

Midfielder Darron Gibson and striker Hernandez came on for Obertan and Dimitar Berbatov respectively and Hernandez turned the match when he was left unmarked in the six-yard area to nod in Rooney's corner.

West Brom pressed again and were unlucky not to equalise when Nemanja Vidic cut out Thomas's low goal-bound shot from 12 yards.

United withstood the late pressure and clung on for their 11th league win while Rooney was also left clinging on, bravely playing until the end despite suffering an ankle injury during the closing stages.


Javier Hernandez scores the winner for Manchester United in the 75th minute