Young Thanks Defenders

Ashley Young paid tribute to United's defence after the 2-0 triumph against West Brom at Old Trafford.

The winger set up the opener, an own goal by Gareth McAuley, and also forced a stunning save out of Ben Foster but felt a lot of credit needs to go to his colleagues at the other end of the pitch after the Baggies were shut out.

"It's always a concern when you're one-up and we were playing counter-attacking as they were having more possession," he explained to MUTV.

"As soon as Robin [van Persie] got the second goal, the game was over but we defended brilliantly. The back four and the keeper were fantastic today.

"Getting a clean sheet is brilliant. Every one of them at the back was fantastic and deserve a pat on the back and a clean sheet for how much work they put in. It wasn't an easy pitch out there today. It was boggy and everybody will be tired tomorrow because they put in a good shift.

"I don't think we wanted that drama again after the other night [against Newcastle]. We wanted to get off to a good start, which the manager said, and we managed to do that."

Young was unlucky not to get his first goal of the season on his 11th start.

"Obviously I want to somehow claim the goal as it'd be my first [of the season]," he admitted. "I guess I can't but if there's a way, I will try and claim it as much as I can!

"I was just speaking to someone and he was saying it was exactly the same as the one last season [on the opening day at The Hawthorns when Steven Reid scored an own goal]. It's always nice to see the ball end up in the back of the net.

"Then Ben pulled out his hand from somewhere and managed to save it. That's why he was England No1 at one point. He's a fantastic keeper but he was the one saying about the deflected goal being the same as last season. It's just one of those things and I'm delighted to get three points."