Man United damages title hopes with 1-1 draw at West Brom

By: The Associated Press Posted: 10:30 AM CST Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021 Last Modified: 11:05 AM CST Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021

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WEST BROMWICH, England - Manchester United damaged its title hopes after being held 1-1 by West Bromwich Albion in a scrappy Premier League clash on Sunday.

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WEST BROMWICH, England - Manchester United damaged its title hopes after being held 1-1 by West Bromwich Albion in a scrappy Premier League clash on Sunday.

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This article was published 14/02/2021 (2054 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WEST BROMWICH, England – Manchester United damaged its title hopes after being held 1-1 by West Bromwich Albion in a scrappy Premier League clash on Sunday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s comeback kings fell short on the road and, having been top just 19 days ago, second-place United now trails Manchester City by seven points. City also has a game in hand.

Mbaye Diagne got West Brom off to a dream start after just 80 seconds before United drew level through Bruno Fernandes’ stunning effort.

West Bromwich Albion's Mbaye Diagne, center, misses a scoring chance in front Manchester United's Victor Lindelof, left, and Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka during the English Premier League soccer match between West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United at the Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich, England, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. (Michael Steele/Pool Photo via AP)

Harry Maguire had a last-gasp header superbly turned on to a post by Baggies goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

Having won all of its previous seven away league matches in which United conceded first, Solskjaer will be frustrated by his side’s poor response in this costly draw at the Hawthorns.

Diagne scored his first goal for the club, his hand in Victor Lindelof’s face overlooked, but Fernandes superbly levelled at the end of the first half. He fired home a stunning leveler in the 44th minute, meeting Luke Shaw’s cross with a fine hooked effort that flew into the top left-hand corner.

The second half was more open and eventful.

Referee Craig Pawson overturned his decision to award a penalty for Semi Ajayi’s foul on Maguire after reviewing footage on the pitchside monitor, but offside would have come into play anyway if he had stuck with his decision.

Johnstone denied Mason Greenwood before Darnell Furlong cleared Scott McTominay’s effort off the line, while at the other end David De Gea prevented Diagne securing a shock win with a superb double save.

West Bromwich Albion's goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, right, saves a shot from Manchester United's Harry Maguire, second left, during the English Premier League soccer match between West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United at the Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich, England, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. (Michael Steele/Pool Photo via AP)

Diagne only had himself to blame in the 78th minute as he somehow failed to score. Having shaken off Maguire — perhaps illegally — to go through one-on-one with De Gea, the ball looped up after his initial shot was saved and Diagne looked set to nod into an empty net until the goalkeeper got back superbly to claw away.

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