West Brom 0 v 3 Manchester United

The Hawthorns, West Bromwich
28th August 2004

United looked dodgy for the first-half, with West Brom containing them well, but were able t make the break-through in the second half, with Scholes grabbing two, and scoring in his second successive league match after going so long without a goal!

United legend Bryan Robson must have had a ough time trying to decide who to play, only for his well-worked out plan designed to stifle United collapse with injuries to two key men - both Darren Moore and Cosmin Contra had to be substituted before the interval.

Roonay went closest in the first half, although a few half chances from van Nistelrooy ended up in the hands of the keeper. Rooney struck the ball from distance, only to see the ball strike the post and bounce out. It was a lucky break for the Baggies, but their luck didn't hold.

The second half brought more movement from the United boys, and it was what Sir Alex called a 'typical United goal' that got the party started. Scholes ran in midfield and saw space opening up ahead of him, and chose to shoot. From 30 yards out he set himself up and then smashed the ball hard and low. The keeper had no chance as it was driven to the bottom left hand-side of the nets. Queue wild celebrations.

Van Nistelrooy also got on the score-sheet, scoring his first from open-play this season.

A Giggs free-kick was floated to the back post. Heinze nodded back across goal and Van Nistelrooy was able to head the ball into the net from a yard out, and celebrated by showing the fans just how ripped his shirt was by the West Brom shirt-tugging scum.

Scholes grabbed another in the last ten minutes, with another goal-mouth scramble. Another Giggs cross was headed back across goal, this time by Rooney, and Scholes was able to do what Ruud had done just minutes earlier, nodding simply home to send United into fourth, and west Brom rock bottom.

Ronaldo was brought on with ten minutes t go and cameo-ed. His two shots were well wide, but his confidence on the ballreassured a tiring United back-line.

West Brom: Hoult, Scimeca, Moore (Gaardsoe 24), Purse, Clement, Greening, Sakiri (Horsfield 75), Johnson, Gera, Contra (Robinson 38), Earnshaw.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Hulse.

Man Utd: Carroll, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Heinze, Fletcher (Ronaldo 72), Keane, Scholes, Giggs, van Nistelrooy (Smith 75), Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Howard, O'Shea, Fortune.

Goals: Scholes 53, van Nistelrooy 72, Scholes 82.

Att: 27,709.

Ref: S Bennett (Kent).