Birthday boy on best behaviour

Manchester United 2 West Brom 0

There was none of the snarling aggression and haranguing of officials that marred the classic St Stephen’s Day encounter with Newcastle but then, with Nemanja Vidic back at the heart of the United defence, Ferguson had far less cause for concern.

For just the second time in the last 18 league and cup games, United kept a clean sheet and it was no coincidence that the performance coincided with the return of the Serb.