Baggies blossom as flat United flounder

There was no shortage of statistics after United’s third defeat from their opening six league games – their worst start since 1989 – but a simple run through United’s performances this season does much more than any facts or figures can tell you.

They were smarter in both boxes in the 4-1 win at Swansea on the opening weekend. But since then, as United have plodded their way through seven and a half hours without putting the ball in the net from open play, the overriding feeling has been one of utter flatness.

Trailing 2-1 with a quarter of the game remaining, Old Trafford is used to witnessing United’s centre-halves sitting just inside their opponents’ half as the home side forms and orderly queue on the edge of the box before the inevitable breakthrough came.

Against West Brom, United’s only real break was Marouane Fellaini’s offside ‘goal’ and long-range efforts from Michael Carrick and Adnan Januzaj. But it was not just Saturday that struggled for buzz and purpose. The 2-0 win over Crystal Palace had a similar humdrum feel, which will have to change considerably if United are to become the first team since 1950 to lose three of its first six matches and go on to win the league.

Former Wales assistant manager Raymond Verheijen, who has a major axe to grind against Moyes and his staff, took an opportunistic swipe at Moyes’ “Jurassic Park” football the “clueless and inexperienced nobodies on the United bench”.

Yet left-back Alexander Buttner dismissed talk of a crisis, while Anderson spoke about the possibility of winning the Premier League and the Champions League.

Despite last season’s winning margin of 11 points, few would suggest Moyes inherited an improving squad ready for the next step. It was more of a blank canvas, solid yet improvable in all areas, but the sensation so far has been one of listlessness.

Moyes opened up in the wake of last Sunday’s 4-1 humbling at City but here there was only more talk of how United respond.

“We wanted to try to kick on, that’s what we wanted but we’ll do it next time,” Moyes said. “That’s the plan. If you don’t do it, you have got to go again and we’ll try and do it in the next game.

“I didn’t expect [a bad day] to come so soon but I think it’s going to be the way. I’m taking over a new team, the team has got a new manager and I think there will be some setbacks along the way. But I think there are other clubs having setbacks as well, not just our club.”

Moyes talks sense, but it all sounded rather familiar. His team fell behind when Morgan Amaltifano broke from halfway, skipped around Rio Ferdinand and then lifted a wonderful chip over David de Gea.

Wayne Rooney equalised with a free-kick but youngster Saido Berahino swept in West Brom’s second after neat passing move midway through the second period.

United now face a trip to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday before travelling to Sunderland, who may well have a new manager, next weekend ahead of a run of four straight home games.

“Moyes is trying to find his feet here and I’m sure they’ll be back to winning ways soon and everyone will forget about this,” West Brom defender Liam Ridgewell said.

“Obviously you can play on [Moyes being new] and go out there and think about it but it might not work. They started off very well and you’ve got to defend well. United will find their feet.”

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea 7; P Jones 6, Ferdinand 5, Evans 6, Buttner 6; Carrick 6, Anderson 5 (Fellaini 68, 6); Nani 8, Rooney 7, Kagawa 6 (Januzaj 46, 6); Hernandez 6 (Van Persie 58, 6).

WEST BROM (4-3-3): Myhill 6; B Jones 6, Olsson 7, McAuley 7, Ridgewell 7; Amalfitano 9, Mulumbu 7, Yacob 6; Sessegnon 8 (Rosenberg 90), Anichebe 7 (Lugano 88), Sinclair 5 (Berahino 13, 8).

Referee: Michael Oliver.