Report: West Brom 1 United 1

The Baggies took a shock lead inside just two minutes when Mbaye Diagne headed home, but the Reds dominated the remainder of the half and netted a equaliser through Bruno Fernandes's sublime volley.

Referee Craig Pawson awarded the Reds a penalty just after the hour-mark for a foul on Harry Maguire before changing his mind after having another look.

Mason Greenwood and Scott McTominay went close in the second half, while Diagne had two good chances to claim victory for the hosts. Ultimately though, this was another disappointing day for United as West Brom held firm.

FIRST HALF – BRUNO PULLS US LEVEL

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made two changes to the side that drew with Everton last weekend, with Anthony Martial and Fred coming in for Mason Greenwood, who was named on the bench, and the injured Paul Pogba. Fred brought up a century of appearances, while Edinson Cavani celebrated his 34th birthday.

Having conceded with just seconds left at Old Trafford against the Toffees, the Reds wanted to get off to a quick and solid start, but unfortunately it was the hosts who did exactly that and, within 90 seconds, had the lead. West Brom found space out on the right before the ball came inside to Conor Gallagher who curled in a cross for Diagne to rise above Victor Lindelof to head home his first Premier League goal following his loan from Galatasaray. Replays showed the Baggies striker had his hand over Lindelof’s face as he jumped, but the goal was given.

Fred took aim on the half-volley after eight minutes but it was straight at Sam Johnstone. Thereafter, United dominated possession, but struggled to get into a proper rhythm against a dogged and aggressive Baggies side.

Rashford was looking lively on the right and it was his excellent cross from that side towards Martial, which was deflected out and just wide by Lee Peltier even though, inexplicably, referee Pawson gave a goal-kick.

At the other end, De Gea had to be alert to tip the ball over on 27 minutes when Robert Snodgrass leapt to meet Conor Townsend’s cross from the left.

The Reds piled on the pressure as half-time approached and, a minute from the break, Fernandes drew us level in superb fashion. The influential Harry Maguire found Shaw on the left and his centre was brilliantly volleyed into the top corner by our no.18, for yet another memorable finish.

SECOND HALF - HONOURS EVEN

The Reds came flying out of the blocks at the restart with some quick, incisive play and plenty of balls into the box, but clear-cut chances remained at a premium.

At the other end, Matheus Pereira dragged a low drive wide of De Gea’s left-hand post on a rare venture forward from the Baggies.

Fernandes saw a shot deflect off McTominay into Johnstone’s path on 58 minutes and, four minutes later, the match's major talking point arrived. Fernandes swung in a deep free-kick to the back post where Maguire went down under a challenge from Semi Ajayi. Referee Pawson pointed to the spot before going over to the pitchside monitor to assess his decision and confusion reigned thereafter. Replays showed Maguire was possibly offside, but Pawson opted to overturn his decision with ‘no foul’ flashing up on the big screen inside The Hawthorns even though Maguire clearly seemed to be pulled by Ajayi.

Greenwood entered the fray seconds later and he forced Johnstone into a smart save with his foot on 70 minutes, while Darnell Furlong cleared the ball off the line from McTominay’s follow-up shot.

On 78 minutes, Diagne looked like he might snatch it for the hosts when the striker got through on goal. He appeared to foul Maguire but the referee played on and De Gea saved Diagne's shot before brilliantly leaping in the air to punch the ball clear as Diagne threatened to put the rebound in.

Three minutes from time, Diagne flicked the ball over the bar when presented with a golden opportunity for a second for Sam Allardyce's men.

United went in desperate search of a winner, with five minutes of injury-time added on. With seconds remaining, Shaw sent another cross into the box and Maguire saw a header tipped onto the post by Johnstone. It was agonising for the Reds who were forced to settle for a point.

Team line-ups

West Brom: Johnstone; Peltier (Furlong 46), Ajayi, Bartley (c), Townsend; Yokuslu (Livermore 67), Gallagher, Maitland-Niles, Snodgrass (Phillips 87), Pereira; Diagne.

Subs not used: Button, O'Shea, Sawyers, Robinson, Grant, Robson-Kanu.

Goals: Diagne 2

Booked: Gallagher, Bartley, Maitland-Niles, Snodgrass, Diagne

United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire (c), Shaw; Fred (van de Beek 79), McTominay; Rashford, Fernandes, Martial (Greenwood 66); Cavani.

Subs not used: Henderson, Bailly, Telles, Tuanzebe, Williams, James, Matic.

Goals: Fernandes 44.