Bruno Fernandes has proven time and time again since he joined Manchester United how effective and important his contribution to the overall performance of the team is as he scored a sensational volley in a 1-1- draw against West Brom to preserve the Reds unbeaten away record.
Once again though, Man Utd had to salvage something after going behind when Mbaye Diagne nodded West Brom ahead after 83 seconds. However, having taken an impressive 21 points from losing positions coming into the game, there was hope for the visitors.
United had a very sluggish first-half performance, but it was another moment of magic from Fernandes on the stroke of half time that hauled Man Utd level as he fired home a powerful volley.
The visitors were much improved after the break and had a penalty overturned by VAR after they judged Semi Ajayi had not made enough contact to foul Harry Maguire.
West Brom could also have snatched a late winner, but Diagne missed two glorious chances.
With the result, Man Utd’s unbeaten away run in the Premier League now extends to 19 games sealing the second spot on the standings on goal difference
Watch the highlights of the match below
Stats and facts from the match (Backed by Opta)
- Manchester United have won just one of their last five Premier League games (D3 L1), their 9-0 hammering of Southampton at Old Trafford.
- West Brom have won only one of their 11 Premier League matches under Sam Allardyce (W1 D3 L7), shipping nine more goals than any other team since his first match in charge (29).
- Bruno Fernandes has been directly involved in 38 Premier League goals in 38 appearances for Manchester United (22 goals, 16 assists) - in Premier League history, the only player with more goal involvements in his first 38 games is Andrew Cole (46 in 1993/94 for Newcastle).
- West Brom’s goal was scored after just 83 seconds by Mbaye Diagne - the earliest conceded by Manchester United in a Premier League game since Christian Eriksen’s 11-second strike for Spurs in January 2018.
- Manchester United have recovered 22 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, 10 more than any other team.
- Manchester United are unbeaten in all 12 away Premier League matches this season (W8 D4), only the fourth time a team has avoided defeat in their first 12 away Premier League games of a season: Arsenal in 2001/02 and 2003/04 and Liverpool in 2019/20, all of whom went on to win the title.
- West Brom striker Mbaye Diagne became the 12th different Senegalese player to score a Premier League goal under Sam Allardyce, eight more than have scored under any other manager.
- Man Utd left-back Luke Shaw registered his fifth Premier League assist of the season, the most he’s ever managed in a single season. In fact, Shaw only had seven assists in 156 Premier League appearances before this campaign.
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