Premier League: Points to prove as van Gaal’s search for away victory goes on
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 2
DISGRUNTLED Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal admits his side are some way short of an acceptable points tally after their stuttering away form continued against West Brom at the Hawthorns last night.
Holland midfielder Daley Blind struck a late equaliser while Marouane Fellaini also notched his first goal for the club as United twice fought back to salvage a point and cancel out strikes from Stephane Sessegnon and Saido Berahino.
Van Gaal insisted United, who were without suspended captain Wayne Rooney, deserved much more from their clash with the Baggies despite failing to end the Dutch tactician’s search for a first away win since taking the Old Trafford reins.
“We have 12 points from eight games which is not too good I believe because I think when we see the games, normally we are the better team,” said Van Gaal. “When you have 12 points out of eight matches, in my opinion it is eight points too few.
“I am very disappointed because we played our best match of the season and the result is not good enough. I think we could have won but it doesn’t count in our world and that is why I am disappointed.
“We gave it away with our individual errors and that is a pity because you can give a new start if we won and it was possible I think.”
West Brom opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Sessegnon crashed a clinical drive from the edge of the box beyond United keeper David de Gea following a rampaging Andre Wisdom run down the right flank.
Old Trafford outcast Fellaini equalised three minutes after replacing Spain midfielder Ander Herrera at the break, outmuscling Joleon Lescott to contro Angel di Maria’s cross on his chest before lashing a thunderous and rising shot beyond Boaz Myhill
The home side regained the lead on 66 minutes, with Berahino enhancing his status as the Premier League’s top-scoring Englishman by racing onto Chris Brunt’s defence-splitting pass and calmly curling a low effort past De Gea and inside the Spaniard’s left-hand post.
Dutch national team captain Van Persie came agonisingly close to levelling on 73 minutes only for his right-footed volley to canon back off the post with Myhill – deputising for the injured Ben Foster – beaten.
The visitors equalised with only three minutes remaining, Blind running onto substitute Radamel Falcao’s lay-off before bending a low 25-yard shot past Myhill for his first goal in United colours since his summer move from Dutch champions Ajax.