Top scorer Odemwingie lined up the penalty but scuffed his kick, sending the ball a couple of yards wide of Kuszczak’s right-hand post.
West Brom understandably appeared deflated after the missed opportunity to take the lead and United began to string a few passes together. In fact they also should have had a penalty when, on 73 minutes, Thomas blatantly stuck out an arm to deflect a cross from Fabio, who had come on to replace the tiring 35-year-old Neville.
It is always said that the best teams know how to win when they don’t play well and United could sense that they might just have a sniff.
Sure enough, two minutes after the penalty appeal Rooney curled a corner kick onto the head of the unmarked Javier Hernandez who gratefully put his team ahead.
The Mexican also found the net in United’s only other away win of the campaign at Stoke so perhaps he is the player who can turn those away draws into victories.
West Brom tried manfully to claw their way back but the visitors held out, despite Wayne Rooney leaving the field with a worrying ankle injury following a challenge by Chris Brunt.
Since United had already used all three substitutes Rooney came back on to help see out the game and make sure of the three points, but he was not moving at all freely and it remains to be seen if any serious damage has been done.
Sir Alex Ferguson paid tribute to West Brom’s fighting spirit commenting to Premier League website reporters, “It was a massive result for us and a great way to start the year. It was a really tough game.”
West Brom understandably appeared deflated after the missed opportunity to take the lead and United began to string a few passes together. In fact they also should have had a penalty when, on 73 minutes, Thomas blatantly stuck out an arm to deflect a cross from Fabio, who had come on to replace the tiring 35-year-old Neville.
It is always said that the best teams know how to win when they don’t play well and United could sense that they might just have a sniff.
Sure enough, two minutes after the penalty appeal Rooney curled a corner kick onto the head of the unmarked Javier Hernandez who gratefully put his team ahead.
The Mexican also found the net in United’s only other away win of the campaign at Stoke so perhaps he is the player who can turn those away draws into victories.
West Brom tried manfully to claw their way back but the visitors held out, despite Wayne Rooney leaving the field with a worrying ankle injury following a challenge by Chris Brunt.
Since United had already used all three substitutes Rooney came back on to help see out the game and make sure of the three points, but he was not moving at all freely and it remains to be seen if any serious damage has been done.
Sir Alex Ferguson paid tribute to West Brom’s fighting spirit commenting to Premier League website reporters, “It was a massive result for us and a great way to start the year. It was a really tough game.”
