EVERTON 0 FULHAM 2 SOUTHAMPTON 1 WOLVES 2
OLE GUNNAR Solskjaer’s comeback kings fell short on the road as embattled West Brom dug deep for a draw to seriously dent Manchester United’s title hopes.
Having been Premier League leaders 19 days ago, the secondplaced Red Devils are now seven points behind Manchester City, who also boast a game in hand.
Mbaye Diagne got Albion off to a dream start after just 80 seconds, outmuscling Viktor Lindelof before beating David De Gea but United drew level through Bruno Fernandes’ stunning effort, hook
ing a Luke Shaw cross into the top corner just before the break.
United had won all of their previous seven away league matches in which they had conceded first, so Solskjaer will be frustrated by his side’s poor response in this costly draw at the Hawthorns.
An entertaining first half ended with United furious referee Craig Pawson had blown the whistle as
they attacked on the break with a numerical advantage.
And the match official courted controversy in the second period when he overturned his decision to award a penalty for a Semi Ajayi foul on Harry Maguire after reviewing the footage on the pitchside monitor, although the England defender would have been ruled offside had the referee stuck with his decision. As the action intensified, Baggies goalkeeper Sam Johnstone denied Mason Greenwood before Darnell Furlong cleared a Scott McTominay effort off the line, while at the other end De Gea prevented Diagne securing a shock win with a superb double save after the striker brushed past Maguire.
The on-loan striker then wasted another great chance towards the culmination of a match that ended with Maguire on his knees after former United shot-stopper Johnstone tipped his stoppage-time header onto a post.
Relegation-threatened West Brom are 12 points behind Newcastle in 17th place with a far inferior goal difference and having played a game more than the Magpies, who face Chelsea tonight at Stamford Bridge.