West Brom 0-5 Manchester United/Ronaldo runs amok as United go three points clear

Manchester United glided three points clear at the top of the table. The spree showed that it is creativity that makes the reigning champions unassailable on occasions such as this. A new Premier League record of 11 consecutive clean sheets reflects their domination as much as their resilience. All the same, there was unfortunate assistance to their cause.

• West Bromwich’s patched-up selection was further disrupted by the dismissal of Paul Robinson when they were 1-0 down. The decision by the referee Rob Styles was draconian. Robinson and Park Ji-sung both slid into a challenge after 40 minutes. The left-back tried to minimise the contact, but was still shown the red card.
• Tony Mowbray, the West Brom manager, declined to rant. Nonetheless, there was a suggestion that the club will take the matter further. “If,” said Mowbray, “the TV angle shows that he didn’t leave the ground and didn’t show his studs and there was an honest collision, then I’m pretty sure there will be a case to appeal it.” The United manager Sir Alex Ferguson called the tackle “reckless and careless”.
• There was no cause for the visitors to dwell on it. Until last night, United had not quite been averaging a goal a game in away league fixtures. This fixture hinted at a lethal quality emerging for the closing phase in their defence of the title. “We have shown a ruthlessness that has maybe not been there this season,” said Ferguson. “We hoped it was going to come and we expected it because of the standard of forwards we have, but tonight was the first indication it was there.”
• Cristiano Ronaldo notched his first League goal since 15 November and put Ferguson in a playful mood. The manager divulged the comment he had made to a player after his late penalty against Derby last week, and after what had been a vexatious campaign for the Portuguese. “I said to him, ‘You’re starting to score again, son. That’s really good of you.'”
• United’s line-up was unexpectedly strong, with Rio Ferdinand returning from a back injury sustained last month and Wes Brown, who had not appeared since 25 October, fit enough to make an appearance from the bench. It was West Brom who were stricken. Their captain Jonathan Greening has medial-ligament damage that will rule him out for six months. More pertinently, Mowbray was without four of his five centre-halves and Ryan Donk had to be paired with Pele, the Portuguese who was making his first league start of the campaign.
• Kick-off was delayed by half-an-hour because of problems on the motorway, but it would have suited West Brom better if the fixture had been postponed. United’s pattern was soon imposed, with the accuracy and movement taking its toll.
• The breakthrough was simple yet it also glowed with expertise. Michael Carrick steered a return pass to Dimitar Berbatov, who had checked his run to stay onside, and the striker finished with assurance. Once West Brom’s numbers had been cut, they needed to be pragmatic to limit the damage, but a foolish goal was conceded before half-time. Scott Carson grabbed Ryan Giggs’ free-kick but then dropped it. Carlos Tevez rolled home the loose ball.
• There was still interest in seeing if West Brom could deny United their habitual clean sheet. Donk came close when he broke through from the right and hit the near post with an angled finish. But United’s third goal was notched simply as Nemanja Vidic headed Giggs’ corner past Carson from close range after an hour.
• There was more melancholy for the West Brom fans with a fourth goal for United. Tevez slipped the ball left and Giggs set up Ronaldo . Its successor came within eight minutes after he was put clear by Berbatov. Carson and Donk were both cautioned for dissent as they insisted wrongly that it had been offside. That was just one of many errors last night.
• United, though, had used the circumstances excellently, blooding Richard Eckersley and Zoran Tosic in the league as substitutes. The irate home crowd may have been raucous, but the visitors took on an ominous serenity at The Hawthorns.