MAN UTD: De Gea; Smalling, Evans, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Young; Kagawa, Welbeck... Subs: Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Giggs, Hernandez, Van Persie, Scholes, Buttner. // WEST BROM: Foster, Jones, McAuley, Tamas, Ridgewell, Thorne, Brunt, Rosenberg, Dorrans, Odemwingie, Long... Subs: Myhill, Lukaku, Morrison, Jara Reyes, Fortune, Dawson, El Ghanassy.

Another United corner - this time Young whips it towards Vidic and Evans - neither quite manages to direct an effort on goal.

VALENCIA! The ball breaks to him after Young's cross. Valencia takes his time to find an angle, but ends up seeing his low shot deflected for a corner.

West Brom's best spell of the match, this - a series of good passes, concluded by a cross from Long. Doesn't find its mark this time, but the Baggies are settling down.

Odemwingie punished for climbing over Smalling as he tried to meet a cross at the far post.

United lead on shots 9-4 - and on shots on target 6-2 - but West Brom are only one moment of magic away from spoiling Sir Alex's birthday on New Year's Eve.

Another set piece from distance for West Brom - and Brunt's delivery picks out Tamas at the far post - that could have been trouble for United...

Clean strike from Chris Brunt - hit at pace from 25 yards - it was straight at De Gea so the Spaniard could save, but anything to his left or right would have been a real test.

West Brom at the moment really managing little more than to keep United at arm's length. When they're already behind, it doesn't bode well. But they're hanging in.

Kagawa and Valencia combine down the right, waiting patiently for an opportunity to cross that doesn't come. In the end it's down to Cleverley, whose effort is blocked at the near post.

Some predictions from you on Twitter - Hilma Hazmi: "Kagawa look decent this afternoon, a goal from him might come in the 2nd half. 2-0 win for Man utd!" - Joseph Sleiman: "Lukaku and rvp to both come on and score. Man U win 2-1" and this from Declan Judge on Cleverley: "looks like management have had a strong chat with cleverly past few days, he's really trying to get thru his passing range"

West Brom kick us off in the second half!

What did you think of that half? Is there any way back for the Baggies? Tweet me your thoughts and predictions to @Mark_Eurosport

HALF TIME: The wall stands firm and despite a couple of wobbly moments at the end of this half United go in ahead and good value for their lead.

United not dealing with that particularly well, and Rosenberg taken out on the edge of the area by Cleverley as the ball rebounds. One added minute to play - this set piece surely the last action of the half.

Long goes to ground in a challenge with Evans, and West Brom have a useful set-piece position with the half drawing to a close.

CLOSE! Foster almost loses his footing and lets in an embarrassing goal after a passback - was that the pitch at work? Either way, Danny Welbeck very nearly picked up a cheap goal.

Shake of the head from Jonny Evans as he wallops the ball out of play after the ball hits a divot.

It's not been an unqualified success for United, but they have looked very comfortable. And they still have RVP waiting on the bench if need be.

From absolutely nothing Odewingie drifts in beyond Smalling and Valencia from the left, then fires a low shot wide of De Gea's goal. Just a reminder that West Brom have an attacking threat - we've not seen much of it yet.

Valencia fizzes in a low cross into a swarm of bodies in the West Brom six-yard box - the ball pings out towards safety. United continue to push.

Cleverley overhits a crossfield pass to Smalling, and that kills off United's momentum for a moment. The midfielder looks frustrated with himself.