West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Manchester United: Lukaku and Lingard guide Mourinho's men to victory

Full-time: West Brom 1-2 Manchester United

Goals from Lukaku and Lingard in the first half seal the points for United. Mourinho's men were made to sweat after Gareth Barry halved the deficit and caused the Baggies to rally, but the Red Devils managed to hold on to clinch their sixth win in seven matches.

Nemanja Matic receives a yellow card for timewasting. Great control from Martial sees him trouble Nyom, who eventually fouls him on the edge of his box.

West Brom clear through Hejazi, who boots the ball to Rondon, but the Venezuelan is cautioned for having a few bites at Jones.

Barry is causing United all sorts of trouble as they try to hold onto their slender advantage in stoppage time. Long balls and pumps into the box aplenty.

McClean eventually loses possession, allowing Rojo to find Lukaku, whose scuffed effort rolls wide.

Rojo makes an almighty hash of a clearance that gifts West Brom a corner. Brunt's delivery causes all manner of havoc but the ball somehow stays out. De Gea eventually claims before taking issue with Barry, who seem to tread on his ankle.

The goal has given West Brom a new lease of life, as you would expect, but their dearth of quality up front is hampering their quest for an equaliser. They win another corner thanks to Rondon, but it's eventually cleared with little actual fuss.

Final change for United - McTominay on, Lingard off.

United fail to deal with a corner which bobbles along the six yard box. Barry is first to react, and keeps his cool to the pass the ball into the net and halve the deficit.

Substitution for United - Rashford off, Martial on.

GOAL! West Brom 1-2 Manchester United (Barry)

West Brom huffing and puffing but don't look like they will trouble United anytime soon.

United in control, preparing to bring on Martial as Rondon manages to win a corner.

Final change for West Brom - Brunt on for Krychowiak.

De Gea has just gone down for a bit of treatment after being caught by McClean, but the Spaniard is okay to continue.

West Brom make a second change as Rodriguez comes on for Burke.

United also set to make a change; Valencia has hobbled off, Rojo, when he is quite ready, will replace him.

Mata finds Young in acres of space down the left flank. The utility man delivers a wondrous cross to the back stick, but Lukaku, who has scored two headers in his last two matches, cannot connect to make it three.

Rashford, now the booboy at the Hawthorns, flashes a shot just wide of goal after latching onto Lingard's flick.

Great ball in from Nyom is almost converted by Rondon, but De Gea's clean sheet lives to fight another day.

A bit of handbags between Rashford and Hegazi, for little to no reason at all. Rashford receives a yellow for his histrionics, but the Egyptian escapes punishment.

Rashford almost finds Lukaku exquisitely but the Belgian is offside. He also receives a sore one to his foot as he challenged Foster, but is okay to carry on.

West Brom start the second period positively, as you would expect. Gibbs lines up a shot, but his effort goes well, well wide of goal.

Second half set to get underway. West Brom have made a change - Barry on, Yacob off.

All smiles for Jesse Lingard at the break.

Goals from Lukaku and Lingard have helped United take a commanding position at the Hawthorns against a West Brom side who have failed to lay a glove on their visitors.

Lukaku's fine header opened the scoring before Lingard's wickedly deflected effort gave Foster no chance. Pardew will have to conjure an entirely different gameplan if his side have any hope of getting something out of this match.

Half-time: West Brom 0-2 Manchester United

United in complete control as we approach half-time at the Hawthorns. Matic, who stamped his authority on the match early on, has played a part in both goals and is swanning around the pitch doing as he likes.

West Brom sting the De Gea's palms as Livermore lines up a shot, but it's all too easy for the Spaniard.

United are firmly on top at the Hawthorns.

Lukaku's lay off finds Mata, whose nice touch allows Lingard to fire. The strike isn't great but it takes a wicked deflection off Hegazi and balloons over Foster. 2-0, game over?

GOAL! West Bromwich Albion 0-2 Manchester United (Lingard)

Almost an equaliser for West Brom as Nyom's cross is met by Rondon, but the Venezuelan can't convert.

Burke bursts past Jones with absolutely electric speed but fails to pass to Rondon as he tries to go alone. First flash of what the youngster can do was rather impressive, but Smalling was equal to the danger.

A sumptuous ball from Rashford finds Lukaku, sandwiched between two players, and finds the back of the net with a glorious header.

The Belgian doesn't celebrate, but Mourinho will care not. Two in two for Lukaku after a rather barren spell.

GOAL! West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Manchester United (Lukaku)

Lukaku plays a ball round the corner to Rashford but can't link up with his striking cohort's return pass. Valencia then tries to find the Belgian with a cross, but Foster is untroubled.

Matic is being allowed to dictate the tempo of the match so far, but his passing isn't adventurous enough to hurt West Brom.

Rashford then tried to stand up Nyon but the Cameroonian gets the better of his counterpart and eventually wins a foul for his troubles.

United close to drawing first blood but Gibbs' smart intervention prevents Lukaku, who is then adjudged to have fouled Foster.

At the other end Burke tries to latch onto a short header back by Jones, but De Gea is untroubled.

Mourinho not enamoured by his sides' start. West Brom have weathered an early but brief storm and are now asking a few questions of United's backline, though they are dealing comfortably.

West Brom burst into life as Rondon backheels the ball to McClean in space after receiving a good pass from Gibbs. The Irishman wastes the opportunity, and United retrieve possession which they have dominated so far.

A long ball from De Gea sends Rashford away. The youngster's shot is blocked, but Pardew will be concerned with the ease in which United found space around his side's penalty area.

Herrera finds Lukaku with a long, searching ball but the Belgian overhits his cross.

Lukaku then links up with Rashford as the pair engage in head tennis, but the latter eventually runs the ball out of play.

We're underway at the second time of asking. West Brom kick off and immediately hump it long.

The teams are lined up in the tunnel, ready to emerge onto the Hawthorns pitch. Kick-off just moments away now.

Kick-off just 10 minutes away. A final reminder of today's teams:

West Brom: Foster, Allan Nyom, Gibbs, Ahmed Hegazi, Jonny Evans, Livermore, Yacob, Krychowiak, Rondón, McClean, Burke.

Manchester United: De Gea, Jones, Young, Antonio Valencia, Smalling, Lingard, Rashford, Mata, Herrera, Matic, Lukaku.

Some more musings from Mourinho ahead of the clash:

"We are second; the number of points could be first in other seasons, yes, but we are second.

"As I have been saying, match after match, one match at a time and let's see at the end of the season where we are."

Some pre-match changes from Alan Pardew:

"There's a pressure for us to start winning games and if that comes on Sunday against Manchester United, then all well and good.

"Before the game, would I take a point? I probably would, but it all depends on the context of the game.

"We've shown ambition. It's not like we've parked the bus. We've tried to get at teams and I think we did a good job of that at Liverpool. We can take encouragement from that going into the Manchester United game."

Less than half an hour remaining until kick-off. A reminder of today's teams:

West Brom: Foster, Allan Nyom, Gibbs, Ahmed Hegazi, Jonny Evans, Livermore, Yacob, Krychowiak, Rondón, McClean, Burke.

Manchester United: De Gea, Jones, Young, Antonio Valencia, Smalling, Lingard, Rashford, Mata, Herrera, Matic, Lukaku.

She's in nice and early. Not looking too festive though, she'll no doubt want the Baggies to fill her with Christmas cheer.

Some pre-match thoughts from Jose Mourinho:

"I'm not making rotations, I'm not protecting players for what's coming, I'm just trying to play the team that I think is the best team for this match."

"The biggest danger is they [West Brom] need points because they're in a tough position and they need points. The stadium is difficult because their crowd is so supportive, then the qualities of the players, very physical, capable of defending well and being dangerous with direct football, under Tony Pulis they were one of the best teams in the Premier League."

After being re-integrated into the United squad in the last few weeks, Luke Shaw's mini-revival continues with a place on the substitutes' bench.

Mourinho saw fit to ostracise Shaw last season, but the Portuguese now sees the young left-back as an "option" in his squad.

"I am not saying he is first or second choice, Luke Shaw is an option," Mourinho said. "People forget his history, a hard history with an incredible injury and more surgery last season. "I liked the standing ovation he got, it only helps the player."

It's been a long time coming for Burke, who joined West Brom for £15m from RB Leipzig last summer.

United are off the bus. They look positively jubilant to be at the Hawthorns.

TEAM NEWS

West Brom substitutes: Myhill, Robson-Kanu, Brunt, Barry, Rodriguez, McAuley, Field.

Manchester United substitutes: Romero, Lindelof, Rojo, Shaw, McTominay, Ibrahimovic, Martial.

West Bromwich Albion's starting line-up in text form:

Foster, Allan Nyom, Gibbs, Ahmed Hegazi, Jonny Evans, Livermore, Yacob, Krychowiak, Rondón, McClean, Burke.

Manchester United's starting line-up in text form:

De Gea, Jones, Young, Antonio Valencia, Smalling, Lingard, Rashford, Mata, Herrera, Matic, Lukaku.

TEAM NEWS

TEAM NEWS

Manchester United have been without Eric Bailly for quite some time - and they have to be prepared to make do without him for another couple of months at least.

The Ivorian is set to undergo ankle surgery, and Mourinho does not expect him back until February.

"Bailly goes to surgery – the decision is made. I don't say [he's out] for the rest of the season but it's for the next two or three months," Mourinho confirmed to MUTV.

Team news is expected in 15 minutes.

No Paul Pogba for United, but a bonafide Premier League icon is set to return for West Brom.

Gareth Barry is fit for the Baggies, but Nacer Chadli is likely to miss out.

"Gareth Barry will be in contention to play. Nacer probably needs a bit more training to be involved for this one, but he's back which is a good thing."

Some corkers from the Red Devils here, though West Brom have enjoyed some memorable strikes against United, too. Who can forget Romelu Lukaku's hat-trick against the Red Devils in 2013?

United are present and correct at the Hawthorns. Will they leave the Midlands with three points?

West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Pardew has beaten Jose Mourinho three times in the Premier League, more than any other top-flight apart from Mark Hughes, who has also beaten him thrice.

Will Pards add to that statistic today?

Good afternoon and welcome to IB Times UK's live coverage of West Bromwich Albion vs Manchester United.

Both the Baggies and United are in need of points for very different reasons. Alan Pardew's side, who have not won since August, are in need of more points to help their bid for survival, though they will be encouraged by their draw with Liverpool in midweek.

With the title race as good as over, United's main focus will be to solidify second place. They are currently level on points with Chelsea in third, and only scraped a 1-0 win over Bournemouth on Wednesday.

Stick with us for the latest team news, updates and reaction from the Hawthorns.