West Bromwich(WBA) vs Manchester United preview - Irvine fights to win round sceptics

Posted Sunday, October 19, 2014 by PA

Alan Irvine has admitted even the West Brom players would have questioned his appointment.

The Baggies host Manchester United on Monday after Irvine shrugged off a rocky start to begin to recover at the Hawthorns.

Albion have won three of their last four games in all competitions and were unlucky to lose 2-1 at Liverpool last time out in the Barclays Premier League.

The run comes after Irvine failed to win in his first four league games, leading to early rumblings of discontent from Albion fans who had been unconvinced by his arrival.

Irvine, who replaced Pepe Mel, has praised his players for their recent form but admitted even they may have needed assurances he was the right man.

He said: "The players have been brilliant, from the very start they have been brilliant. It wouldn't have just been the fans thinking 'is this the right appointment?'

"I'm quite sure the players would have wondered about that. But from the first day they have been extremely welcoming and unbelievably responsible.

"They go around their training in a great way. I do know there's a good feeling among the players at this time and they are happy with the work they are doing. They are happy we are progressing but they also know we all need to be better.

"The fortunate thing from my point of view is they are all pulling in the same direction. Part of my job is to keep them pulling in the same direction."

Irvine was unable to pick his full-strength side in the opening weeks and still has Porto loanee Silvestre Varela out after groin surgery.

Victor Anichebe is also a doubt for Monday's game after hernia trouble but captain Chris Brunt is expected to be fit after he suffered a groin problem on international duty with Northern Ireland.

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal hopes his team pick up where they left off.

After an indifferent start to the campaign, United finally started to show signs of clicking into gear with victories in their two matches prior to the international break.

United held on for 2-1 wins over West Ham and Everton, lifting them to fourth in the Barclays Premier League and banishing a lot of the gloom of the season's opening weeks.

Van Gaal had also seen reasons for optimism in the games prior to that and he wants to continue the momentum as his side travel to The Hawthorns.

The Dutchman said: "(Against) Leicester City (5-3 loss) we played very good but we gave it away. (Of) the other matches we played - two draws and we could have won them. We were the better team, we created chances, but we didn't score.

"We have to wait and see if that tendency (is) going through. We have to wait and see if it is true. We have to start on Monday against West Bromwich Albion with a victory."

Despite that, Van Gaal expects a tough encounter against a Baggies side whose confidence had been lifted by three successive wins in all competitions before losing at Liverpool in their last game.

He said: "I think West Brom are very difficult to beat, especially at their home. They play not only long balls but they can also play a positional game. They are dangerous opponents.

"They are not easy to beat but there is no opponent in the Premier League that is easy to beat. That is the difference with other leagues."

United's lengthy injury list has eased during the international break with the likes of Ander Herrera, Chris Smalling, Ashley Young, Phil Jones and Michael Carrick back in training and possibly in contention. Midfielder Herrera, who has been out with a cracked rib, could even play wearing a protective corset.

Captain Wayne Rooney is missing as he serves the second part of a three-game suspension.