More joy at Old Trafford as Albion tame Manchester United

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Yankuba Minteh, Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter on target in 3-1 victory.

Bruce Talbot

2025-01-19T16:00+00:00

Delight for Albion's two goalscorers as Kaoru Mitoma jumps into the arms of Yankuba Minteh after both scored and assisted a goal for each other. 📷 by James Boardman.

Albion gave their travelling fans another afternoon to remember at Old Trafford with an emphatic win.

Yankuba Minteh and Kaoru Mitoma scored and created a goal for each other before Georginio Rutter came off the bench to make it 3-1 with 14 minutes remaining.

Yankuba Minteh slots Albion into an early lead. 📷 by James Boardman.

A second successive Premier League win stretched the unbeaten run in all competitions to seven games and lifted Albion into ninth and within three points of the European places. By completing the double, Albion have now won six of their last seven games against United.

Albion had gone in front after four minutes when Minteh was unselfishly set up by Mitoma to score his third goal of the season.

Kaoru Mitoma celebrates with goalscorer Yankuba Minteh after his cross set up Albion's early goal. 📷 by James Boardman.

United levelled from the penalty spot through Bruno Fernandes but Albion took control in the second half.

After Joao Pedro had a goal disallowed Mitoma converted Minteh’s cross for his sixth goal of the season which made him the Premier League’s all-time leading Japanese goalscorer.

Substitute Georginio Rutter confirmed Albion’s supremacy when he capitalised on a mistake by Andre Onana to poach his fourth in three games and sixth of the campaign.

Albion celebrate in front of 2.400 travelling fans after Kaoru Mitoma had scored their second goal at Old Trafford. 📷 by James Boardman.

There was a poignant tribute to United legend Denis Law before kick-off, but Albion didn’t take long to find their rhythm and they hardly relinquished it for the rest of the game.

They had already gone close when Andre Onana saved a near-post volley from Joao when they took a fourth-minute lead.

Kaoru Mitoma celebrates in front of the Albion fans after scoring for the second successive game. 📷 by James Boardman.

Carlos Baleba’s diagonal ball found Mitoma with space to attack Noussair Mazraoui down the left. Mitoma hared down on goal and unselfishly squared the ball to the unmarked Minteh who side-footed past Onana.

Old Trafford was stunned as Albion played with fluidity in the opening stages, but United began to come into the game and drew level in the 21st minute.

Bart Verbruggen’s pass out was intercepted by Amad on the edge of the box and Baleba tugged Zirkzee’s shoulder and he tumbled to the floor. Referee Bankes pointed to the penalty spot and Verbruggen was sent the wrong way by Fernandes.

Georginio Rutter takes advantage of Andre Onana's mistake to make it 3-1. 📷 by James Boardman.

Albion regrouped. The pace of Minteh and Mitoma was a threat all afternoon and just before the break Minteh burst down the inside-right channel and found Danny Welbeck ten yards out but Diogo Dalot was alert to the danger and made a crucial interception to block Welbeck’s shot.

Joao thought he’d restored the lead ten minutes into the second half when he turned to fire through Onana’s legs from close range, but the referee was called to the pitchside monitor by the VAR Craig Pawson and the goal ruled out for a foul by Jan Paul van Hecke on Dalot.

Georginio Rutter celebrates his fourth goal in three games which sealed Albion's 3-1 win at Old Trafford. 📷 by James Boardman.

Albion weren’t knocked out of their stride and went in front on the hour. The impressive Yasin Ayari attacked a retreating defence, fed Minteh on the right and his superb cross was turned in by Mitoma at the far post.

Minteh was replaced by Solly March midway through the second half and he played his part when Albion went 3-1 up in the 76th minute. His pass found Ayari down the left and the Swede’s cross should have been claimed by Onana, but the ball squirmed out of his grasp and Rutter pounced, swivelling to fire into an empty net from ten yards.

Albion's players join the tribute to Manchester United legend Denis Law before kick-off at Old Trafford. 📷 by James Boardman.

Albion saw out the remainder of the game with consummate professionalism before enjoying the celebrations with their fans. Another unforgettable day at Old Trafford.

Albion: Verbruggen, Veltman, Dunk, van Hecke, Estupinan (Lamptey 84), Minteh (March 69), Baleba (Gomez 90+4), Ayari, Mitoma, Joao Pedro (Enciso 90+4), Welbeck (Rutter 69).