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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
David Byrom & Bobby Vincent

Gary Neville says Manchester United players did the opposite of what Solskjaer told them to do vs West Brom

Gary Neville says Manchester United's defence failed to do what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer asked of them for West Bromwich Albion 's opening goal.

United fell behind after just 90 seconds when Mbaye Diagne beat Victor Lindelof to Conor Gallagher's cross and headed in from six yards to give West Brom a shock early lead.

It was a poor goal for United to concede, with the back four strangely deep in the opening stages and Lindelof unable to hold off the attacker.

Speaking on Sky Sports' commentary about the goal, Neville said the defence must not have listened to what Solskjaer had talked about pre-match in terms of defending with a high line against a team that puts balls into the penalty area.

He said: "I watched Ole Gunnar Solskjaer talk about his defenders pushing up the pitch in his pre-match interview, well that was exactly the opposite.

"West Brom were always going to put pressure on the United defence and put the ball into the box as early as possible.

"They don’t shift, Lindelof, Maguire, I said it two or three weeks ago, if you don’t shift the two or three yards when the ball goes back then you’re going to end up on top of your goalkeeper.

"It’s a brilliant ball in, Diagne attacks it really well and he mauls Lindelof and heads it brilliantly past De Gea."

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