Manchester, England: Manchester United's early season problems intensified by losing 2-1 at home to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, leaving the champion in the bottom half of the English Premier League after six games.
Saido Berahino buried a 67th-minute winner for West Brom at Old Trafford to cap another sluggish display by United that has typified David Moyes' short tenure as Alex Ferguson's replacement.
Wayne Rooney scored from a free kick for the third straight league game in the 57th to cancel out Morgan Amalfitano's stylish solo goal for the visitors three minutes earlier, but United was run ragged at times as Moyes' decision to rest key players ahead of the Champions League next week backfired.
United has just seven points from a possible 18 and has already lost three league games, piling the pressure on Moyes.
Boos rang out at the final whistle, with Moyes facing up to United's worst six-game start in the league since 1989. West Brom, just outside the relegation zone coming into the match, hadn't previously won at Old Trafford in 35 years.
In the northwest of England for a charity function, former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield was a special guest at Old Trafford and entertained the crowd in a pre-match interview on the pitch. But United lacked any punch throughout to further highlight the team's attacking deficiencies so far this season.
United hasn't scored in open play since the opening day of the campaign and looked lightweight going forward without the threat of Robin van Persie, who came on for the final half-hour to little effect after recovering from a groin injury.
West Brom played some brilliant football at times, its slick approach play often embarrassing a United defense without the rested Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Rafael da Silva. Danny Welbeck, Marouane Fellaini and Antonio Valencia started on the bench with Wednesday's match at Shakhtar Donetsk in mind.
Rooney twice headed over when well-placed and Brazilian midfielder Anderson planted a header against the bar in the 33rd, but United's build-up play was too slow in the first half to worry a packed visitors' defense. It got even worse after the break.
Indeed, West Brom had the better early chances, with substitute Berahino heading a golden opportunity wide and Stephane Sessegnon blasting a volley over from close range before they eventually took the lead.
Minutes after Sessegnon sashayed his way through some flimsy attempted tackles to set up a chance for Berahino, Amalfitano embarked on a similar solo run—and this time there was an end product.
After breezing past Michael Carrick and nutmegging Rio Ferdinand, the on-loan Marseille midfielder had the clear thinking to wait for goalkeeper David de Gea to make the first move before chipping the ball in over the goalie.
The lead lasted barely three minutes as Rooney bent in a low free kick that evaded everyone, including a stooping Javier Hernandez, and crept into the far corner.
United fans were further encouraged by the immediate introduction of Van Persie but they were soon out of their seats in disgust as Amalfitano applied a deft lay-off to Berahino, who buried a low left-footed shot into the corner.
Fellaini had a goal disallowed for offside in the closing stages, one of the few decent chances United created in the whole match.
