MANCHESTER // The tradition dates back almost eight decades. Back to October 1937, when Manchester United last named a matchday squad without a player they produced themselves.
There have been times this season when, with their side packed with signings, that extraordinary run has seemed likely to end but, rather than relying on outsiders, United found an answer in one of their own.
It is a time-honoured habit.
An utterly uneventful game was enlivened by an academy graduate. A dull draw was transformed into a potentially valuable victory by a local.
Jesse Lingard’s first United goal came on his second league start, but in the 3,764th consecutive game when they have fielded a footballing talent they unearthed themselves.
The organic feel was emphasised when 18-year-old left-back Cameron Borthwick-Jackson made his debut in the final 15 minutes.
Much as Louis van Gaal likes to discuss his faith in youth, United’s rookies have tended to be expensive imports. Two rather cheaper novices featured as West Bromwich Albion were defeated.
One proved pivotal.
Lingard’s rise has come as something of a surprise. The 22-year-old forward started Van Gaal’s first league game as a right wing-back in last year’s 2-1 defeat to Swansea City, but had not begun any of the subsequent 48.
An injury at the beginning of a new manager’s reign seemed ill-timed. He was borrowed by Derby County, spending a fourth spell on loan in the Championship.
He did not feature this season until the second half of last month.
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Yet a fringe figure has been transformed into a firm favourite of Van Gaal’s. Lingard brings pace and directness. He had been prolific in pre-season friendlies before. Here he managed a meaningful goal. He met Chris Brunt’s misplaced header and bent his shot into the far corner of the visitors’ net.
Scorer on Saturday had been supplier on Tuesday, fashioning United’s winner against CSKA Moscow, cushioning his cross so Wayne Rooney could head it in. He has brought brightness to otherwise leaden displays. While Van Gaal has described Memphis Depay as the greatest talent of his generation, few make such claims about Lingard. He is nevertheless keeping the Dutchman out of the team.
His youthful verve was welcome. United find themselves confronted by the massed ranks of visiting defences.
It is a tactic rivals will continue to deploy as long as Van Gaal’s sides struggle to break them down. West Brom’s 4-5-1 formation mirrored CSKA Moscow’s last week.
While United recorded their eighth clean sheet of the 2015/16 Premier League campaign, West Brom seemed on course for their seventh.
The Stretford End, fresh from a midweek display of dissent against the manager, showed hints of frustration until Lingard struck. The mutiny was averted.
After three consecutive 0-0 draws, United have recorded 1-0 and now 2-0 wins. It is progress, if not necessarily entertainment.
In theory, Van Gaal fielded an ultra-attacking formation, with a front four, plus a winger at right-back in Ashley Young, and a central midfielder with 23 international goals to his name in Bastian Schweinsteiger. Yet the first shot on target did not come until the 44th minute. Even that was not unduly testing.
United only had two notable efforts, West Brom one. Saido Berahino ought to have equalised but headed wastefully over.
David de Gea kept a clean sheet on his 25th birthday and United have now gone 555 minutes without conceding.
Their second goal was a footnote, fashioned by the pace of Anthony Martial, which had been negated as long as deadlock was preserved and Albion could defend deep.
Ander Herrera unleased the Frenchman.
Gareth McAuley chopped him down to receive a red card. Juan Mata scored the penalty, but the decisive strike came from Lingard’s boot.
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