Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to our live text commentary of West Bromwich Albion's trip to Manchester United. It's fourth meets 13th in the Premier League table and, despite both teams having little to play for, given that they've effectively achieved their goals of this season, it's also the first time that Louis van Gaal has come up against the one and only Tony Pulis.

In a 29-year managerial career, it's safe to say that Van Gaal has faced some of the most colourful, brash and eccentric managers around at one point or the other, but has he ever come up against a man who has headbutted his top goalscorer - James Beattie, in this case - while both were naked in the shower? We kindly doubt it.

It's probaby best to keep that alleged story secret, because if the Dutchman discovers that he can get away with headbutting his players he might've been gone around the dressing room at Goodison Park doing this last weekend.

Yep, United, who had won six out of seven prior to facing Everton, went down 3-0 in a miserable defeat that will have left Van Gaal scratching his head. It was not the result, nor the scoreline, that will have irked him the most; it was the manner of the defeat, with the Red Devils conceding three very preventable goals.

It was their second straight defeat, having lost 1-0 to Chelsea the week before, and Van Gaal will be desperate to see something of a response from his troops here, won't he? It's been a very encouraging first season on the whole for him, and he'll want to finish as strong as possible because, despite a top-four finish being effectively secure, they'll want to finish top three and avoid that dreadful Champions League playoff in August.

Anywho, let's crack on with a bit of team news, shall we? Fair enough, but first why not check out what the lads down at Sports Mole HQ have had to say on this one. Go on sure.

UNITED XI: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, McNair, Blind, Mata, Herrera, Fellaini, Young, Rooney, van Persie

WEST BROM XI: Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Lescott, Brunt, Yacob, Gardner, Mulumbu, Fletcher, Berahino

UNITED SUBS: Valdes, Blackett, Jones, Di Maria, Januzaj, Pereira, Falcao

WEST BROM SUBS: Rose, Wisdom, Baird, Sessegnon, McManaman, Ideye, Anichebe

Right, let's start with the hosts and I can confirm that Mr Wayne Rooney is starting. Van Gaal makes just the one change from that abject defeat at Everton, with Robin van Persie replacing Luke Shaw. Daley Blind will drop back to left-back to leave United with four in midfield - Ander Herrera, Ashley Young, Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata - while Rooney and Van Persie lead the line.

On to the Baggies now and Pulis names two changes to his side from the 0-0 draw with Liverpool. Jonas Olsson comes back into defence, while Yousouff Mulumbu returns from suspension as the duo replace James Morrison and Victor Anichebe, with Saido Berahino spearheading the attack it seems. Anichebe drops to the bench but Morrison must be injured. We'd have known that had Pulis revealed it in his press conference but, for whatever reason, he refused to say who was injured.

Let's have a quick look at Albion's recent results, shall we? Why not, and they've picked up four points from their last two games, which could just prove to be their saving grace this season. They drew 0-0 at home to Liverpool last week, with Pulis beating former club Crystal Palace - who he left two days before the season started - 2-0 the previous week.

Those results brought an end to a three-game losing streak and, had they not won those four points, West Brom, who lie seven points clear of danger as it stands, might've been travelling to Old Trafford needing to win! Incidentally, they won 2-1 here last season, but it was when Sir David Moyes was in charge so it basically doesn't count.

Incidentally, Sunderland have just beaten Southampton to leave Albion only four points clear of safety. Hmm. It's actually not as secure a situation as it may have seemed, is it? Still, they're something like 1/40 to avoid relegation according to the bookmakers, and I know from experience that the bookies are generally right. Hold me.

PREDICTION: We're about 15 minutes from kickoff so let's throw a prediction out there, will we? Why not, and I'm going for a hard-fought 2-0 home win. Tweet me @thetweetwillneverreachme for your prediction. @imlying reckons United will win as well, but @notarealtwitterhandle believes Pulis's boys have it in them to pull off a shock win. Best of luck to those two real people who definitely exist in real life.

Here's the tracklist at Old Trafford today. Interestingly, each track has been dedicated to a certain United player. For instance, number four goes out to Rooney, who has scored just one in seven, while seven goes out to Di Maria, who has failed to scale the heights expected of him following a club-record £59.7m move. And 10 goes out to, eh, Avram Grant.

On the real, can Albion pull off an uspet? It's not beyond the realms of possibility because the Red Devils aren't playing brilliantly. They had a wealth of possession in their losses to Everton and Chelsea, but very few clear-cut chances and that'll worry Van Gaal. They've got plenty of firepower to beat the Baggies comfortably, but it may not pan out like that. Time will tell. 12 minutes to showtime.

DID YOU KNOW? In the meantime, let's have a look at few stats will we? Why not, and did you know that the Baggies' win here last season was their only success in the last 21 meetings? True story. United have dominated the head-to-head. In fact, the last time Albion won back-to-back visits to Old Trafford was 1958 and 1959 - the latter of which was Ryan Giggs's debut.

Interestingly, defeat for United would represent their third successive top-flight loss for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign. There you go.

Incidentally, both sets of players, who are lining up in the tunnel, will be wearing black armbands in tribute to the wife of former United defender Rio Ferdinand, who passed away last night following a battle with cancer. That's a nice touch by the Red Devils.

Right, both sets of players emerge from the tunnel; United led by Rooney, and Albion led by former United midfielder Darren Fletcher. Great to see him back playing regularly isn't it.

It's United's second trophyless season, but a bit of consolation can be drawn from the fact that Tony Sinclair is picking up Groundsman of the Year. He shares the award with the fella who does the Arsenal pitch, though, so that takes a little bit of the shine off it. I was at the ceremony last season but I got turfed out. That's just a little joke. Let's go.

KICKOFF: Chants of "Rio" echo around Old Trafford and we're underway. Let's go.

Fairly comfortable start by United, knocking the ball around with ease but we're yet to see any goal mouth action. Chants of Rio continue to echo around the stadium as they acknowledge their former hero in perhaps his darkest hour.

The whole of Old Trafford held its breath here as Van Persie, making his first start since February, runs on to a long ball by Rooney, and we know all about the Dutchman in these positions, having executed some wonderful goals from similar deliveries, but the ball trickles out for a goal kick.

I don't have the stats in front of me but United must boast about 85% possession in this first 10 minutes or so because Albion have barely touched the ball as of yet.

Ah, there we go. I was off by 1%. Yep, United have had 86% of the ball in the first 10 minutes, which tells its own story, but they're struggling to break down a disciplined Albion back four thus far.

CHANCE! We've seen the first real chance of the game, and it's from Albion believe it or not, as Joleon Lescott plants a header straight at David de Gea from Craig Gardner's corner.

CHANCE! That Lescott chance has crowbarred the game open a little, as Van Persie brilliantly turns and fires a shot at goal but Myhill pushes it straight to Young, who hesitates, which allows Olsson time to get back and block the winger's eventual shot. Better from United.

CHANCE! You know what, I'm classifying this as a chance aswell, as Youssouf Mulumbu heads Claudio Yacob's cross into the arms of De Gea from a good position.

CLOSE! It's chances R'us up in here now, as Van Persie guides Young's cut-back narrowly wide of the post. It's hotting up very, very nicely this one.

United still mounting tonnes of pressure but they're not getting through as often as they were a few minutes ago. Pulis, using telepathy, has given his charges a kick up the you know what. He does have previous for headbutting naked people in showers so they don't want to upset him.

Good, patient build-up from the Red Devils here, as they play plenty of square balls across the face of the box, before Herrera looks to slot in Mata, but Lescott sweeps up.

Lescott heads on to the roof of the net now. Not a chance, meriting the bold text, but it's worth thinking about for Van Gaal because they've won quite a few aerial challenges from corners now, have the Baggies.

Decent first half-hour by all accounts I'd say. Both teams have had a few decent chances, with United coming close through Van Persie on a couple of occasions. He looks sharp for someone who hasn't started a game since February before today.

We touched on it earlier, but if West Brom win it'll be the first time winning back-to-back away games at United since 1958 and 1959! It can't happen, can it? Well, they've looked decent so far, at both ends.

Fellaini needs to calm down a little. He's just looked to have pushed Yacob in the face following a tangle on the ground. He's historically a fiery sort of character.

Good defending from Gareth McAuley here, as Van Persie looks set to fire past Myhill on his famous left peg, but the Northern Irishman slides in at the last minute to thwart his Dutch counterpart. Fair play. He's 35 and out of contract this summer so he's playing for an extension effectively.

Decent first half that has seen United get frustrated time and again. Robin Van Persie, in his first start since February, has had the bulk of the chances; forcing Myhill into a save early on, before firing Ashley Young's cut-back pass into the side netting shortly after.

West Brom, to their credit, have been resolute throughout that half, and have looked particularly dangerous from corners at times as well. On a weekend where Manny Pacquiao fights Floyd Mayweather in the 'Fight of the Century', could we be seeing a hint of rope-a-dope from the Baggies? Watch this space.

RESTART: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're back underway here, my friends. Maroaune Fellaini and referee Anthony Taylor had a little chat before kickoff. Taylor, a bald man, and Fellaini, who owns quite a lofty afro...it made for quite a sight.

SHOT! Rooney, urged to shoot by the home fans, obliges as he takes aim from outside the box, but Myhill comfortably saves his fierce drive. That may be one of the few shooting chances they have in this half if the first period was anything to go by.

Looks like Marouane Fellaini is playing up front in this half, my friends. Van Persie has dropped back to number 10. Inspired change? Let's see. You can see Van Gaal's logic. He's hoping Fellaini can win these aerial balls in the box and knock it down to Van Persie, Young or Mata.

SHOT! It's the Baggies' turn to try their luck now as Craig Gardner fires well over the bar from about 25 yards. See ya later pal.

United are teasing here. First, Young floats in a wonderful cross that Brunt heads away before Rooney can nod home, before Young drills into the box and a scramble ensues but Albion clear. It's feeling like a matter of when, not if, now.

Problem with playing Fellaini as a striker is, well, he's not a striker. He's a little bit static up front, not offering much movement for his support players, but he linked up with Herrera - whose subsequent shot drifted wide - there a moment ago.

BOOKING: McNair goes into the book for fouling Fletcher on the edge of the box and West Brom will fancy this....

Would you believe it? Albion go and score from that foul, as Chris Brunt's free kick takes a wicked deflection and nestles into the top corner. Amazing. They've barely had the ball in this second half, let alone a chance, but they're 1-0. Football is mental sometimes. Huge slice of luck but the visitors won't care.

SUB: United make their first sub as Angel di Maria replaces left-back Daley Blind. Presumably Young will operate as a wing-back now.

Mata is incensed after the Spaniard's cross is blocked by the hand of Lescott inside the box. Could've gone either way, but it would've been a penalty back in the day. It would've been two penalties in the Fergie era.

Looks like West Brom are readying their first sub as Chris Baird prepares to replace Youssouf Mulumbu it seems.

Oh god. Van Persie, in his first start since February, watches on as his penalty is saved by Myhill, who guesses right and beats it away.

SUB: West Brom make their first sub now as Chris Baird replaces Youssouf Mulumbu. 14 minutes to play. Can United rescue it? They look dangerous, but it's against a Pulis side so they're well capable of defending the lead.

Ashley Young's up to his old tricks again. There was slight contact, but he's gone down as if he's KO'd by Mike Tyson and he gets nothing from Anthony Taylor.

SUB: Saido Berahino, who conceded that penalty, is replaced by Brown Ideye. What a big result this would be if West Brom could hold on. It would take them back to seven points clear of the relegation zone following Sunderland's victory earlier.

This is pretty bizarre from United. They've got two strikers on the pitch but neither are up front - Fellaini is and it's not working. Is Van Gaal trying to be a little too cute with these tactical switches?

SUB: Last-chance saloon for United, and Falcao replaces McNair.

What a fantastic recovery from Dawson, who is caught flat-footed as Di Maria glides past him, but the right-back is back in time to prevent the cross. That sums up the commitment from Albion today.

Oh god. Di Maria, who has been dreadful since coming on, fires the corner straight out for a goal kick. Somewhere, Florentino Perez is wetting himself with laughter.

SUB: Pulis is battening down the hatches now as Andre Wisdom comes on for the last few minutes.

SAVE! Excellent save from Myhill to deny Van Persie's volley. Well done him. It's the second time that he's denied the Dutchman, following that penalty save.

SAVE! Another brilliant save from Myhill to tip over Di Maria's fierce drive. Two minutes to play. United still pressing.

We've got about 30 seconds to play. Here goes nothing....

Oh god it's all over at Old Trafford and United have succumbed to their third successive defeat for the first time since the 2000-01 season, with Chris Brunt's second-half free kick enough to give the Baggies all three points. If Ferguson was still in charge there'd be murders. Few Glasgow smiles to the deserving parties.

From a West Brom perspective it's a massive win and they're surely safe as can be now. Seven points clear with only nine points left. That should definitely be that for them.

Anywho, that's all we've got time for tonight ladies and gents. Hopefully you've enjoyed our commentary and we'll see you next time. Stay tuned for ratings, analysis and surely some cracking post-match reaction from Van Gaal, who will likely stick the boot into his players. Goodnight.