Van Gaal Believes United Can Still Catch Leaders Chelsea After 2-2 Dra

A late Blind goal secures a point against West Brom says SIMON WILLIAMSLouis van Gaal claimed it was “two points lost” rather than one gained as Manchester United failed to win on the road again following a 2-2 with West Bromwich Albion on Monday night.

United fell behind inside 10 minutes when Stephane Sessegnon struck from 20 yards out, slotting the ball into the top right corner of David de Gea’s goal.

The visitors were level just after the half-time break when substitute Marouane Fellaini rifled the ball home within minutes of coming on.

But the impressive Saido Berahino restored the home sides advantage midway through the second-half, exposing some poor defending from the Reds, before Daley Blind netted his first goal of the season in the dying embers of the contest.

The result means Manchester United are now winless in six straight away league games for the first time since 1996.

And after the game van Gaal admitted he was “disappointed” with the result believing his side were the “better team” on the night.

He said: “'I don't think West Bromwich Albion has created many chances, I think zero, and we gave the two goals away.

“We have created four chances in the first half and seven in the second half and scored two goals. We dominated the game.

"That's what I want as a coach and as a manager but the manager doesn't want a result like 2-2.

"I have said to my players I cannot be happy. I am happy about our play style but not the result.”

The point leaves United sixth in the Premier League, one more point better off after eight games than last season in a campaign which saw David Moyes relieved of his duties for underachieving.

But the man who replaced Moyes on a permanent basis, van Gaal, claimed his side would not sacrifice any of the flair despite having kept just two clean sheets in nine competitive games under the the stewardship of the Dutchman.

He said: “I don’t think that is the solution. Today we made two errors and also in the past because I think we could have eight points more, but that is a matter of time.”

Next up for the Reds is the visit of Chelsea to Old Trafford on Sunday before at trip to neighbours Manchester City a week later.

"In the Netherlands they say that is another cookie.” said van Gaal. “I don't know if that is what they say in England. Another biscuit. It's another level.”

"You cannot compare West Brom. With great respect — it is a great club, it's great to play here, the fans are fantastic, the pitch is fantastic.

"West Brom also play possession football. It is not only long balls. I've great respect for West Brom but I think Chelsea is another level and Manchester City also.

“Call me arrogant but we can still catch Chelsea. I have done it before.”

For West Brom manager Alan Irvine the result left the Scotsman “bitterly disappointed” having seen his side come so close to their first win against United at The Hawthorns since 1984.

But it was the performance of Berahino that drew all the questions post-match with talk of an senior call up on the horizon for the current England Under 21 international.

"He deserves what he is getting as a reward at the moment because his application every day in training is really top class,” said Irvine.

"He is behaving like a professional day after day on the training ground and with the potential he has got if he keeps doing that he'll get the rewards.

"Roy (Hodgson) will decide when the right time is for him to go in. I have just said to Saido keep on doing the right things and people will make those decisions.

"If he keeps performing like that he has a real chance of becoming a full international, when that is I don't know, though."