United opens title defense with win at West Brom

Posted Monday, August 15, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

WEST BROMWICH, England (AP)—David de Gea’s blushes were spared on his Premier League debut for Manchester United as West Bromwich Albion conceded a late own goal to ensure the champions opened the season with a 2-1 win on Sunday.

After Wayne Rooney had given United an early lead, De Gea dived over Shane Long’s shot and allowed the ball to squirm under his body into the net before half time.

“He is young. He will learn,” United manager Alex Ferguson said. “He will come through. David’s concentration cost him the goal. It was a slack goal to lose but it is an experience for the lad.”

The 20-year-old Spaniard was signed from Atletico Madrid in the offseason to replace retiring Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

His mistake, which followed errors in the Community Shield last Sunday, did not prove to be costly as Ashley Young’s late cross was deflected into the net by West Brom defender Steven Reid.

De Gea also encountered difficulties dealing with high balls into the box.

“The aerial assault on him was ridiculous,” Ferguson said. “It was the same when Peter Schmeichel came. They punished him in his first few games against Leeds and Wimbledon. They gave him a real torrid time.

“In the second half today David he was targeted a bit. Not necessarily physically but there were a lot of challenges that should have been free kicks but the referee decided to play on.”

While United recovered to win there was a triple injury blow for the record 19-time English champions.

United discovered Sunday that right back Rafael da Silva will miss the first 10 weeks of the season, with surgery required on a shoulder he dislocated in training ahead of the match.

And during the Hawthorns victory, Rio Ferdinand sustained a hamstring injury that Ferguson said will rule the England center back out for six weeks.

Ferdinand’s central defensive partner Nemanja Vidic could also be sidelined for two weeks after he came off with a calf injury.

“We’ve had a torrid two or three days,” Ferguson said. “But with Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans and Phil Jones here, it’s a godsend to be honest with you. Also, Patrice Evra will be back next week, he’ll be fit, so I’ve got options.”