MU lose 3 in a row

Manchester United slumped to a third successive Premier League defeat for the first time in 13 years as Jonas Olsson deflected in West Bromwich Albion's winner in their 1-0 victory at Old Trafford on Saturday.

United's latest lacklustre display means they have now failed to score in three consecutive league games for the first time since August 2007, statistics that hardly support manager Louis van Gaal's claim that his side will challenge for the title next season.

To make matters worse, 10 minutes after Chris Brunt's free-kick took a huge deflection off Olsson for the 64th minute decider, Robin van Persie wasted a 73rd minute penalty after Saido Berahino was ruled to have handled an Antonio Valencia cross just inside his area.

The Dutch forward's spot kick was saved superbly by Boaz Myhill, who dived low to his left to offer some sense of justice to Albion players who claimed Berahino had been outside the area.

United's defeat leaves them only four points ahead of fifth placed Liverpool with three games left in the race to qualify for the Champions League.

For Albion, their shock victory, achieved despite having only 20 percent of the possession, took them seven points clear of the relegation zone and should guarantee their survival.

Ashley Young appeared the best early prospect of ending United's goal drought as he probed down the left, cut in from his wing, reached the area and unleashed a powerful shot which deflected behind van Persie.

Van Persie, whose Old Trafford future is the subject of much debate, was appearing for the first time in two months and appeared ring rusty after his lay-off.

On 16 minutes he collected a short Ander Herrera pass and shot on the turn, an effort which Myhill could only parry behind at the expense of a corner from which van Persie was presented with another half-chance, this time hooking his effort directly at the visiting goalkeeper.

Results
Aston Villa 3 (Benteke 10, 45, Cleverley 64) Everton 2 (Lukaku 59-pen, Jagielka 90)
Leicester 3 (Ulloa 1, 48-pen, Morgan 17) Newcastle 0
Liverpool 2 (Coutinho 19, Gerrard 87) QPR 1 (Fer 73)
Sunderland 2 (Gomez 21-pen, 55-pen) Southampton 1 (Mane 22)
Swansea 2 (Montero 76, Ki 90) Stoke 0
West Ham 1 (Noble 24-pen) Burnley 0
Manchester United 0 West Brom 1 (Olsson 64)