Posts
Goalkeeper David de Gea's error failed to unsettle Manchester United as they started their Premier League title defence with a 2-1 win at West Brom.
The Spaniard handed the Baggies a foothold when he allowed Shane Long's shot to squirm under his hands and cancel out Wayne Rooney's opener, but his blushes were spared when Steven Reid turned the ball into his own net.
United started with the swagger of champions and were in front after just 13 minutes as Rooney flicked the ball to Ashley Young and then strode onto the return pass before burying a shot in the far corner.
The visitors were cutting holes in the Baggies backline and Nani twice blazed over from good positions only for de Gea to gift West Brom a leveller when Long's low shot evaded his grasp and slipped into the far corner.
Roy Hodgson's men looked far more resolute after the break and United were restricted to fleeting sights of goal as Rooney nodded wide before Young curled over.
But the Baggies endured a cruel late blow when Young's low cross was inadvertently turned in by Reid on 81 minutes and de Gea gratefully held onto the ball when Chris Brunt fired in a late shot.
In Sunday's other game, new Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas' introduction to the Premier League proved to be a testing and frustrating affair as they drew 0-0 at Stoke.
The Portuguese may have raced to the league title with Porto and also won the Europa League last season, but nothing could have prepared him for the challenge he met at the Britannia Stadium in front of a vocal home crowd.
The Blues had the better chances in a game they controlled after the break but despite an encouraging display from striker Fernando Torres, neither he nor his team-mates could crack the Potters' notorious resistance.
Early on Chelsea 'keeper Petr Cech faced an uncomfortable barrage of balls in the box and Jon Walters might have seen one delivery count had John Terry not been alert.
Chelsea, too, had chances but Jose Bosingwa's cross-cum-shot rolled wide before Florent Malouda was denied by a diving Robert Huth to keep the contest in the balance.
The Blues re-emerged with fresh vigour but penalty appeals from Torres and then Frank Lampard were rebuffed before Jon Obi Mikel capped a frantic period with a dipping volley that Asmir Begovic pushed over the bar.
Matty Etherington departed injured and Rory Delap followed suit to further boost the visitors' hopes of a late winner but substitute Nicolas Anelka curled against the crossbar and Didier Drogba's free-kick failed to clear the wall.