Sir Alex Ferguson, under fire for his behavior with referee Mike Dean during Manchester United's 4-3 win over Newcastle on Boxing Day, will look for a more serene outing against an in-form West Brom side capable of upsetting any team in the English Premier League.
United pulled off another one of those comeback victories over Newcastle to extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points from Manchester City.
West Brom, on the other hand, after a barren spell, are on a two-match winning run and could possibly go as high as third with a victory.
United have conceded the most goals among teams in the top half of the table, and Ferguson admitted his side's defense was a concern.
"I can't answer that," he said. I can't possibly answer it. Obviously, I don't think we'd be doing our job properly if we weren't assessing where we're losing goals. We've been analysing every possible detail to try and get a constant thread that tells me we need to do this but that just doesn't appear.
"Either we don't attack, which is not United's way, or we have to let our supporters live through the agony of 4-3s. We've not had a 5-4 yet or a 6-5. I think that would be even more exciting!
"I said after Reading it had to stop. And I'm saying it again -- it has to stop. But it won't stop. With this present team, it's just one of those seasons where we seem to be letting in silly goals."
West Brom assistant manager Keith Downing said his team's success this year was a result of hard work. "I think we've surprised a few people," Downing, who was filling in for the ill Steve Clarke, told reporters. "I don't think we've surprised ourselves.
"It's been a work in progress the last two or three years. The club has worked exceptionally hard behind the scenes. The players have been collected and there has been a real strengthening of the squad. It's been built up over the years.
"I don't think it has surprised us from within."
United will welcome back Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck after the duo missed the Newcastle game due to minor knocks, while Shinji Kagawa could also make his first appearance since October. Wayne Rooney and Phil Jones, though, are ruled out, while Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs might be rested.
Jonas Olsson, Goran Popov and Youssouf Mulumbu are doubts for West Brom after all three sustained injuries in their last game, while Claudio Yacob is expected to miss out yet again.
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Expected lineups: Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Vidic, Smalling, Evra; Fletcher, Cleverley, Young, Valencia; Van Persie, Hernandez.
West Brom: Foster; Jones, Olsson, McAuley, Ridgewell; Brunt, Morrison, Odemwingie, Gera, Dorrans; Lukaku.
Prediction: 3-1 to Manchester United
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