Champs get started with WBA scalp

LONDON, AP:

Manchester United opened their Premier League title defence with a victory over West Bromwich Albion yesterday, while Andre Villas-Boas' first match in charge of Chelsea ended in a draw at Stoke.

Ashley Young's cross was deflected into the net by West Brom defender Steven to clinch a 2-1 victory for Alex Ferguson's side.

At the start of United's quest for a 20th English title, Wayne Rooney gave United an early lead.

But renewed questions were raised about new goalkeeper David de Gea after the 20-year-old Spaniard allowed Shane Long's angled strike to go under him as West Brom levelled before half-time.

While a moment of late good fortune spared De Gea's blushes at the Hawthorns, there was no such luck for Villas-Boas.

In a frustrating start to Premier League management, the Portuguese coach's side was held to a 0-0 draw at Stoke with several penalty appeals turned down.

"I can't be pleased with a point but it's one of the most difficult grounds to play at," Villas-Boas said. "For our title challenge I would say one point at Stoke is not bad. It's not the greatest start to the Premier League of course."

That stalemate followed draws for Arsenal and Liverpool on Saturday. Manchester City's season doesn't start until later today when the big-spending club hosts Swansea.

United's victory at West Brom came at a price, with Rio Ferdinand sustaining a hamstring injury in the match that will sideline him for six weeks and fellow centre back Nemanja Vidic faces two weeks off after being substituted with a calf injury.

United will also be without right back Rafael da Silva for the first 10 weeks of the season after injuring a shoulder in training ahead of the season opener.

Off the mark

At least Rooney is off the mark already, latching on to Young's pass and shooting into the bottom corner from 20 yards (metres) in the 13th minute.

"The first 25 minutes we were superb, the movement of the ball was great, but then we slowed and lost momentum," Ferguson said. "We lost a goal which David should have done better with."

De Gea's 37th-minute mistake in allowing Long's shot into the net came on his first league appearance since being signed to replace retiring 40-year-old goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

West Brom manager Roy Hodgson was frustrated that his team conceded the late own goal.

"It was close," he said. "Our performance was very good, and we're sad not to hold on but very pleased with our team's performance. We played ourselves into the game and deserved a result for long periods of the game, but unfortunately Young got that bit of luck and that changed the complexion of things."

At the Britannia Stadium, Villas-Boas was unhappy with the extent of Stoke's physicality in the scoreless draw.

It was his first match back in an English dugout since working for Jose Mourinho during his three years as Chelsea manager between 2004-07.

Fernando Torres, preferred to Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka as the lone striker, looked lively and caused Stoke problems but he could not score, leaving the Spaniard with just one goal since being signed in January for 50 million pounds (then $81 million).