EPL: Man Utd's title defence starts with a win

London: Manchester United opened its Premier League title defence with a victory over West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. 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 halftime.

"It was just a bit of concentration there but welcome to English football," Ferguson said. "He came in for it in the second half and I thought he should have been protected more by the referee, but it was a good experience for him. It's all a learning process."

A moment of late good fortune, though, spared De Gea's blushes at the Hawthorns.

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.

At least Rooney is off the mark already, latching on to Young's pass and shooting into the bottom corner from 20 yards (meters) 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."