Alan Pardew shares the team selection mistake he made against Manchester United

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West Bromwich Albion lost 2-1 at home to Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

West Bromwich Albion’s Alan Pardew reacts on the touchline against Manchester United

West Bromwich Albion boss Alan Pardew has told Sky Sports that he felt he made a mistake with his team selection against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

The Baggies went into the game having claimed a creditable 0-0 draw at Liverpool in midweek, but they couldn’t replicate that against Manchester United at The Hawthorns.

Former West Brom loanee Romelu Lukaku headed home Marcus Rashford’s cross to give United a first half lead, before Jesse Lingard’s deflected strike made it 2-0 to the visitors.

Manchester United’s Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring against West Brom

A goalmouth scramble from James McClean’s second half corner kick enabled Gareth Barry to score a scrappy goal, but it proved to be little more than a consolation as West Brom couldn’t find an equaliser.

The result means West Brom have still won just two Premier League games this season, the lowest tally in the division, and sit second-bottom of the table.

Despite the appointment of Alan Pardew, West Brom are still in major trouble, and the new Baggies boss admitted to a mistake after the final whistle.

West Bromwich Albion’s Gareth Barry (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Manchester United

Pardew, speaking to Sky Sports, admitted that he felt he picked the wrong team in hindsight, as his side were too tired and leggy after putting in such a committed performance against Liverpool.

Pardew did though add that West Brom’s second half performance was an improvement, and he is looking for that conviction in the Baggies’ play on a more consistent basis.

“In hindsight, the team I picked was not the right team. I should have put some fresh legs in there,” said Pardew. “They did so well at Liverpool, and as a new manager I wanted to show some faith in those players, but I should have maybe made two or three changes.”

“We looked leggy, we looked not up to the ball. But in the second half we were a lot better and had a lot more conviction to our play – that was the problem,” he added.