Manchester United pays for Juan Mata red card in 1-0 loss at West Bromwich

Juan Mata collected two yellow cards in three minutes to leave Manchester United with 10 men from the 26th minute. (Source: Reuters)

Manchester United was made to pay for Juan Mata’s early sending-off in a 1-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday that damaged its ambitions of Champions League qualification from the Premier League.

Mata collected two yellow cards in three minutes to leave his side with 10 men from the 26th minute and United couldn’t hold on, with Salomon Rondon scoring the winning goal in the 66th at The Hawthorns.

The loss ended United’s run of four straight wins in all competitions and left the team sixth in the standings  three points behind fourth-place Manchester City, which has a game in hand.

United initially coped well with Mata’s first-ever Premier League dismissal but failed to seriously threaten West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster.