LONDON — Juan Mata was sent off as Manchester United's hopes of Champions League qualification were dealt a serious setback in a 1-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion Sunday.
The Spaniard received two quick-fire bookings mid-way through the first half, for blocking a freekick and then taking a swipe at Darren Fletcher, and West Brom made its numerical advantage count in the 66th minute when Salomon Rondon netted his fourth goal in six Premier League games.
It ended United's recent revival of four straight wins and left Louis van Gaal's side in sixth place, three points below the Champions League berths having played a game more than fourth-place Manchester City.
United is now in danger of being caught by forthcoming Europa League opponents Liverpool, which is three points behind it with a game in hand following a last-gasp 2-1 win at Crystal Palace.
Mata was shown his first yellow card in the 24th minute at The Hawthorns for blocking Fletcher's free-kick and saw red two minutes later for clumsily swinging his foot at the former United midfielder.
Having survived until half-time, United started the second half strongly and threatened through young forwards Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard.
But West Prom claimed the points when Venezuelan striker Rondon gathered Sebastien Pocognoli's drilled left-wing cross before slamming home left-footed to lift Tony Pulis's men 15 points clear of the bottom three, effectively securing their survival.
Earlier, substitute Christian Benteke won and scored a 96th-minute penalty as 10-man Liverpool came from behind to win 2-1 at Palace.
Joe Ledley's 48th-minute strike and Liverpool midfielder James Milner's second-half dismissal for two bookable offenses looked to have set Palace on course for a first win in 12 league matches.
But a slip by Palace goalkeeper Alex McCarthy gifted Roberto Firmino a 72nd-minute equalizer, before Damien Delaney's rash challenge on Benteke enabled the Belgium striker to net the winner from the spot.
Liverpool climbed two places to seventh after recording a third successive league win for the first time in a year.
Palace manager Alan Pardew, whose side have now gone 12 games without a league win, criticised referee Andre Marriner's decision to award Benteke a penalty.
Delaney pulled out of a sliding challenge on Benteke inside the box, but the Irishman had already gone to ground and replays showed that his right knee had clipped the Belgian's left foot.
