I left this one with the feeling that I'd just seen a relegation performance and unfortunately for us, it wasn't from the team wearing stripes.

The side that last won here in the Premier League was the one that got relegated and although we were far from impressive that day, the 3-2 victory on the afternoon after Joe Kinnear had his heart-attack showed far more spirit, cohesion and quality than this season's showing.

Extrapolating that any further than the journey home is probably a fruitless exercise, given this season's unpredictability, but there were worrying signs that early season optimism and team togetherness were starting to wear a little thin.

England's Andy Carroll was given little to work with but he seemed to be knocked off his stride by some early assaults and he and Shola never looked dangerous and working on different wavelengths. Add to that, some poor quality flank play, midfield sloppiness and a wretched performance from Sol Campbell and defeat always looked likely.

But our generosity meant that Christmas came early for Roberto Di Matteo's Baggies, as they were gift-wrapped three goals without having to play particularly well and they'll probably not find three points easier to come by all season.

An awful first half performance saw United go in at the break a goal behind after Jonas Gutierrez made the weakest of challenges and Cameroonian Somen Tchoyi was given all the time in the world to steady himself and curl the ball past Tim Krul in the 32nd minute.

The goal had been coming, with United struggling to get beyond the halfway line defending poorly as a team and showing an alarming disinterest in proceedings
Big hoofs forward to Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi had proved fruitless and at the back, Sol Campbell looked way off the pace as Chris Brunt and Peter Odemwingie made our midfield look pedestrian and clueless.

The anticipated return of Joey Barton after suspension failed to materialise due to a groin strain that saw Chris Hughton err on the side of caution and leave him out.

Already without Kevin Nolan due to injury, United looked to have a soft centre and lack leadership, Wayne Routledge and Gutierrez marginalised on the flanks as Albion found time and space to weave some pretty patterns.

Peter Lovenkrands replaced Ameobi after the interval and we started the second half looking a little brighter. Steven Taylor had a great chance to head United level but his effort was straight at Scott Carson who saved well.

One run from Gutierrez then ended with a cross cum shot take a deflection and bobble towards goal before being cleared. And when the winger powered forward again soon after to reach Campbell's astute through ball, Carson got a vital touch as Lovenkrands threw himself at the centre.

But any thoughts of a revival ended on 71 minutes, when Danny Guthrie who had been poor all game lost possession on the halfway line and Odemwingie ran clear to double Albion's lead evading messrs Campbell and Taylor before placing a low effort beyond Krul.

Guthrie was the stretchered off but the suspicion among the away following was that it was only his pride that had been hurt in conceding possession so cheaply. However, he was seen to be wearing a protective cast when United later made their way of out the stadium.

Then it was Campbell's turn to be benevolent, standing in the middle of the pitch waving forlornly as Odemwingie raced away to make it 0-3 with a minute left on the clock.

Lovenkrands got a goal back in added time after Carroll had missed from point-blank range but it was far too little too late and a thoroughly miserable afternoon ended with United looking more like relegation-fodder than top half prospects.

The defeat saw us slip into the bottom half of the table as The Baggies leapfrogged over us into seventh. And despite a slight improvement after his half time words of wisdom, the United manager kept his squad in the dressing for an hour following the final whistle to conduct an inquest.

And a fat lot of good it did him. Midway through penning this report came the news that he had been relieved of his duties and once again Newcastle United were the cause of Sky's Jim White's annoying animation and roving reporter David Craig could once again pitch up on Barrack Road.

In a city where most of the locals support United, "Craigy"'s initial voxpop managed to dig out two poshies and an Irishman. No offence intended to the three wise men offering their reasonable opinions but we're all quick to point out the lack of Mancunian accents when similar interviews are done outside Old Trafford.

So we're in turmoil yet again and nonsense is once again being spoken by those who should know better. In lamenting Hughton's departure Andy Gray trotted out the "you simply don't sack Sir Bobby Robson" line when comparing the two dismissals.

Most people felt that Hughton deserved his chance after the fantastic promotion campaign and we never really argued with that but people have over-egged his managerial abilities to a staggering extent.

The manager presiding over the pre-season defeat at Leyton Orient was the same one in charge of the trouncing of Villa and the mackems. However, the playing squad had been drastically reduced and the collective spirit of those remaining had been ratcheted up by the senior players remaining. Hughton without doubt played his part in all that but I'm not sure how much of a leading role he had. We'll possibly never know.

What I do know is that when Kevin Nolan bellowed at his manager to "f***in' calm down" when we were 4-0 up against the mackems after Nolan had misplaced his pass into touch, it revealed a worrying lack of respect. Hughton may have put on his suit for the game but I'm not sure he was wearing the trousers....

Having said that, it feels similar to when Allardyce was jettisoned - no real tears for someone who few believed was ever the right man for the job but we seem more likely to get relegated having changed manager half way through the campaign.

Rather than needing a manager with more experience, an owner - or a Chairman - with more experience of running a football club may actually be the missing ingredient.

Niall MacKenzie