United manager forced into unwanted changes before third consecutive lossFletcher returns to help Tony Pulis’ side get better of his former team

A season which began with widespread examination and criticism of Manchester United’s defensive shortcomings is concluding with the focus very much on the other end of the field as Louis van Gaal collected a couple of unwanted milestones at Old Trafford.

The reign of the Dutch manager’s predecessor, David Moyes, seemed to feature a constant stream of statistical low points, every week marking a new nadir in United’s fall from the pinnacle of English football, but at least the Scot never led United to three consecutive league defeats or three successive league games without a goal, marks which Van Gaal has now seen the team reach for the first time in 13 and eights years, respectively.

To that list, should United lose at Crystal Palace on Saturday, will come another first – their first four-match league losing streak since February 1979 – an outcome not beyond the realms of possibility given the rank profligacy of their strike force against Albion.

Managing 80% possession and 26 shots, United forced Boaz Myhill into, at most, three out-of-the-ordinary saves, including a second-half penalty stop that denied Robin van Persie after Saido Berahino had harshly been judged to have handled inside the area.

The game ended with Wayne Rooney, one of the leading strikers of his generation, in central midfield while Marouane Fellaini moved into emergency striker mode and two of the world game’s supposedly pre-eminent goal-getters, Radamel Falcao and Van Persie, simply added to the air of striking desperation and futility. “I miss a striker that scores and every striker – if it’s Van Persie or Falcao or Wayne Rooney – who scores the goal, I’m very happy and the team is very happy,” said Van Gaal when asked if he is anxious to return Rooney to his forward duties. “So, no, because of the injuries of [Luke] Shaw and [Michael] Carrick I could not play in the way we always play so I have to change.”

The sub-par performance, despite such a staggeringly expensive array of attacking talents, came only 24 hours after Van Gaal spoke enthusiastically about the title bid he expects his team to launch next season.

West Bromwich’s captain Darren Fletcher, the United loyalist who won the free-kick from which Chris Brunt scored the winning goal via a Jonas Olsson deflection, has no doubt that, whatever money Van Gaal and the club need to spend this summer to make that a reality, it must be spent. “The aim for United this season was the top four, that was realistic,” said Fletcher, who left Old Trafford for Albion in January. “Though saying that is a hard thing for Manchester United to say, just accepting top four. You can only do that for one season. But I think they will go on and do that but then next season they have to challenge for the title, there is no doubt about that. The fans expect it and Manchester United need to be there.

“Any United side talking about accepting the top four is just not good enough. They have to up it a level. There is no doubt they have shown flashes this season. They had the run before these last three games and played some fantastic football, the kind maybe the manager wants, but then three defeats come along and you are thinking ‘what has happened?’

“I am sure they will spend. Youngsters will be given a chance. The manager knows football and he has great belief in his methods that they will work and everyone has to buy into that. If anybody isn’t, it won’t work but I think the United lads are buying into it and believe in it.”

Fletcher’s first return to the club where he spent 15 years as a professional was tinged with tragedy – both sets of players wearing black armbands out of respect for the wife of the former United man Rio Ferdinand, who died on Friday – but also a poignant touch of humour as he lined up on the wrong side of the tunnel before kick-off.

Old habits, as Fletcher pointed out, die hard, as does the passion the Scotsman feels for his former employer and his belief that the club has the right man at the helm to deliver the necessary championship challenge. “I was impressed with him. He is a good man and an honest man, he was fantastic with me,” said Fletcher of Van Gaal. “We had a a great relationship. I learned a lot even in the short time I was with him.

“He is learning about the Premier League as well. The combination of the team learning his ways and him learning the Premier League has meant a transitional period. He will be the first to admit he has learnt about the Premier League and how difficult it is compared to other leagues he has been in and the style you need. Hopefully that learning curve will help United next season.”

Man of the match Boaz Myhill (West Bromwich Albion)