Norwich 1 Manchester United 0: Canaries earn hard-fought win as Ferguson's side falls short

 
Anthony Pilkington celebrates his winning goal
Getty Images
Miguel Delaney17 November 2012

Manchester United lost top spot in the Premier League on Saturday after failing to win against a very impressive Norwich side who extended their unbeaten run to five matches.

For Alex Ferguson’s side, it will be all the more galling given that so much was made of their winning streak and character before this game. Amid all that, though, it was overlooked that Norwich themselves had not been beaten for four games. They illustrated why by making that five. United, meanwhile, failed to make it six comebacks in 12 League games. Eventually, of course, the false starts were going to have a truer effect on the score and the table.

United did start like they needed to make an immediate statement in response to City’s impressive victory. Within two minutes, Javier Hernandez had linked up with Robin van Persie for the Dutch forward to fire hard and low and force a corner from John Ruddy.

In truth, it was one of few real first-half opportunities United created. Although Hernandez had forced his own way into the side after last week’s rousing hat-trick against Aston Villa, the attack was further altered by the absence of the injured Wayne Rooney. It had a concrete effect on United’s cohesion. There were a number of occasions when a pass was played a little too far, a touch was a little too short. In short, they lacked ignition.

Further back, they were even sloppier as a central midfield with Ryan Giggs reinstalled also struggled to find its shape early on. Much of their early attacks were funnelled through Ashley Young, but he struggled to produce a telling moment of creativity other than one shot which Ruddy turned away just before half-time.

Norwich, meanwhile, readily filled the holes that were becoming more apparent in United’s structure. In fact, they had the four best opportunities of the half thanks to some purposeful counters. Not that this was a case of Chris Hughton’s side merely sitting deep and springing breaks. Norwich are a far cry from the team that haplessly conceded five on the opening day of the season. With the manager doing so much to make them durable in the centre, they then frequently threatened United out wide.

Anthony Pilkington signalled their approach with a shot that flashed just wide on seven minutes, before Robert Snodgrass also went close. To be fair, goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard did go relatively untested despite only being in the team because of the extraction of David De Gea’s wisdom teeth.

Norwich did eventually show a bit of bite themselves shortly before half-time, though, when defender Chris Smalling had to be alert to clear in the box after the industrial Grant Holt looked as if he was about to  convert. It was the closest that anyone had come.

In fact, a big problem for United at that point was actually getting close to the Norwich goal at all. This was the kind of game that encapsulated the debate around Michael Carrick. Although he was completing a series of passes and successfully ensuring United were ticking along, not one of them really thrust the team forward. Without Rooney, United were lacking that bit of battle rage to put them through.

Van Persie, meanwhile, oddly lacked that bit of quality on his right foot. Either side of half-time, he was offered a decent chance to power the ball home only to be left ruing the fact it, well, wasn’t on his left.

Still on level terms, Norwich were naturally emboldened. On the hour, Javier Garrido crossed superbly for Pilkington to nod the ball over Lindegaard. It was well deserved.

Not for the first occasion this season, United were behind. But, having scored an average of almost three goals in each of their 11 games so far, this time they weren’t even looking like getting one, let alone the two they required to go back to the top.

Every time United found even a fraction of space near the box, Norwich fought ferociously to fill it.

Predictably, Ferguson eventually brought on Paul Scholes to try and open the home side up further, and it immediately resulted in a United team that imposed upon Norwich that bit more. Within moments, the other sub – Danny Welbeck – had headed just wide.

Still, though, there was none of the fire of previous late sieges. Norwich were admirably extinguishing even the hint of any spark. Ultimately, United’s couldn’t pull off their most magnificent and memorable magic trick. What’s more, it wasn’t a case of running out of time. For a rare  occasion, they looked like a team out of ideas. To go back to the top, it seems that Ferguson may have to come up with yet another trick.

Norwich (4-5-1): Ruddy; Whittaker, Bassong, Turner, Garrido; Tettey, Johnson; Snodgrass (E Bennett ,), Hoolahan (Howson, 83), Pilkington; Holt (Morison, 83).

Manchester Utd (4-4-2): Lindegaard; Rafael, Smalling, Ferdinand (Anderson, 83), Evra; Valencia (Scholes, 69), Carrick, Giggs, Young; Van Persie, Hernandez (Welbeck, 69).

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Wythenshawe).

Man of the match: Surname (Team)

Match rating: 6/10

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