NORWICH CITY 1, MAN UTD 2
Goals by veteran players Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs proved the value of experience to United as they kept up the push for the title through a 92nd minute winner.
Sir Alex Ferguson was full of praise for the 38-year old Giggs who scored the winner deep into added time.
Ferguson said: “For a player to play for one club for 900 games is exceptional and it won’t be done again.
“He deserved that goal for his service to the club. He’s had an amazing career and he’s an amazing man.”
The United manager also paid tribute to goalkeeper David De Gea for a series of saves that kept United in the game against a motivated Norwich side.
He said: “We were lucky today. Norwich were the better team.
“In the first half they put 12 crosses in and we had to defend well and the keeper was excellent. They were always in the game and we only played to our level for five or six minutes after they scored.”
After the defeat at Old Trafford by Ajax last week Ferguson turned to the two elder statesmen in the United dressing room to keep up the pressure on Man City who comfortably beat Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Scholes responded with a trademark late surge into the area to meet Nani’s cross and score with a well taken header in the 7th minute.
Norwich kept battling, however, and tested De Gea with plenty of crosses and shots and thought they had earned a point when Grant Holt equalised in the 83rd minute after holding off Rio Ferdinand and making space for himself.
Giggs was having a good game and had earlier hit the woodwork with a volley before popping up in the 92nd minute to convert Ashley Young’s cross at close range.
Giggs later explained how important the title race was this season and how special it was to reach a historic landmark for United.
“We know how important a time it is, City put pressure on us yesterday and we knew we had to win,” Giggs said.
“Right through the squad – for all the time I’ve been here – we’ve always had that ability to not give in and score late goals.
“To play 900 games for this club, who I’ve grown up supporting, is special – it’s a great day for me. I am sure there will be more twists and turns in the title race and I expect more drama and late goals.”