MAN UNITED 1, NORWICH CITY 2
The pressure intensified on manager Louis van Gaal after Manchester United were beaten at home by Norwich City.
It was another depressing afternoon as the Canaries left Old Trafford singing after their first win at the ground since 1989.
United are without a win in their last six games and this was a third straight defeat that sees them drop out of the top four Champions League places.
It was not the loss, but the manner of the defeat that was a worry as they managed only two shots on target in a game after another poor performance against opponents that had won only one of their previous 11 games.
They may have enjoyed 70-per-cent of possession, but they did little with it as Norwich thoroughly deserved the victory that lifted them to 15th place and ease their relegation worries.
Van Gaal admitted his faltering side is suffering a lack of confidence as it suffered a first home defeat of the season in all competitions.
He said: “It was not good enough and confirms we are in a very bad period, and need to come out of it.
“How we manage to come out of this bad period is by sticking together as players, manager, staff and also the fans.
“Every word I say about the defeat is one too many as expectations are we win against Norwich. We had to do it, but didn’t.”
Van Gaal added he will evaluate the performance of the tram and also himself saying he has also evolved.
He continued: “I am not the same coach as 25 years ago and you are always evaluating your philosophy
“It is important for me as I am and I was a successful manager. Of course I am worried because I know the belief in a manager is very important and when you lose that believe decreases which is happening now.”
But despite his concerns, van Gaal is confident he will be given time to turn things round.
“I do not think a change of manager shall bring direct success, but that is what I believe,” he declared.
Norwich manager Alex Neill was delighted with his side’s display – arguably the biggest win of his managerial career – and the way they cut out the mistakes that have proved costly in other games.
He said: “In the first 10/11 games we have played some good stuff and been better than teams in terms of performance, but that does not get you points.
“When you do well and get nothing, it can be demoralising and it was crucial today.”
Rooney returned after injury for his delayed 500th first-team appearance for the Reds as he replaced Jesse Lingard who was hurt in last Saturday’s defeat at Bournemouth.
And before kick off there was a presentation as Sir Bobby Charlton handed over a salver to mark the feat as he became only the 10th player to reach the milestone for United.
There was also an award for Anthony Martial pre-match as he won the golden boy for under-21s in a poll of journalists. United’s Luke Shaw and Adnan Januzaj were also on the shortlist.
It was a much changed back line as Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Ashley Young won recalls as Paddy McNair, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Guillermo Varela lost out.
But it was a far more experienced line up as the Reds sought to end a run of five games without a win.
Rooney had the ball in the net in the 10th minute, but both he and Marouane Fellaini, who set him up, were clearly offside.
Memphis Depay and Rooney had chances, but both failed to hit the target.
Yet Norwich could have snatched the lead after 20 minutes when Alex Tettey dragged a shot wide when well placed.
Rooney and Depay had further chances, but both were off the mark as there was not an on-target goal attempt in the opening half hour.
It was a lukewarm display from the Reds as Norwich snatched the lead seven minutes before the break.
Tettey, who breezed past Jones, released Jerome who surged in-between Smalling and Michael Carrick before shooting past David De Gea from 14 yards.
And it got worse for the Reds nine minutes into the second half when Tettey made it 2-0.
Rooney lost possession and Tettey played a return pass with Jerome before firing low past De Gea from the edge of the box.
Rooney went close with a spectacular overhead kick that only narrowly cleared the crossbar before United made their first change after an hour when Ander Herrera replaced Marouane Fellaini.
The Reds finally got on to the scoresheet after 66 minutes with their first on-target goal attempt.
Young crosses from the right, Rooney’s flick header found Martial who wriggled free before shooting high into the roof of the net from six yards for his seventh goal of the season.
Eire No 2 Roy Keane left with 18 minutes left and it was anybody’s guess what he thought of United’s performance.
United had a chance to make it 2-2 when Juan Mata’s free kick forced a decent diving save from Declan Rudd.
Norwich could have added a third goal on the break and sealed victory when Youssuf Mulumbu forced a good save from De Gea low to his left with Jonny Howson firing the loose ball wide.#
United had a chance to snatch a point in the third of four added minutes at the end when Smalling, who had joined the attack, got on the end of a long forward punt and headed past Rudd only to see the ball fly wide.
And with that chance, United saw their last flicker of hope of salvaging something from the wreckage of another loss disappear.