NORWICH CITY 0, MANCHESTER UNITED 1
For long stretches of this game Manchester United suffered from a lack of cutting edge until Wayne Rooney capitalised on a Norwich mistake to put Juan Mata through for a crucial goal, his ninth of the season, in the 72nd minute.
The goal was somewhat undeserved but victory put United just a point behind Manchester City with two games to play, and in a position to capitalise if City fail to beat Arsenal at home on Sunday.
It had been a game both sides needed three points from but chances were rare in the early stages as United chalked up a remarkable 20th first half out of 36 Premier League games without scoring this season.
Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal left two key players at home and was hit with two early injury blows at Norwich.
United were missing the suspended Marouane Fellaini after he accepted a three match ban for elbowing Robert Huth after an incident in last weekend’s game against Leicester City.
Daley Blind and Marcus Rashford were left at home with an eye on Tuesday’s game at West Ham as the Reds needed three wins and a favour from Arsenal to take the final Champions League spot off Manchester City.
In came Matteo Darmian and Memphis Depay as the Reds named just six substitutes following a pre-match injury to Anthony Martial which prevented him from starting – the French striker was replaced by Ander Hererra.
Louis Van Gaal explained that Blind and Rashford had played too many games recently and were risking “overload”, and to prove his point Anthony Martial, who had been named in the starting line-up, failed to start after reporting a tight hamstring during the warm-up.
This meant that Herrera started, with Wayne Rooney moved back up front from midfield leaving United with just six substitutes and with a distinct lack of pace in the attacking areas.
And United lost Darmian after he injured himself while bringing down Norwich winger Ivo Pinto and had to go off after just 16 minutes.
Wayne Rooney was isolated upfront and struggled for service against a highly organised Norwich side.
Rooney’s most notable contribution was to help David de Gea out by clearing off the line when Robbie Brady’s corner found Cameron Jerome.
De Gea made his own save seconds later when he pushed away Jerome’s tame header from Nathan Redmond’s cross, the best chance for the first half, as both sides toiled in the sunshine at Carrow Road.
The Reds had few decent chances to breach the Norwich net, with chances by Chris Smalling and Herrera blocked.
United were on the front foot in the second half with Herrera volleying into the side netting.
Patience was finally rewarded, however, as Norwich finally went to sleep as Wayne Rooney went past Sebastian Bassong and unselfishly found Juan Mata who broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute with a left footed shot into the bottom right corner.
United had chances to close the game out without threatening another goal but they managed to hold on as Norwich threw everything at them in the closing stages.
It was a forgettable game but perhaps one to remember fondly if United complete their mission to snatch a fourth place finish and qualify for next season’s Champions League.