Match Report: Norwich City 1 - 2 Manchester United

Norwich City 1 - 2 Manchester United

Sunday 26/02/2012

Premier League

Ryan Giggs snatches all three points for United on his 900th appearance for the club.

For the second game running Wayne Rooney was not fit enough for the squad as United were looking to close the gap at the top of the Premier League to two points. Chicharito partnered Danny Welbeck up front in Rooney's absence as Dimitar Berbatov was dropped to the bench.

Paul Scholes was selected along side Ryan Giggs who was making his 900th appearance for the reds. And it was Scholes who made an instant impact, heading home a Nani cross from close range after just seven minutes.

Norwich were struggling to contain United as Danny Welbeck almost made it two as John Ruddy just managed to turn his shot around the post. Despite this early pressure the home side slowly began to get a foothold in the game and were increasingly looking the more likely to score as David De Gea had to be sharp, repelling brilliantly with his feet from a close range Anthony Pilkington shot.

Norwich forced De Gea into another good save as he reacted quickly to hold onto a Grant Holt effort. United managed to hold on to the lead going into half time, Alex Ferguson must have been disappointed that after such a bright start his side were unable to put the game to bed. Norwich seemed determined to not give United an easy time of it as they began the second half how the left off in the first, pushing the visitors deep into their own half.

Norwich's attacking threat was being kept at bay by impressive defensive performances from David De Gea and Jonny Evans. In the 65th minute United had another great chance to go ahead as Danny Welbeck saw his chip over Ruddy cleared off the line by Zak Whitbread. Ten minutes later United came close again, this time denied by the crossbar as Ryan Giggs's volley thundered against the woodwork from a Phil Jones cross.

Going into the last ten minutes of the tie Norwich again upped the tempo, firstly Aaron Wilbraham's long range effort forced De Gea into another good save, before Grant Holt turned Rio Ferdinand in the box before firing into the top corner of goal.

Norwich more than deserved their equaliser as United now only had seven minutes to find a winner. Just two minutes later Welbeck should have had it, as he got onto the end of a fantastic Ryan Giggs cross, only to head wide. Just as it seemed that Norwich had done enough to earn the draw, Ryan Giggs popped up at the far post flicking home a superb Ashley Young cross from close range.

The 1,500 travelling United fans went wild inside Carrow Road as they snatched all three points at the death courtesy of their talismanic Welshman Ryan Giggs.