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.

Match Report: Manchester United 2 - 0 Stoke City

Manchester United 2 - 0 Stoke City

Tuesday 31/01/2012

Premier League

Manchester United move level on points at the top of the table after comfortable victory over Stoke.


After last Saturday's disappointing defeat at Anfield last weekend, United were looking to bounce back in pursuit of the Premier League title. There was a surprise in the starting line up as Ben Amos was handed his first ever League start after Anders Lindegaard and David de Gea missed the game through injury and illness respectively. This meant that United's forgotten man Tomasz Kuszczak was United's substitute keeper. Dimitar Berbatov and Chicharito were both selected up front with Danny Welbeck on the bench.

This meant Wayne Rooney and Luis Nani were again rested as they both recovered from knocks picked up in the 2-1 win over Arsenal. The game started at a slow pace with United holding the ball in midfield with composed passing from midfield duo Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick. United lacked drive as they struggled to involve Chicharito and
Berbatov in the action. Despite the lack of guile, United were by far the better team as Stoke provided almost nothing going forward as strikers Kenwyne Jones and Peter Crouch were reduced to speculative efforts from outside the area.

One bright spark for United was again Antonio Valencia, who looked threatening down the right flank. It took until after the half an hour mark for the first clear cut chance, when Paul Scholes saw a trademark strike from the edge of the area glance wide for a corner. Just as it seemed the teams were happy to play out until the break on level terms United got a spring in their step, as Park Ji-Sung played his way into the box he was brought down by Jermaine Pennant to hand United a penalty. Chicharito stepped up and confidently stroked the ball into the corner of the net to give the reds the lead.

Moments later United should have had a second penalty as Patrice Evra was again brought down in the area, this time the referee Mike Jones waved the shout away. United went into half time one goal to the good and in complete control of the tie. The second half start much as the first finished with the home side dominated proceeding and slowly but surely stamping their authority on the game. In the 53rd minute United extended their lead, and it came from the spot again, as Berbatov placed the ball calmly past Thomas Sorensen after Antonio Valencia had been fouled by Jonathan Walters.

United were now in cruise control and took their foot of the gas, which spelled a 10 minute phase of Stoke pressure as Jermaine Pennant and second half substitute Cameron Jerome looked threatening. Stoke only mustered one chance of note in this spell forced Amos into his only save of the game as he stopped a Jerome header. For the last 20 minutes United brought on youngster Paul Pogba who made a bright league début with some smart passing and a few flashes of skill. In the dying moments United should have had a third but Berbatov skewed his shot wide following a Valencia cut back.

United picked up all three points with relative ease against a Stoke side that lacked invention. United move level on points with the leaders Manchester City and are only separated by goal difference. Next up for United is a tough away trip to Stamford Bridge.

Match Report: Manchester United 3 - 0 Bolton Wanderers

Manchester United 3 - 0 Bolton Wanderers

Saturday 14/01/2012

Premier League

Paul Scholes makes a goalscoring return to help United back to winning ways against Bolton.



After his surprise inclusion on the bench in the 3-2 victory over Manchester City last Sunday, Paul Scholes made a return to the starting eleven for the game against Bolton. The 37 year old starting his first game since coming out of retirement. Danny Welbeck was preferred to start upfront along side Wayne Rooney as United were looking to make amends for losing their last two league games against Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle.

United started on the front foot with Antonio Valencia tearing up and down the right flank, stretching the game early on. The first clear cut opportunity fell for United in the 20th minute when Zat Knight bundled over Danny Welbeck in the box to give the home side a penalty, and the perfect chance to go into the lead. However Adam Bogdan in the Bolton goal guessed correctly and superbly palmed away Wayne Rooney effort to keep the scores level.

Following the miss Bolton defended well keeping United at bay, not allowing the game to flow. It looked like they had done enough to go into half time on level terms, but in the first minute of stoppage time Paul Scholes popped up at the back post to neatly finish Wayne Rooney's low cross. The goal signalled a fairy tale return to action for Scholes whilst also settling the nerves left from the saved penalty.

Bolton carried on where the left off in the second half frustrating United and even carving a few chances of their own, David N'Gog spurred a close range effort, blasting over the bar. It took until the 74th minute for United to extent their lead, when they did Danny Welbeck was on hand to poke home from 12 yards following a sublime pass from Rooney. The instinctive strike had doubled the reds lead but in the process of scoring Welbeck had injured himself and had to be replaced by Chicharito.

With the points sealed United seemed to be cruising to a 2-0 victory when Michael Carrick decided to put the icing on the cake as he stroked the ball home beautifully from just outside the box to make it three.

Missed penalty aside United deserved to take home the spoils and it could have been more if Danny Welbeck had seen a first half shot hit the back of the net and if Wayne Rooney could have converted. United move level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, with City not playing until Monday, the result puts the pressure on the Blues.