Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
Second half goals by Anderson and Danny Welbeck condemned Norwich City to a defeat at Old Trafford against Manchester United, but only after the Canaries had made life tough for the reigning Premier League champions.
Paul Lambert’s side started the game well and after Paul Ruddy saved comfortably from Wayne Rooney early on, began to grow in confidence with Bradley Johnson and Wes Hoolahan having efforts on goal.
Anders Lindegaard was handed his League debut for United over David De Gea due to Sir Alex Ferguson feeling a need for our back-up keeper to get a game ahead of the International Break where barring an injury to Thomas Sorenson, he will more than likely sit on the bench in Denmark’s Euro 2012 qualifiers against Cyprus and Portugal.
Good play by Elliott Bennett did for Jonny Evans but with Steve Morrison and Hoolahan in the area, the youngster failed to put in a cross of any real quality with the ball being blocked at the near post by Phil Jones. It was a wasted opportunity for Norwich and didn’t Lambert know it.
Rooney who was marking his return to the side following the hamstring injury which ruled him out of United’s draw with Stoke last weekend missed an easy chance by his standards, heading over inside the six-yard box at the back post following a Nani corner. Norwich to their credit deservedly got to half-time level and gave their fans real hope of an enjoyable journey back home after the game.
Those fans should have been celebrating Norwich taking the lead early in the second half but after Javier Hernandez shot against the bar after being ruled offside, on two occasions the Canaries fluffed their lines. First Steve Morison after good play from his team mates broke clear down the right but waited too long to put a cross in for Hoolahan in the area allowing Jones to block the former Non-League player’s cross.
If that wasn’t bad enough for Norwich, moments after Ferguson had brought on Welbeck and Giggs to freshen up the team, soon after Morison’s poor cross, Anthony Pilkington shot wide from a clear one on one opportunity after Antonio Valencia had tripped on the ball. It was a poor miss by the ex-Huddersfield midfielder.
At the highest level chances have to be taken and later United made Pilkington a former youth player at Old Trafford pay when they took the lead. A Giggs corner was headed on by Jones on the edge of the area for Rooney who headed the ball back into the six-yard box where Anderson was on hand to head home past Ruddy.
Despite going behind Norwich kept pressing and Pilkington saw a shot deflected onto the bar by Anderson with the ball spinning of the woodwork straight into the happy arms of Lindegaard. Welbeck after scoring twice against Basel in midweek was looking dangerous and after failing to get a tough onto an Evans cross sealed the win for United three minutes from time, finishing of Park Ji-Sung’s one-two in the area with the ball going in before Leon Barnett could block it on the line.
Rooney could have had the final say though but saw an elegant chip just go over the bar. Conceding a third though would have been harsh on the Canaries who given how well they’ve played so far this season certainly have enough about them to possibly stay up this season. For United though it was a club record 19th consecutive home win and there’s certainly alot to look forward to for their trip to Anfield which takes place after the International break.
United: Lindegaard, Evra, Jones, Evans, Valencia, Park, Anderson (Ferdinand), Fletcher, Nani (Giggs), Rooney, Hernandez (Welbeck)
Star Man
Phil Jones made vital contributions in both boxes. He made good blocks at the back to deny Norwich with the score goalless and right now with Nemanja Vidic injured is arguably United’s most important defender on form. Right now there are few better defenders in the country and just like the Serb he looks a goal threat from set-pieces. His header that played a part in Anderson’s goal cannot be undervalued and he seems to be getting better and better every week in a United shirt.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
