With time running out it looked as if Manchester United would be leaving Carrow Road frustrated and disappointed at dropping two points, meaning that Manchester City’s lead at the top of the table going into next weekend would be a whooping five points.
However United left Norfolk jubilant and in good spirits after a late strike from Ryan Giggs deep into injury-time turned a draw into a vital victory, all on the Welshman’s 900th appearance for the club.
United started brightly and after Giggs shot over from a Phil Jones cross after six minutes took the lead a minute later when Paul Scholes nodded in at the back-post after Nani’s ball across the box from the right ghosted across the six-yard box.
United’s lead could have been doubled on 16 minutes but John Ruddy produced a stunning save from a goalbound strike from Danny Welbeck inside the area, showing just why many believe the goalkeeper cannot be too far away from an England call-up.
Norwich were now growing into the game and Anthony Pilkington who came close to scoring at Old Trafford earlier in the season forced a stunning save from David De Gea, who was forced into saving with his feet from the midfielder’s close-range effort.
Down at the other end Javier Hernandez wasted a glorious chance inside the area shooting straight at Ruddy before De Gea again denied Norwich, this time doing brilliantly to hang onto a clever header from Grant Holt from a Pilkington cross.
Norwich kept up the pressure after the break as Bradley Johnson and Andrew Surman began to see more of the ball. But United could have gone two up but for Zak Whitbread clearing Welbeck’s lob off the line after the forward had played a one-two with Giggs.
The woodwork came to Paul Lambert’s rescue soon after as Giggs struck the bar from Phil Jones inviting cross from the right. Holt was beginning to threaten and saw a tough header go over as Norwich’s fans started to believe their team could take a point of the Champions.
Eight minutes from time Carrow Road erupted into pandemonium. Aaron Wilbraham forced De Gea into a spectacular save tipping the ball wide for a corner. The goalkeeper did well to punch the corner clear but Norwich held onto the ball.
The ball was knocked back into the area for Whitbread to nod onto Holt who held of Rio Ferdinand turning and firing in an unstoppable shot past De Gea for the powerful forward’s 10th league goal of the season. It was a finsih that any foward would have been proud of.
United were livid at conceding and went all-out to win the game in the closing stages. Welbeck missed an absolute sitter from a Giggs cross before Ruddy denied the England forward with a brave safe at his feet before Giggs struck in injury-time.
Patrice Evra bravely played the ball out to Ashley Young on the right and the former Aston Villa winger put in a beautiful cross into the area which asked to be hit home and that’s exactly what Giggs did as he flicked the ball in past Ruddy at the back-post.
United: De Gea, Evra, Ferdinand, Evans, Jones, Giggs (Smalling), Carrick, Scholes, Nani, Hernandez (Young), Welbeck.
Star Man
David De Gea has had a fantastic month. His performances since Anders Lindegaard was forced onto the sidelines have been nothing short of exceptional. Today he showed confidence from the first whistle, dealing with crosses well whilst producing several outstanding saves. The so-called lightweight is now toughening up and that’s a great sign moving ahead this season.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
