Reds continue to get rub of green
Yet winning when not at your best is only ingrained in these Manchester United players.
It all went United’s way against Chelsea last month. Now his lacklustre side needed another slice of luck to see off a lesser opponent, if not as hardworking, as Norwich on Saturday.
Paul Lambert’s side did everything but score at Old Trafford. As chances came and went, you feared it would come back to haunt them and so that proved.
To underline the lacklustre performance, it’s not too often a home defender wins the man-of-the-match accolade against a newly-promoted side.
But without Phil Jones’ intervention, on more than one occasion, you wondered if Manchester United would have set a new club unbeaten record.
This was their 19th successive league home win — but the milestone would surely not have been achieved it hadn’t been for Jones.
Jones had shown signs in recent weeks that the hectic start to life with the defending champions was beginning to take its toll.
But it was telling that the teenage defender kept his place ahead of Rio Ferdinand, following last week’s 3-3 Champions League draw with Basle, and it proved the right decision by a manager who doesn’t make too many mistakes when it comes to his team selection.
The former Blackburn defender admitted his team-mates were below their best, and said: “As champions, football fans expect you to turn up and be the best every game.
“But we know football isn’t like that and it was proved here.
“It was very frustrating but we stayed patient and we got our rewards.
“Perhaps I was needed more times than I expected to be but that’s what I’m here for.
“I wanted to come to Manchester United and play regularly, having played most of the game for Blackburn, week in week out.”
This was the Red Devils’ sixth win from seven league games and they lead the table heading into the fortnight’s international break.
But the fact Jones was busier than usual was down to a combination of the error-prone hosts and the hardworking visitors.
Yet if there was ever a game where Norwich deserved to at least take a share of the spoils, it was here.
They shook Man United to the core, shackling them with their combative but organised style while they attacked with pace in their new-look 4-5-1 formation.
Their game-plan could have resulted in an opening goal before the break, but is certainly should have been rewarded after.
Anthony Pilkington will still be wondering how he didn’t get himself on the scoresheet. Latching onto Antonia Valencia’s error, the summer signing from Huddersfield drew goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard but the former Ireland U21 international then watched in horror as the ball trickled inches past of the post in the 64th minute.
Lambert had his head in his hands. The Norwich manager must have known what was coming as within four minutes Anderson had been given the freedom of the penalty area to head home from close-range.
Not that falling behind deterred the Canaries, with Steve Morison coming close before Pilkington saw his deflected shot rattle the inside of the post and back along the goalline into the grateful arms of Lindegaard.
You knew it wouldn’t be their day at that stage and substitute Danny Welbeck rubbed salt into the wounds when he slid Ji Sung Park’s pass home with three minutes remaining.
For Welbeck, it only rounded off a memorable week after becoming the youngest Manchester-born striker to score in Europe.
Welbeck, who spent last season on loan at Sunderland, has now scored five times this term, said: “If I come off the bench I’m looking to make an impact, and if I’m starting then I’m looking to score goals as well.
“I’ve got my goals early on and I’m just looking to build on that. I’ve not set any targets. When I came back the manager told me I’d get my chances. I know what I can do.”
Beaten but not certainly not humiliated by any means, Norwich defender Marc Tierney admitted his team-mates can take heart from their spirited display.
“We were not here just to make the numbers up, just look at the chances we created,” he said.
“We are the kind of squad who will learn from this rather than get on each other’s backs. It could have been different — we could have got a draw or a win. We will definitely take heart from this.”
With Manchester United struggling for ideas, Anthony Pilkington should have handed Norwich the lead just after the hour mark. Antonio Valencia’s slip allowed the former Huddersfield winger in but he shot wide with just Anders Lindegaard to beat. While the Norwich backroom team had their heads in their hands, Manchester United went up the other hand to take the lead.
They have been scoring goals for fun this season but many of their performances have not been of that of champions. Yet their results have been. You just wonder how much longer they will be able to pick up wins while not being at their best.
Phil Jones. The teenage defender has been off his game in recent weeks but he shone here. He rescued fellow defender Jonny Evans on more than one occasion and always seemed to be in the right place to thwart the Canaries.
Took no action when Johnson appeared to react in a tackle with Hernandez.
Wes Hoolahan showed some neat touches and doesn’t look out of place at this level. The Dubliner is clearly at home in these surroundings and an international call isn’t out of the question.
Manchester United set a new club record of 19 straight wins at home in the Premier League.
Manchester United head to Liverpool in what will be a tough test of their unbeaten record. Norwich host fellow promoted side Swansea and will want to maintain their strong start.
NORWICH fans mocked Manchester United’s anti-Glazer movement for stealing their colours on Saturday with the chant:
“We’ve come for our scarves
We’ve come for our scarves
We’re Norwich City
And we’ve come for our scarves”
“Don’t blame it on the Biscan, don’t blame it on the Hamann, don’t blame it on the Finnan, blame it on Traore. He just can’t, he just can’t, he just can’t control his feet.” — Liverpool fans on Djimi Traore.
“When the Yids start to cry,
Cos they didn’t qualify,
That’s Lasagna, that’s Lasagna” — Arsenal fans have a go at Spurs when a bout of food poisoning put paid to their Champions League hopes.
“Nayim from the halfway line” — Spurs fans also show they have long memories, this time of their old midfielder’s winning goal in the European Cup Winners’ Cup final.
“Nani are you OK? Are you OK Nani?” United fans go all Michael Jackson on their star midfielder.
“You better watch out, You better beware, He’s good on the ground and he’s good in the air, Santa Cruz is coming to town.” Blackburn hail the coming of their star centre-forward. Unfortunately they don’t believe in Santa Cruz any more.
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