Premier League, Old Trafford – Manchester United 1 (Martial 66) Norwich City 2 (Jerome 38, Tettey 54)
Manchester United dropped out of the top four with a shocking 2-1 home defeat to Norwich which piled pressure on Louis van Gaal.
Wayne Rooney returned for Manchester United against Norwich, making his 500th appearance for the club, with Bobby Charlton making a presentation before the match.
Norwich City started in 18th place and United in fourth, but it was Norwich who took the lead through Cameron Jerome after more calamitous United defending.
Jose Mourinho has been in touch with United with a view to taking over at Old Trafford, and such a poor showing in the first half only served to increase the pressure on Van Gaal.
Alexander Tettey’s goal barely changed the mood of the crowd, who had already lost faith. And the boos continued from the end of the first half. Anthony Martial pulled a goal back but few seemed convinced that a comeback was a possibility.
United have now gone six matches without victory, and Norwich are undefeated in three games. Van Gaal is on the edge
KEY EVENTS
15’ – ROONEY CHANCE – Rooney dribbles a shot wide of the far post with his left after Mata was tackled from behind – perhaps fouled by Olsson – but the ref gives nothing.
38’ – GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Norwich City. Jerome scores – Redmond slides in the ball into Jerome as Jones misses a tackled, Smalling slides towards Jerome, and the ball bounces off him for Jerome to chase, one-on-one with De Gea. He shoot straight down the middle and De Gea dives out of the way, expecting a shot to one side of him, and Norwich are ahead.
54’ – GOAL! Manchester United 0-2 Norwich City. Tettey scores – An excellent goal for Norwich and Tettey. He lays the ball forward for Jerome, who releases Tettey down the middle, between Smalling and Young, and he sends a toe poke in at the near post.
60’ – ROONEY CHANCE – Rooney meets an overhead kick at the near post, and it flies a yard or two over.
66’ – GOAL! Manchester United 1-2 Norwich City. Martial scores – Young crosses from the right, Rooney misses it. It comes to Martial who awkwardly makes his way past two defenders, and he fires it into the roof of the net.
83’ – DE GEA SAVE – Mulumbu sidefoots a shot at goal that De Gea palms into the path of Howson, who is hustled into a mistake, perhaps with a foul, by Blind behind him.
90+3’ – SMALLING MISS – A brilliant through-ball from Mata splits the defence, and Smalling – now up front – glances his header wide.
KEY STATS
This is the first game in the Premier League season that United have conceded more than once, and only the second Premier League goal match they have conceded in all season.
United are without a win in six games.
MATCHCAST: FULL MATCH STATS AND COMMENTARY
TALKING POINT
Is this Louis van Gaal’s last game? He was booed from half time, with cries of frustration coming well before then, and after. The game ended with more displeasure heard from the fans, who had seen a group of players utterly without focus and who had seemingly given up from the moment the first goal went in. Jose Mourinho is waiting and willing – it must be a matter of time, however much United would prefer to wait for Pep Guardiola.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Cameron Jerome (Norwich City): Jerome took his chance ruthlessly, seizing on United’s nerves and lack of confidence, and drawing an error from David de Gea. But it is his involvement for the second, releasing Tettey down the middle, which deserves most credit. Without him, Norwich may not have capitalised on a woeful United.
PLAYER RATINGS
Manchester United: De Gea 5, Young 6, Jones 5, Smalling 5, Blind 5, Carrick 4, Fellaini 5, Memphis 6, Mata 5, Martial 6, Rooney 4. Subs: Herrera 6.
Norwich City: Rudd 6, Martin 6, Bennett 6, Bassong 6, Olsson 6, Redmond 6, O’Neil 6, Tettey 7, Brady 6, Hoolahan 6, Jerome 7. Subs: Howson 6, Mbokani 6, Mulumbu 6.
Eurosport – Alexander Netherton – 12/19/15, 4:51 PM
