Norwich 0 United 1

United went into this game without Rashford or Martial and the uninspiring fare on offer illustrated just how valuable they've proved during our recent upturn in form.  Fortunately, we ran into a Norwich side who were even worse and, largely thanks to an appalling piece of defending, left Carrow Road with what could still prove a vital three points.

Robbed of the pace of Rashford and Martial, United looked as dull as they have for so much of the season.  Against a nervous looking Norwich, the lack of adventure was all too apparent.  De Gea saved to deny Jerome early on when the forward probably ought to have done better, but Norwich offered little else in a dire first half.  

Sadly, the Reds offered nothing better.  We dominated possession, of course, but the build-up play was slow and laborious.  Smalling's header over the bar from a corner was the closest United came and there was a disappointing new addition to the continuing saga of our defensive injuries when Darmian was forced off with what looked a nasty foot injury.

United opened the second half with a little more urgency and Herrera almost capitalised when his volley from Mata's pass went narrowly wide.  If this signified a more adventurous approach from the Reds in the second half, then the improvement turned out to be only marginal.

It took a horrendous defensive error from the home side to bring about the crucial goal.  Bassong's missed header allowed Rooney a run on goal and then, just as it looked like the chance had been squandered, the United captain produced a pass to set up the advancing Mata, who drilled home from close range.  

If the move emphasised that Rooney's future is probably as a creator rather than a scorer of goals, the sublime pass he then laid on for Schneiderlin offered further evidence.  Sadly, the Frenchman's future certainly isn't as a forward and he illustrated this by steering his shot tamely wide.

Although Norwich played most of the second half with a second striker, they offered little more than speculative yahoos into the box that were easily dealt with, more often than not by the typically efficient Chris Smalling and United were allowed to stroll to a comfortable win.

The three points keep us in the chase for a Champions League spot, but there will be many among the Reds support scratching their heads about how on earth we allowed these opponents to win at Old Trafford earlier in the season.  Had we not, the road to European qualification would surely have been a hell of a lot smoother and not involve reliance on a notoriously unreliable Arsenal at city or a that tricky midweek trip to the Boleyn Ground.