Manchester United 4-0 Norwich City: Rooney & Mata hand Giggs emphatic debut win The two stars both scored braces to hand the Welshman - appointed in the wake of David Moyes sacking in midweek - the perfect start to his short-term reign at Old Trafford A brace apiece from Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney gave Ryan Giggs a winning start to his interim reign as Manchester United boss. Giggs – appointed as short-term manager following David Moyes sacking in midweek – initially opted to leave Mata on the bench, but introduced him in the second-half, with the score already at 2-0. The man who flew down the wing for nearly a quarter of a century is off to a flying start in the United dugout. The team left the field to the strains of Ryan Giggs Red Army after a comprehensive 4-0 dismantling of a hapless Norwich City who remain deeply entrenched in the relegation quagmire. This win did not tell us an awful lot about United we didnt know. Norwich are the weakest away team in the division but they still took some putting away. From Wayne Rooneys converted spot kick on, however, this was never in doubt. United piled on the pressure like the team of old in the second half and another Rooney goal had them further ahead before Juan Mata struck twice. This was as well as United have played at home this season, without exaggeration, and they had more shots on target today than in any game under David Moyes. There may be still the same problems to rectify over the summer for United but this was a happy day which served as a reminder to the players, fans and dare I say it Ryan Giggs of what United are capable at Old Trafford. And the Spaniard repaid the Welshmans faith in him by scoring twice to add some sheen to the scoreline and to help restore the feelgood factor around Old Trafford. Taking to the touchline in a club suit, Uniteds longest-serving player looked the part in a role that may only be temporary if pre-match speculation linking Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal with the Old Trafford hot-seat is to be believed. Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Giggs to take on the job full-time, and the hosts displayed an early intensity of the kind associated with the Scots reign. Much of Uniteds first-half work lacked penetration, but Rooney scored a penalty four minutes before half-time and then doubled his tally three minutes after the break. Substitute Mata then struck twice to complete the scoring, leaving Old Trafford delighted and Norwich perilously placed just a point and a place above the relegation zone with two matches remaining. The two marquee signings of the Moyes era fared badly as Giggs made six changes. Mata dropped to the bench and Marouane Fellaini did not make the matchday 18. Giggs was afforded a predictably rapturous reception before recalled right winger Antonio Valencia was heavily involved as United sought a fast opening - although, unfortunately, the Ecuador internationals early deliveries lacked quality. Jonny Howson had the ball in the net for Norwich after David De Gea had fumbled Ricky van Wolfswinkels ninth-minute header, but the Dutch striker was rightly penalised for a push on Phil Jones. Citys first testing moment came via the United left in the 14th minute when Martin Olsson failed to clear Patrice Evras searching cross before Danny Welbeck reacted quickest to the loose ball, forcing John Ruddy to save smartly at his near post. United then found themselves in the all-too-familiar position of struggling for fluency but, after Ruddy had beaten a ball from Valencia out of the goalmouth, the Old Trafford crowd was on its feet in the 41st minute as Rooney converted from the spot. Jones speculative pass found its way through a crowd of Norwich defenders to Welbeck, who was clumsily fouled by Steven Whittaker, and Rooney sent Ruddy the wrong way from the resulting penalty to record a 16th league goal of the season. Norwich were then left with a mountain to climb after the restart when Rooney was allowed to advance unchallenged towards the edge of the area. Despite losing his footing, the England forwards shot curled beyond Ruddy and into the bottom corner. Robert Snodgrass was Norwichs standout attacking threat and he tested De Gea with a 58th-minute free-kick, having drawn a foul from Nemanja Vidic, but the game was over as a contest five minutes later.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 20:06:15 +0000
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