Once again, Manchester United looked off the pace, but once again it didn't really matter too much. One wouldn't expect newly-promoted Norwich City to give the defending champions too much in the way of problems at Old Trafford, but the Canaries proved a very difficult nut to crack and had things gone ever so slightly differently it'd be United who were looking at a 2-0 defeat rather than their guests.

Norwich defended well for 70 minutes before the breakdown inevitably came off a corner kick, with Anderson ending the head pinball by nodding past John Ruddy from close range, and Danny Welbeck finished the job with five minutes left after combining intelligently with Park Ji-Sung to shred the visitors' back line. The rest of the games' best chances fell to Norwich, and only a combination of exceptionally poor finishing and blind luck saved the win for United. Anthony Pilkington had several great chances only to miss one on one against Anders Lindegaard with the match tied and then hit the post via deflection later, and the hosts defensive play was something approaching 'chaotic' throughout.

They say it's the mark of champions to win without playing particularly well, and if that's true United are now absolute locks for a 20th league title.