Van Gaal booed again as Norwich stun Man United
Palace grab late win at Stoke
Russell Martin of Norwich City (bottom), clears the ball away from Manchester United’s Memphis Depay during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford Stadium,
Manchester, England on Dec 19. (AP) MANCHESTER, United Kingdom, Dec 19, (AFP): Louis van Gaal’s position as Manchester United manager will come under increased scrutiny after relegationthreatened Norwich secured a shock 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Goals from Cameron Jerome and Alex Tettey either side of half-time gave Alex Neil’s team a 2-0 lead and Anthony Martial’s reply for United couldn’t stop Norwich climbing out of the relegation zone thanks to their first victory at United since 1989. Norwich supporters with chants of “Jose Mourinho: He’s taking your job”, a reference to the former Chelsea manager, who is free to seek another role after being sacked on Thursday.
Van Gaal has faced growing criticism from fans and former United players over the cautious style of his team’s play.
And although they made a lively start before falling behind, they failed to create enough pressure to merit victory.
Norwich defended doggedly in the face of early United pressure and ensured that goalkeeper Declan Rudd was well protected.
Wayne Rooney, making his 500th United appearance, did have the ball in the net in the 10th minute, but both he and Marouane Fellaini were rightly ruled offside in the build-up.
Memphis Depay looped an effort over the bar from 20 yards, before Rooney rolled a shot wide after Juan Mata had brushed aside Gary O’Neil.
Norwich did fire a warning when midfielder Tettey easily sidestepped a Chris Smalling challenge before rolling a tame shot wide.
But more home pressure followed, with Rooney’s outswinging cross from the right aimed at Depay eight yards out, and it needed a well-timed Russell Martin challenge to deny the Netherlands international.
Norwich, having survived the opening 30 minutes without conceding, began to pose more of a threat as they grew in confidence.
And they took the lead seven minutes before half-time, as Nathan Redmond burst forward and played in Jerome, who broke the challenge of Ashley Young before beating David De Gea, who could have done better with a shot that was well within his reach. As the second half began in pouring rain, United soon found themselves two goals down.
Palace 2, Stoke 1