NORWICH CITY VS MANCHESTER UNITED

TEAM NEWS

Norwich midfielder Jonny Howson will face a
fitness test on the back injury that has kept him out
for two matches.
Defender Michael Turner is suspended after receiving his
fifth yellow card of the season on Boxing Day.
Manchester United right-back Rafael is doubtful after
coming off with a groin injury against Hull.
Antonio Valencia is suspended after picking up a red card
in that game, while Phil Jones is out for a fortnight with a
knee injury.


MATCH PREVIEW

Norwich may sit with three teams between them and the
bottom three but Chris Hughton will not be fooled by that;
one bad day and they could be in the relegation zone
themselves.

The Boxing Day defeat at home to Fulham was damaging
enough in itself without being seriously compounded by
away wins for Sunderland and Crystal Palace which drew
Norwich further back into the discomfort zone.
The likeable Hughton now has something of a selection
dilemma; does he take the view that New Year's Day and
the trip to Palace is such a six-pointer that it's worth
preserving the legs of some of his key men against United -
a match they might lose anyway, whatever team he picks?
I don't see the Norwich boss going down that route. After
all, Norwich beat United in this game last season, and what
better way to get tiredness out of your legs and confidence
coursing through your veins than a really good display
against the champions?

They have some really good players at Carrow Road, and
with Gary Hooper beginning to show that goals are his
stock in trade, I still firmly believe that they are good
enough to stay up - but they are just a defeat or two from a
real crisis.

United seem to have ridden out their own tempest with
some impressive character. Three consecutive league wins
have put them back on the margins of the title race and
calmed the nerves at Old Trafford.
In fact, United seem happier away from home at the moment- they have not lost in 10 trips over the course of more than three months.

Less than three weeks ago, David Moyes' side were ninth,
13 points behind the leaders, now they are seventh having
cut the deficit to eight points. If they can hang in there until
Van Persie and Vidic are fit, United will ensure that the
leading pack need to keep glancing over their shoulders
now and again.
As the announcer on the London Underground says: "Mind
the Gap".

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Norwich have beaten Manchester United on two of the
three occasions they have hosted them in the Premier
League.
But United have won 4-0 the last two times that the
teams have met, including in the League Cup in October.

Norwich
Norwich have only lost four of their 18 Premier League
home games in 2013.
The Canaries have picked up five points from the 15
available so far in December.
Only Fulham (35) have conceded more than the 31 league
goals that Norwich have let in this season.
Gary Hooper has scored in each of Norwich's last four
home games, and has scored four of their last six league
goals.

Manchester United
They have won five successive league and cup matches
for the first time under David Moyes, and are aiming for a
season's best fourth league win in a row.
United have done better on the road than at Old Trafford
season. They have earned 17 points from nine away games,
and 14 from their nine home games.
The Red Devils have not lost away from home in any
competition since Manchester City defeated them 4-1 in
September (W6, D4).

Source:

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25474624

Norwich have scored a total of only eight goals in 12
Premier League games against Man Utd.
Man Utd have scored five goals in their final Premier
League game of the year three times (in 1992, 1993 and 2009).


Wayne Rooney has assisted 19 goals since the start of
last season in the Premier League; currently this is four
more than any other player (Gerrard/Hazard on 15).


Norwich City have only lost four of 18 Barclays Premier
League home games in 2013 (W6 D8), but one of these
came on Boxing Day versus Fulham.

Gary Hooper has scored in four successive Premier
League games at Carrow Road.

Indeed, Hooper is the first Norwich player to score in
four consecutive Premier League games at Carrow
Road.

Manchester United have won their last three games and
have scored exactly three goals in each of these
matches.

Norwich City are the only side yet to see a substitute
score this season in the Premier League.

Man u will win

Let's go win! GGMU.
Norwich 1-3 Manchester united.

Go #GGMU. Gud 3rd 2 coment

awesomeboi: Man u will win

a clean sheet wudnt be a bad idea.

0 : 3

let's breath

Norwich City we want a repeat of last season's result. Thank you.

Team news: Rooney will miss Norwich game, as RVP and carrick face late fitness test.
This should be carried to the front-page, match starts in about an hour.

Na wa o, no Rooney! and bia! ndi Moderator! why is this not on front page

Utd starting XI : De Gea, Smalling, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Young, Cleverley, Carrick, Giggs,Kagawa, Hernandez
subs : Lindegaard, Anderson, Welbeck, Fabio, Fletcher, Zaha, Januzaj.
First time since 2012/2013 that there won't be either Rooney or RVP in united squad.

A win with a clean sheet today, I can't wait.

#GloryGloryManUnited

Weda Rooney dey or E no dey. All I know is dat we are winning dis match let's Go dere #teamGGMU#

Sard: Utd starting XI : De Gea, Smalling, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Young, Cleverley, Carrick, Giggs,Kagawa, Hernandez
subs : Lindegaard, Anderson, Welbeck, Fabio, Fletcher, Zaha, Januzaj.
First time since 2012/2013 that there won't be either Rooney or RVP in united squad.

What happened to rooney?

Hernandez isn't on form jare, me no like us to use that guy.

Presbulg: Norwich City we want a repeat of last season's result. Thank you.

u got big dreams Joseph ! dream on

haibe:

What happened to rooney?

Hernandez isn't on form jare, me no like us to use that guy.

I think he's being rested, you know our next game is totenham on Wednesday. We should be able to cope without him today.
Hernandez and kagawa(who scored hattrick against them last season ) should be able to provide the goals.

Sard: Team news: Rooney will miss Norwich game, as RVP and carrick face late fitness test.
This should be carried to the front-page, match starts in about an hour.

sad to lose Rooney. he's been our best air. since VP went AWOL

gud carick is back. but to cast d weight of midfield on some1 just fresh frm injury is worrisome

Visit> www.manUmustWin.com for more info

Norwhich 0-3 Man Utd.

Rooney is missing due groin injury. He should be available for totenham game.

HARDDON:

gud carick is back. but to cast d weight of midfield on some1 just fresh frm injury is worrisome

It's truly worrisome, it shows lack of depth in United mildfield. New midfielders must arrive in January.

Reporting for duty.....

My God! why SS5 now, why not SS3. This dstv guys are wicked o.

Present sire..

Sard: It's truly worrisome, it shows lack of depth in United mildfield. New midfielders must arrive in January.

oh dere is alot of depth.......just that they are all useless.

below average mid fielders who should be plying their trade in d lower league .

if news reaching me is anything to go by, I think we r planing major moves come Jan

Nice possession by United so far

Hmmm. No Rooney? Well, we shall conquer

HARDDON:

oh dere is alot of depth.......just that they are all useless.

below average mid fielders who should be plying their trade in d lower league .

if news reaching me is anything to go by, I think we r planing major moves come Jan

Hope those news come real.
In other news, Negredo and Toure are not starting for City. Everybody wants to rest their main players.

aieromon: Reporting for duty.....

me too

Sorry man u.

Promising start from d lads so far...

Na at least 5-0 we go gv dem,,,wait,,norwich na team?