Football: White strikes for old order

Manchester City. .3

Norwich. . . . . .1

DAVID WHITE restored something of the old order to English football's new-look championship last night. White scored twice and set up a third for Steve McMahon to give Manchester City their first victory and condemn Norwich to their first defeat.

The pace and penetration of White raised Manchester City's hopes of turning the Premier League upside down. Just when it seemed Norwich's composure was capable of resisting anything thrown at them, White responded to Niall Quinn's splendid support with an angled shot wide of goalkeeper Bryan Gunn to give his side the lead a minute before half-time.

Terry Phelan, City's pounds 2.5m full- back, had an early opportunity to provide evidence of his worth, heading away under pressure a corner from a former Maine Road player, David Phillips. Phelan's eagerness to please his new employers almost got the better of him moments later and he was relieved to scramble the ball clear.

Norwich's wheels barely turned in the opening 28 minutes yet when Jeremy Goss found Mark Robins near the edge of the area, the former Manchester United striker required only an instant to confirm his form. He reacted with a swift shot which Tony Coton beat away.

In the 59th minute Phillips combined with Gary Megson to conjure an equaliser. Megson met Phillips's corner with a solid header and Coton was comprehensively beaten. Phillips next prompted a move which should have put Norwich ahead five minutes later. Substitute Rob Newman outmanoeuvred City's back line but pushed the ball wide. Then Robins missed a more difficult chance. At the other end, Gunn gathered White's shot at the second attempt.

White was not to be denied 10 minutes from the end. Keith Curle hoisted the ball from deep, Quinn knocked it down and White swept it in. He then laid on the third for McMahon in the last minute.

Manchester City: Coton; Brightwell, Phelan, Simpson, Curle, Vonk, White, Sheron, Quinn, Holden, McMahon. Substitutes not used: Reid, Flitcroft, Margetson (gk).

Norwich: Gunn; Culverhouse, Bowen, Butterworth, Sutton, Megson, Fox (Newman, 57), Goss, Robins (Woodthorpe, 82), Crook, Phillips. Substitute not used: Walton (gk).

Referee: D Elleray (Harrow).