Norwich 0 Manchester United 1 player ratings: Juan Mata the star as United get away with misfiring performance

United secured a 1-0 victory at Carrow Road to keep their Champions League hopes alive

Manchester United kept their hopes of a top-four finish alive with a 1-0 victory over Norwich City in a result that deals the Canaries a serious blow to their hopes of remaining in the Premier League.

With both Newcastle and Sunderland in action later in the day, Norwich had the chance to put the pressure on, but despite a bright start against a lacklustre United side, Juan Mata struck in the second half to give Louis van Gaal’s side all three points and move them to within touching distance of the Champions League qualifying positions.

United manager Van Gaal elected to leave Marcus Rashford out of the side after giving the teenager a well-earned rest, but his decision immediately bit him when Anthony Martial limped out of the warm-up without a recognised striker on the bench.

That meant Van Gaal shuffled his side and moved Wayne Rooney back into attack with Ander Herrera coming in to midfield, but United were poor in the first half with Chris Smalling having a header at goal as the best chance of the half.

United eventually took the lead though when Norwich defender Sebastien Bassong’s poor header allowed Rooney in behind the defence, and he played the ball in to Mata to slip underneath John Ruddy and give United the lead.

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