Second-half goals from Anderson and Welbeck helped a nervy Manchester United overpower Norwich City and grab their first win in three games to maintain their top spot on the premier league table.?The Premier League new boys defended solidly for much of the game, and caused the home-side plenty of trouble on the counter-attack, both early on in the game and midway through the second half, as the match were finely poised.
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In truth, the ‘Canaries’ probably should have taken all three points back to the east of England, but their finishing in front of goal was far too wasteful at a ground where mistakes are punished more frequently than most, but United came out on top after the Brazilian midfielder’s goal from a corner was compounded late on with a break-away goal finished off by Welbeck.
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For all of United’s strength in attack, they almost came unstuck early on in defence when Patrice Evra was left suprised by a quick one-two from Elliot Bennett, who stole in behind and would have found an unmarked Steve Morison at the far post but for the intervention of Phil Jones.
As the first-half progressed, Norwich looked fairly assured, though United were getting more and more time on the ball and looked to find gaps in the ‘Canaries’ defence with Nani, Wayne Rooney and Anderson being the playmakers in chief, though they were failing to find a way to deal with Norwich’s defence.
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Dalglish Delighted With Carroll Derby Goal
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Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish has said that he is delighted with Andy Carroll after the ?35m striker scored his first Premier League goal of the season in the 2-0 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby on Saturday. ?Carroll turned in the opener from close range in the 71st minute to end a drought of more than 11 hours worth of playing time without a goal, before Luis Suarez sealed the victory eight minutes from time.
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Everton were furious that Jack Rodwell was sent-off for a challenge on Suarez in the 23rd minute, but Dalglish was keen after the match to focus on his side’s success and singled out under-pressure Carroll for praise.?“Obviously it will be a boost for him to get his first league goal, but I don’t know what all the fuss is about,” Dalglish told reporters. “We are delighted with him. He has worked really hard in training and he deserved it.
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“Andy has been fantastic, making his improvement in training better than most people, so I don’t know what the fuss is about. The price-tag is irrelevant and has nothing to do with his form or performances. He is just as important to us as JaySpearing, Steven Gerrard or Jamie Carragher, who cost us nothing.
“I don’t think confidence is the problem with Carroll, it’s the media. You need to let him live a little bit, you keep talking about his private life, but don’t know anything about it.”
Gerrard continued his return from a groin injury after replacing Charlie Adam in the 67th minute and could now be in line for a call-up to Fabio Capello’s England squad for the crunch Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro.?
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?Man City PoundBlackburn 4-0
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A fine second-half showing from Roberto Mancini’s men helped Manchester City end a turbulent week with a win after they comfortably beat Blackburn Rovers 4-0 at Ewood Park.
Second-half goals from Adam Johnson, Mario Balotelli, Samir Nasri and Stefan Savic secured all three points for Roberto Mancini’s men, who bounced back from their ignominious showing against Bayern Munich in midweek in impressive fashion.
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The first half was one of frustration for Mancini and his side, with Blackburn’s resilience at the back a mere sidenote to the suspected groin injury picked up by Sergio Aguero; the striker limped down the tunnel after 25 minutes to make it a terrible week for the club’s Argentine forwards.?
Roberto Mancini made six changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Bayern at the Allianz Arena, with Pablo Zabaleta, Aleksander Kolarov, Joleon Lescott, James Milner and Adam Johnson all drafted in to the starting ?11, with Edin Dzeko’s petulance, after being substituted in Germany earning him a place on the bench.
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The hosts were also hoping to bounce back from disappointment, having been hammered 3-0 away to Newcastle a week ago, and Steve Kean shuffled the pack accordingly, bringing Radosav Petrovic, Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Goodwillie in place of Michel Salgado, Martin Olsson and Mauro Formica.?
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Premier League Results
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Everton 0, Liverpool 2
Aston Villa 2, Wigan 0
Blackburn 0, Man City 4
Man Utd 2, Norwich City 0
Sunderland 2, West Brom 2?
Wolves 1, Newcastle 2
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