LOUIS VAN GAAL's Christmas turkeys 1, Alex Neil’s canaries 2 – not the festive fare expected at Old Trafford.
“Jose Mourinho, he’s taking your job,” mocked the Norwich fans who traditionally expect a stuffing in these parts, the previous three visits ending in 3-0 defeats.
But make no mistake Louis van Gaal is a man under the microscope – his reign now coming under forensic scrutiny.
The card mark from the corridors of power just a few weeks ago was that the Dutchman was staying put no matter what.
Few would have forecast Mourinho’s fate earlier in the season – the powerbase of football’s managerial giants is undoubtedly crumbling.
Even United’s in house TV channel found it impossible to sugar coat this latest set-back. Dark days indeed at one of the world’s most famous clubs.
So maybe the suits will have to rethink their strategy – maybe the Premier League will claim another huge casualty.
What is certain is that there won’t be much Christmas cheer in the Van Gaal household.
But for Norwich and majority shareholder Delia Smith it was the perfect recipe after a season so far of struggle.
A week ago Cameron Jerome had been subjected to ridicule for one of the misses of the season – a certainty for any Christmas compilation of football bloopers.
But when the opportunity arrived yesterday – a rare Norwich counter-break during a period of sustained first half United pressure – he held his nerve to stun the home fans and set the nerves jangling.
Nathan Redmond on the stretch was just able to set the on running Jerome free and after taking advantage of a weak Ashley Young challenge and pursued by Michael Carrick he fired past David de Gea.
The angst of the 1-1 draw against Everton had to an extent been erased – not that you could tell by the sullen expression on the Norwich striker’s face.
Not that it compared to the grim visage that Van Gaal displayed as he made his way towards the dressing room at half-time, accompanied by a few boos.
The Dutchman was facing one of the most critical team-talks of his Old Trafford reign having already admitted in his programme notes that his side were struggling to find a chink of light at the end of a very long tunnel.
And within nine minutes of the break the mood of the home fans became mutinous as they watched Norwich move into a two goal lead.
Again there was sloppiness in the United midfield as Norwich broke with speed and conviction to make United pay a heavy price for a lack of confidence which seems to have spread like a virus through Van Gaal’s side.
Off the Canaries went again sensing United’s soft centre and when Jerome fed Alex Tettey, the midfielder glided in between Young and Chris Smalling to leave De Gea beaten with a low effort.
The barbs from some angry United fans close to the dug-out flew in Van Gaal’s direction . He sat there impassively but inwardly willing a reaction from his chastened troops.
One arrived from Anthony Martial shortly after Rooney had offered some hope with an acrobatic overhead kick which was inches too high.
This time there was no escape for Neil’s side as Martial controlled and buried a deep cross from Young.
In previous seasons the cavalry would have ridden to United’s rescue but apart from a Juan Mata free-kick which was palmed out by Declan Rudd and a late header from Smalling there was little to suggest that United would avoid the embarrassment of going six games without a win.
Norwich boss Alex Neil rightly saluted the “incredible” work ethic of his side adding: “Arguably this was the biggest win of my managerial career when you take into account the gulf between the sides financially.”
Manchester United: De Gea; Young, Smalling, Jones, Blind; Carrick, Fellaini (Herrera 60); Martial, Mata, Depay; Rooney.
Norwich: Ruud; Martin, Bassong, Bennett, Olsson; Redmond, Tettey, O’Neil (Mulumbu 81), Brady; Hoolahan(Howson 66) Jerome (Mbokani 81).
Referee: M. Oliver.
Att: 75,320
Man of the match: Nathan Redmond. A constant source of danger on the break. Never stopped working.
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