Norwich vs. Manchester United: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match

Juan Mata’s second-half goal pushed Manchester United to within a point of the Premier League top four after beating Norwich City 1-0 at Carrow Road on Saturday.

Mata profited from a defensive blunder from Sebastien Bassong with less than 20 minutes to play to increase the pressure on fourth-placed Manchester City and push Norwich closer to relegation.

The Canaries are now second off bottom, two points short of Newcastle United and one behind Sunderland, with the latter having played a game fewer. Meanwhile, United are a point adrift of City, who play third-placed Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Manager Louis van Gaal’s plan to rest 18-year-old striker Marcus Rashford ahead of Tuesday’s game at West Ham United backfired when Anthony Martial withdrew during the warm-up, per United.

Van Gaal had left out prolific teenager Rashford and defender Daley Blind altogether because of their recent run of games, per BT Sport:

No Rashford or Blind, Van Gaal explains why. #NORMUN https://t.co/I2rhyHuoK8

— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) 7 May 2016

The manager was originally hoping to rely on Wayne Rooney supporting Martial and Jesse Lingard:

#mufc XI: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Rojo, Darmian; Carrick, Rooney; Mata, Lingard, Memphis; Martial. pic.twitter.com/AhKhRueJi1

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 7, 2016

Despite United’s issues up front, which probably caught him off guard, Canaries boss Alex Neil had still opted to pack midfield ahead of lone frontman Cameron Jerome, per the club:

Today’s starting XI, brought to you in association with @Coral. #NORMUN #ncfcYour thoughts? pic.twitter.com/dUXp29GlH1

— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) May 7, 2016

But it wasn’t United’s forward …

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