Manchester United 2 - 0 Norwich City

Manchester United completed a club record 19th successive home league win – but few have been as unconvincing as this bloodless triumph over Paul Lambert’s plucky Norwich.

The visitors carved out virtually all the best chances, with Anthony Pilkington hitting a post and rolling a shot wide after finding himself clean through.

Norwich were made to pay when Anderson powered home a close-range header midway through the second period before Danny Welbeck scored his third goal in a week, sliding in to finish off Park Ji-sung’s cut-back.

Correctly assuming their opponents would dominate possession, Norwich had looked rock-solid in retaining two banks of four, which United initially found hard to penetrate. Wayne Rooney unleashed a long-range effort, which goalkeeper John Ruddy dealt with easily and Marc Tierney cleared a near-post flick by Darren Fletcher from Nani’s corner.

Norwich could have snatched a first-half lead if Elliott Bennett had been able to pick out Steve Morison after surging to the byline. Instead, Bennett drilled his cross straight at Phil Jones.

In the second half Pilkington brought a save out of goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard before the same player seized on Antonio Valencia’s miscontrol and with only Lindegaard to beat rolled his shot wide.

Norwich were made to pay when substitute Ryan Giggs floated over a corner, which was met by Jones and flicked on by Rooney to Anderson, who powered home a header.

Norwich came agonisingly close to a leveller as Pilkington’s shot deflected off Anderson, on to the post and back into the grateful arms of Lindegaard.

Welbeck sealed the win with his third goal in a week before Rooney chipped narrowly over.