MATCH STATS

MANCHESTER UTD Howard, G Neville, Keane, Silvestre, O'Shea, Bellion, Miller, Djemba-Djemba, Giggs, Smith, Scholes. Subs: P Neville (for G Neville, 74), Richardson (for Bellion, 74), Ronaldo (for Miller, 85), Carroll, Eagles.

NORWICH CITY Green, Helveg, Fleming, Charlton, Drury, Bentley, Francis, Holt, Jonson, Huckerby, Svensson. Subs: McVeigh (for Jonson, 45), Doherty (for Svensson, 69), McKenzie (for Bentley, 76), Edworthy, Ward.

SCORERS: Man Utd: Bellion (34), Smith (50) Norwich: McVeigh (75)

TOP CANARY: Damien Francis

ATTENDANCE: 67,812

REFEREE: Neale Barry (North Lincolnshire)

YELLOW CARDS: Norwich: Helveg (49)

RED CARDS: None

SHOTS ON TARGET: Man Utd 7, Norwich 1

SHOTS OFF TARGET: Man Utd 6, Norwich 5

CORNERS: Man Utd 11, Norwich 5

FOULS:  Man Utd 8, Norwich 23

OFFSIDE:  Man Utd 2, Norwich 4

Saturday August 21, 2004
MATTHEW CHAMBERS

Welcome to the Premiership! Two goals either side of half-time through David Bellion and Alan Smith ended any hopes Norwich City had of leaving Old Trafford with the reward they so richly deserved for their efforts.

The Canaries showed the fight and spirit which will be so desperately needed to survive in the Premiership and indeed grabbed the second half goal through substitute Paul McVeigh, which made their esteemed hosts sweat right up to the final whistle.

On-loan Arsenal starlet David Bentley came the closest to opening the scoring for City in the first half through a 25-yard shot which ricocheted off Tim Howard's crossbar. It was possibly the worst thing he could have done. The effort provided a sleeping beast with the perfect wake-up call and boy did United fight back.

City went into their first visit to Old Trafford nearly 10 years with an unchanged side. Manager Nigel Worthington may have been tempted to make a change of formation to counteract United's awesome attacking threat but he decided to stick with his tried and trusted 4-4-2 formation which looked commendably solid against Crystal Palace.

That meant a second City start for Swedish winger Mattias Jonson, while on the other flank David Bentley was passed fit to play after recovering from a minor calf strain. Gary Doherty, who completed his switch from Spurs just in time to be eligible for this match, was named on the substitutes bench, with Ryan Jarvis stepping down to make way for him.

United made one change to the side that saw them beaten 1-0 at Chelsea on the opening day of the season. Quinton Fortune picked up a minor knock during the game at Stamford Bridge and his place at left back was taken by John O'Shea who stepped back from an unfamiliar role in the centre of midfield to plug the gap. The new face in the United line-up was Frenchman David Bellion, who linked up in attack with £7 million summer signing Alan Smith.

The 3,000 travelling Norwich City supporters in the East Stand outsung the whole of the Old Trafford home crowd.

As expected, Old Trafford was packed to the rafters for United's first home game of the season which meant Norwich were being watched by the biggest league crowd in their history, over 67,000.

City kicked off towards the East Stand, where their 3000 supporters were congregated, and the travelling army soon got the upper hand as they taunted their opposite numbers with the chant “We've Got More Points Than You”.

But it was United who started the stronger on the pitch and Sir Alex Ferguson's men took less than a minute to get their first effort on target, it came from defender O'Shea who tried his luck with a dipping volley after getting the better of Jonson on the edge of the box but Green comfortably held on to his shot.

Bellion then did well to force a corner on the right and when Ryan Giggs' delivery fell nicely for Paul Scholes on the edge of the box it looked ominous for the visitors. But the former England man opted to pass rather than shoot and was woefully off target with his delivery. It had been a testing though not unduly daunting start to the game for the Premiership new-boys and they wasted no time in giving United an anxious moment at the other end.

Darren Huckerby did well to dispossess O'Shea near the left-hand corner flag and get in a cross and it needed a last minute interception from skipper Roy Keane to clear the ball for a corner. The set ball situation came to nothing but it had still been a reasonably solid start from a side who went into the game as massive underdogs. After 10 minutes Neville worked a position across the edge of the City box and picked out Giggs – making a darting run – with a superb lofted ball which the Welsh international gathered on to his left boot before unleashing a snap shot which was well cleared by the City defence.

After 15 minutes United created their first clear-cut chance on the City goal. Again from a corner which was won off Drury by Bellion. Giggs crossed the ball high into the City six-yard box but an on-rushing O'Shea headed narrowly over the bar.

After 17 minutes the new partnership of Giggs and Smith up front for United showed signs of its lack of development after the Welsh international whose through ball into the six-yard box saw Smith running in totally the opposite direction. Giggs' dismay was clear for all 67,000 supporters to see as he stood hands on hips in disgust.

After 25 minutes City, who had adopted a bit of siege mentality in front of their own goal, won two corners in quick succession The first was quickly taken by Bentley to Huckerby who mis-controlled the ball and the ball spilled out to O'Shea on the left who was closed down by Fleming who then won the second. Bentley again came over to take the kick which was cleared by O'Shea.

After the half-hour mark City began to come out of their shells a little but still found it difficult to maintain possession, being harried and harassed by the United midfield. When they were getting forward a lack of control and movement combined to force them onto the back foot once again.

Bentley stunner hits the bar

After 32 minutes Bentley had the City fans on their feet after the precocious 19-year-old talent rocketed a shot with his right foot off the underside of the United crossbar from fully 25 yards. It had the United crowd stunned into silence but it took only a minute before they were on their feet in celebration.

Bellion makes no mistake

United broke at speed down the left and ultimately through Giggs who looped a cross into the City box which Smith flicked on but arriving late at the far post was Bellion who made no mistake with his finish smashing the ball into the roof of the net with Green stranded.

Moments later it was Bellion again making inroads in the City defence. The United winger stepped in off the right and drilled a low penetrating shot which Green did well to turn around the post.

Nigel Worthington gives out instructions on the touchline to his City players.

On 39 minutes Huckerby picked the ball up wide on the left and managed to outstrip Bellion and show a clean pair of heels to Keane but the Republic of Ireland international and United captain never really looked like letting the City striker off the leash and managed to get in a tackle on the by-line which left Huckerby floundering.

City maintained the battle and grit in midfield mostly through Francis who after beating two United players was faced with the prospect of then trying to get past Keane, which he did, but was then barged off the ball by O'Shea with his City team-mates conspicuous in their absence.

On 42 minutes Giggs picked up the ball on the edge of City's 18-yard box and the quicksilver winger blasted a left-foot shot which rebounded off Helveg. The Danish captain was slow up off the deck which allowed Giggs to pick up the ball again and run to the by-line but Fleming, a colossus in defence so far, cleared the ball off the winger's feet.

City continued to battle to the half-time whistle as United looked to double their advantage but City remained resolute and well organised and tough to break down.

Half-time: Manchester United 1, Norwich City 0

Nigel Worthington made his first substitution of the match after half-time bringing on Paul McVeigh for Mattias Jonson who maybe looked a little worse for wear after his midweek international sojourn for Sweden against Holland.

On 47 minutes Huckerby was given a glimpse of goal. A smartly lofted ball over the head of Silvestre found the City striker in space but the former Man City player could only blaze high and wide over Howard's goal.

On 49 minutes City picked up their first booking of the Premiership season when Helveg was adjudged to have fouled Giggs.

Goal of the month?

A minute later and a moment of sublime skill from United's new-boy Alan Smith doubled the home side's advantage. A cross was played in to the edge of the City box which the England striker controlled on his chest before hitting a left-foot volley on the turn into the back of the net off the crossbar. Possible goal of the month contender?

On 54 minutes Giggs, who had switched to the right, picked up the ball with space on the edge of City's 18-yard box and bore down on Green in the Canary goal. The Welsh international kept his shot low and Green did well to get down and parry the ball around the post.

Darren Huckerby beats Roy Keane before getting in a cross, which Mathias Svensson was unable to meet.

City continued to battle in midfield and none more so than through the indomitable Francis who brushed aside a couple of United players before finding himself isolated, yet again, on the edge of the United penalty area. City's loan star Bentley was showing a few signs of frustration and was finding it difficult to get the ball at his feet when in space and was letting his team-mates know about it.

On 60 minutes Howard had the United fans on the edge of their seats in fright as he mis-controlled a back pass from O'Shea with Huckerby bearing down on him but the American regained his composure to clear the ball.

On 61 minutes it was announced over the public announcement system that City fans had helped contribute to a Premiership record attendance at Old Trafford of 67,812.

On 62 minutes United came close to extending their lead to three goals when Alan Smith who had dropped deep into midfield played a looped ball over the heads of City defenders Charlton and Fleming. Scholes timed his run between the two defenders to perfection and hit the ball on the volley but Green denied him with a wonderful one-handed save.

On 68 minutes Huckerby reached the by-line having beaten Keane and managed to get a cross in but unfortunately for City, Svensson was late arriving in the six-yard box and United were able to clear the danger.

On 70 minutes new signing Gary Doherty was introduced for Svensson up front making his debut at the same time and against the same opposition as he did on his Spurs debut.

On 73 minutes Huckerby easily beat Gary Neville on the outside leaving the England defender flat on his backside but to sum up City's day so far Keane was laying in wait ready to clear the ball, which he did.

On 74 minutes Sir Alex Ferguson made his first two substitutions of the match replacing Bellion for Richardson and Gary Neville for his brother Phil in a straight swap.

Damien Francis and Gary Holt celebrate with Paul McVeigh after his goal gave Norwich City a glimmer of hope.

After a tremendous piece of build-up play from Francis, having won the ball on the halfway line, the City midfielder played the ball in to Doherty whose first-time shot was blocked but the ball fell to McVeigh who rounded his marker to hit a deflected shot into the back of the United net.

On 77 minutes Bentley was replaced by Leon McKenzie with Huckerby switching to the left and McKenzie taking his position up front alongside Doherty.

England hopeful Green pulled off another stunning save after 79 minutes as Giggs' cross found Richardson in space at the far post but the Canary keeper was alert to the danger and palmed the ball over the bar.

On 81 minutes City played the ball into the United penalty area which was flicked on by the rangy Doherty. The ball fell to McKenzie who let a snap shot into the side of the United net.

On 86 minutes United and Portuguese star Ronaldo replaced Liam Miller and almost instantly went about unpacking his party tricks to step over King, played the ball all the way to the City by-line before winning a dubious free-kick from the every-generous Neil Barry in charge.

City continued to battle with McKenzie fighting desperately for every ball as the seconds ticked away and City looked to equalise in the Theatre of Dreams but unfortunately time ran out on City's chances.

Result: Manchester United 2, Norwich City 1