Man Utd 2 - 0 Norwich Video

Manchester United retained their position at the top of the Premier League after they edged past Norwich.

Anderson headed in on 68 minutes while Danny Welbeck sealed the points after exchanging passes with Park Ji-sung.

The pattern of the game could have been different if Anthony Pilkington had taken one of two chances either side of United's opener.

But the Norwich winger shot wide when clean through and saw another effort hit the post on 75 minutes.

The hosts improved in the second period and could have extended their lead via Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney, who returned to the side after a hamstring injury.

However, they were made to work for the points on a glorious afternoon in Manchester, where the counter-attacking plans of Norwich boss Paul Lambert almost came to fruition.

That almost turned to despair soon after when Pilkington's shot was deflected against the post by the Brazilian, but with the game becoming more open substitute Welbeck played in Park down the right, before receiving the return pass and sliding in for his fifth goal of the season.

Rooney clipped the bar when he was clean through late on, while Welbeck was inches from scoring before he settled nerves three minutes from time inside Old Trafford.

United could have made it 3-0 with further chances, but Norwich's Andrew Crofts also had a shot saved and his side can come away from this encounter with some reason to feel hard done by.

The crucial difference was the finishing and it is a lesson which Lambert's side have had to take once again.