NORWICH CITY v MANCHESTER UNITED
Barclays Premier League
15.00 kick-off
Carrow Road
Saturday December 28, 2013

THE Canaries will look back on an impressive recent record against Manchester United at Carrow Road when David Moyes’ side visit this Saturday.

City have triumphed in this fixture on two of the last three occasions, including last year’s memorable 1-0 victory earned thanks to Anthony Pilkington’s header.

It took a last-minute Ryan Giggs goal to earn United the points the season before, but in reality all things past will likely count for little this weekend.

Both teams had contrasting fortunes on Boxing Day – while City took the lead against Fulham before eventually sliding to a 2-1 defeat, Moyes’ side had to overhaul a 2-0 deficit against Hull City before winning 3-2.

That was their fifth triumph on the spin in all competitions, while the Canaries’ reverse was their first in four games.

The two sides meet only 48 hours after those matches, with Manchester United comfortably leading the overall head-to-head record with 34 victories.

Meanwhile, Norwich have won 16 times, and there has been 13 draws.

MOST RECENT COMPETITIVE MEETINGS…
Manchester United 4-0 NORWICH CITY 29/10/2013 – League Cup Fourth Round
Manchester United 4-0 NORWICH CITY 02/03/2013 – Premier League
NORWICH CITY 1-0 Manchester United 17/11/2012 – Premier League
NORWICH CITY 1-2 Manchester United 26/02/2012 – Premier League
Manchester United 2-0 NORWICH CITY 01/10/2011 – Premier League

LAST TIME AROUND… Manchester United 4-0 Norwich City, October 29 2013 – League Cup Fourth Round…
CHRIS Hughton’s Canaries were knocked out of the League Cup by a Javier Hernandez-inspired Manchester United at Old Trafford two months ago.

The Mexican striker netted twice – the first from the spot – before Phil Jones and then Fabio saw the hosts into the quarter-finals.

City’s best chance in the game fell to Johan Elmander, who poked the ball just wide in the second half, but the game was overshadowed by an eye socket injury sustained by Robert Snodgrass, who was taken to hospital but thankfully made a speedy recovery.

Hughton said after the game: “"We could have been better on the ball, but we were given a penalty against us which was incredibly soft.

"To have a penalty given against us, in that fashion, as soft as that, really gives Manchester United a lift and deflates you.

"But they scored good goals, they have got great quality and they are clinical in everything they do."

CANARIES’ FORM…
L – 1-2 v Fulham (H) 26/12/2013 – Premier League
D – 0-0 v Sunderland (A) 21/12/2013 – Premier League
D – 1-1 v Swansea City (H) 15/12/2013 – Premier League
W – 2-0 v West Bromwich Albion (A) 07/12/2013 – Premier League
L – 1-5 v Liverpool (A) 04/12/2013 – Premier League

RED DEVILS’ FORM…
W – 3-2 v Hull City (A) 26/12/2013 – Premier League
W – 3-1 v West Ham United (H) 21/12/2013 – Premier League
W – 2-0 v Stoke City (A) 18/12/2013 – League Cup Quarter Final
W – 3-0 v Aston Villa (A) 15/12/2013 – Premier League
W – 1-0 v Shakhtar Donetsk (H) 10/12/2013 – Champions’ League Group A

LAST NORWICH CITY XI (4-4-2 v Fulham)…
John Ruddy; Steven Whittaker, Michael Turner, Sebastien Bassong (c), Martin Olsson; Nathan Redmond, Leroy Fer, Bradley Johnson, Robert Snodgrass; Johan Elmander, Gary Hooper.

LAST MANCHESTER UNITED XI (4-2-3-1 v Hull City)…
David de Gea; Rafael da Silva; Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra (c); Darren Fletcher, Tom Cleverley; Antonio Valencia, Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young; Danny Welbeck.

REFEREE – Phil Dowd…
Staffordshire official Phil Dowd was at the Boleyn Ground on Boxing Day as Arsenal came from behind to beat West Ham United 3-1.

That was his 16th game of the season, in which he has only sent off one player – Middlesbrough’s Emmanuel Ledesma in their 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest in September.

Dowd last took charge of a Norwich City match at the beginning of November, when the Canaries were beaten 7-0 by a rampant Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

His last taste of Carrow Road action was over a year ago when City beat Sunderland 2-1 in the Premier League thanks to goals from Sebastien Bassong and Anthony Pilkington.

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES…
West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion (12.45)
Aston Villa v Swansea City
Hull City v Fulham
Manchester City v Crystal Palace
NORWICH CITY v MANCHESTER UNITED
Cardiff City v Sunderland (17.30)
Everton v Southampton (Sunday, 13.30)
Newcastle United v Arsenal (Sunday, 13.30)
Chelsea v Liverpool (Sunday, 16.00)
Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City (Sunday, 16.00)

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