Rashford at the double

He was one of the few players to emerge from the Manchester derby defeat with any credit. In fact, he is one of the few to have enhanced his reputation at all during Manchester United‘s difficult season to date. But this is becoming the finest campaign of Marcus Rashford’s career.

His two goals – the first a smart far-post finish, the second a penalty – not only took this game away from Norwich City, but took him to 14 league goals for the season – his best ever top-flight return. 19 in 30 appearances across all competitions is pretty good going too.

Rashford’s tally has been helped by becoming United’s undisputed penalty-taker, but it is easy to forget just how sporadic his playing time was until Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s arrival. He is not just a regular now, but United’s most important player and he is beginning to look like one of the most effective counter-attackers in Europe.

Norwich sinking without a trace

To succeed as a promoted side, you cannot concede several goals a game. Sheffield United play football which is easy on the eye but are also brilliantly organised and compact when they need to be.

Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Show all 22 1 /22 Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich David de Gea - 7 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 07: David de Gea of Manchester United walks off after the Carabao Cup Semi Final match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on January 07, 2020 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Tom Purslow/Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United via Getty Imag Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 7 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Aaron Wan-Bissaka of Manchester United in action with Alexander Tettey of Norwich City during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on January 11, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United via Getty Imag Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Victor Lindelof - 7 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Victor Lindelof of Manchester United in action with Adam Idah of Norwich City during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on January 11, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United via Getty Imag Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Harry Maguire - 7 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Harry Maguire of Manchester United battles for possession with Emiliano Buendia of Norwich City during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on January 11, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Brandon Williams - 8 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Brandon Williams of Manchester United in action during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on January 11, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United via Getty Imag Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Fred - 7 Manchester United's Brazilian midfielder Fred gestures during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on January 11, 2020. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Nemanja Matic - 7 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Nemanja Matic of Manchester United in action during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on January 11, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Tom Purslow/Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United via Getty Imag Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Juan Mata - 8 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Juan Mata of Manchester United in action during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on January 11, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United via Getty Imag Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Andreas Pereira - 7 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United has words with Andreas Pereira of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on January 11, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Marcus Rashford - 8 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on January 11, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Anthony Martial - 8 Manchester United's French striker Anthony Martial (L) celebrates scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on January 11, 2020. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Tim Krul - 5 Manchester United's English striker Marcus Rashford (R) puts the ball past Norwich City's Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul (L) to score the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on January 11, 2020. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Max Aarons - 5 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Max Aarons of Norwich City is tackled by Anthony Martial of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on January 11, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Christoph Zimmermann - 6 Manchester United's English striker Marcus Rashford (R) crosses as Norwich City's German defender Christoph Zimmermann (L) defends during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on January 11, 2020. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Grant Hanley - 6 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Anthony Martial of Manchester United in action with Grant Hanley of Norwich City during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on January 11, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Tom Purslow/Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United via Getty Imag Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Sam Byram - 6 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Andreas Pereira of Manchester United in action with Sam Byram of Norwich City during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on January 11, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United via Getty Imag Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Alexander Tettey - 5 Manchester United's English striker Marcus Rashford (R) beats Norwich City's Ghanaian-born Norwegian midfielder Alexander Tettey with a back heel and turn during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on January 11, 2020. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Mario Vrancic - 6 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Fred of Manchester United battles for possession with Mario Vrancic of Norwich City during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on January 11, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Emi Buendia - 6 NORWICH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: Emi Buendia of Norwich City during the Premier League match between Norwich City and Crystal Palace at Carrow Road on January 1, 2020 in Norwich, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Kenny McLean - 6 Norwich City's Scottish midfielder Kenny McLean runs away from Manchester United's Brazilian midfielder Fred (R) during the English Premier League football match between Norwich City and Manchester United at Carrow Road in Norwich, eastern England on October 27, 2019. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Todd Cantwell - 6 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Anthony Martial of Manchester United battles for possession with Todd Cantwell of Norwich City during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on January 11, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Manchester United vs Norwich Adam Idah - 5 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Adam Idah of Norwich City reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on January 11, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Getty Images

Norwich can thread together fluid, attractive attacking moves too but cannot expect to survive on this defence. United are not a particularly free-scoring side, but Mason Greenwood’s goal was the seventh they have put past the Canaries this season.

The away end’s chants of “there’s only one Daniel Farke” at full time show he retains the support of the fans. Farke appears to be under little internal pressure too. But as it stands, Norwich are only going one way.

Mata’s mastery helps win the day

The decision to hand Juan Mata a new two-year contract during the summer was met with scepticism and rightly so. Mata was never known for his ability to run and break into space – United’s defining feature under Solskjaer. Now going on 32-years-old, he is less mobile than ever.

But his natural ability has never been questioned and is useful against defences which must unlocked. He set up United’s first and third, crossing for Rashford and Anthony Martial respectively. They were his first Premier League assists of the campaign. Mata only managed four last year.

Given such inconsistent returns, he cannot be relied upon every week. But for afternoons like this, when United can pick holes in unambitious and defensively suspect opposition, his guile and vision is useful tool.

Is Shaw now second-choice?

Shorlty before kick-off, word travelled through the Old Trafford press box that Luke Shaw’s hamstring had felt tight during the warm-up and he would be replaced on the substitutes’ bench by Tahith Chong.

The news completed a bad start to the new year for Shaw, who was pilloried for his performance in the defeat at Arsenal and has not played since through illness.

Brandon Williams, meanwhile, continues to deputise impressively. United only have one fit, reliable and in-form left-back to count on at the moment. It is not the one who cost in excess of £30m.

Mason Greenwood scored from the edged of the area to add the fourth (AFP via Getty)

Stretford End turns on Woodward and Glazers

Maybe it was the sight of green and gold at Old Trafford again, but the Stretford End engaged in a rare sustained spell of anti-Glazer chanting for the first time this season.

The owners were not the only targets. Fans were building a proverbial “bonfire” and Ed Woodward, in attendance, was sandwiched in the middle.