'Maybe Sir Alex Ferguson should have known when the Grand National winner romped home in yellow and green colours. Sport can still be a lottery, and the United manager had the wrong numbers on Saturday. The Norwich team talk was delivered with Ferguson's team sheet.
"I think they came to Norwich a little blasé in their thinking and expecting an easy three points," Norwich manager Worthington concluded. How else could anyone interpret the resting of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy a full eight days ahead of the FA Cup semi-final against Newcastle?
All three were introduced from the substitutes' bench as Ferguson played the numbers game with his system. A careful 4-5-1 became the favoured 4-3-3 and finally a desperate 4-2-4, but the basic formula remained the same. Much possession, little penetration.
Paul Scholes was United's playmaker but only by dropping deep to drive and prompt the team. Louis Saha, Alan Smith and Van Nistelrooy took turns at leading the line without ever having a full-time partner. Rooney worked from wide areas again and became so frustrated that he contributed to both Norwich goals.'