Cristiano Ronaldo penalty gives Manchester United win in close-fought encounter against Norwich |

Cristiano Ronaldo converts penalty in 75th minute after he is brought down by Max Aarons.
Norwich captain Grant Hanley injured in 21st minute after clashing with Ronaldo.
De Gea gets his 200th career clean sheet.

This is another new dawn at Manchester United, although for the time being Ralf Rangnick will just have to rely on the source of goals that has long kept this club competitive this season: the 36-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo who was the match-winner again.

This was not a vintage Ronaldo afternoon in the rain and cold of East Anglia, and his miss from close range in the last few minutes as the game broke down prompted a brief shadow of embarrassment to cross his face, although even on his bad days he can have the defining moments. That was the case again when he was pulled down in the second half and then stepped up to convert a penalty that never looked less than a certain goal from the second his run-up began.

A poor United performance but a second Premier League win for Rangnick. That might be enough for now, a surge of belief in the new man that could carry him through these difficult early days of adaptation and within a respectable distance from the top four. For Norwich City, still bottom of the league, without a win in the last four league games, it was another blow. Although they were extremely close to a draw and the signs are that Carrow Road are very much behind them.

Dean Smith had to piece together a defence amid the injuries and Norwich lost captain Grant Hanley early on. Yet they were close to a point or better with David De Gea on one of his better days, and no one quite capable of conjuring that goal. There were some fine performances from the likes of Josh Sargent and Billy Gilmour, and the substitute Jacob Sorensen, but Smith’s side have scored just three in the five games he has been in charge and that has become a problem.

A very mediocre United prevailed in the end with Ronaldo’s 13th goal of the season.

Hard to say exactly what part of the first half corresponded to the Rangnick revolution at United. As far as anyone could see there was not the intensity in pressing a much-changed Norwich back line that might have been expected and in the midfield it could be said that Lukas Rupp for the home team was the game’s most influential player. United created some chances but they never looked like they might overwhelm the opposition.

They were up against a Norwich back four that was missing three of those who played in a back five in the defeat to Tottenham six days earlier. Brandon Williams, on loan from United, was not permitted to play against his parent club. Andrew Omobamidele and Ben Gibson were also missing with injury and soon captain Grant Hanley would go the same way. He seemed to land awkwardly on his arm after grappling with Ronaldo down in the right channel.

Ronaldo was pursuing a recovery after attempting a difficult volley and failing to make any connection with the ball at all – much to the delight of the home crowd. Hanley struggled on for a bit but eventually had to call it a day. In his place Jacob Sorensen, 21-year-old Denmark Under-21 international, came on for just his second Premier League appearence and would soon dispossess Ronaldo himself as the famous No 7 embarked on a series of his trademark stepovers.

This was United before the break, occasionally promising when they could run at Norwich but by no means in charge of the game. The full-back Alex Telles hit a free-kick that struck the bar after a deflection. Tim Krul would later save well from Ronaldo in the box and then a Harry Maguire header, too, that unexpectedly found the target. Telles had given the ball to Teemu Pukki in the eighth minute for what would be the best Norwich chance of the first half.

Both Fernandes and Maguire are fond of the cross-field hit that switches the direction of attack, although it can at times feel a little easy to read. As were United at times, a slow passing unit who could not hold possession far enough up the pitch to really turn up the pressure on the home side. In response, Norwich grew in confidence and that midfield including Rupp, Kenny McLean and Billy Gilmour had a good balance.

They got better after the break. A series of corners after De Gea had pushed Pukki’s shot over the bar. A fine saving tackle from Ozan Kabak, the former Liverpool man, on Marcus Rashford. In the meantime, the young Sorensen had a fine game against Ronaldo.

Although, as ever with the great goalscorer of his generation, he recognises the pressure points and the shifting opportunities in a game. It was the man himself who was thrown to the ground by Max Aarons with 73 minutes played – a relatively easy decision for the referee Darren England. Facing Ronaldo from 18 yards, Krul delayed the kick as long as he could by leaving his goalmouth. He demanded more noise from the Norwich fans behind him. And then when the moment came he launched himself towards the corner that Ronaldo had sent him while the ball went the other way.

Even then, Norwich should have had the equaliser only for another fine save from De Gea denying the substitute Pierre Lees-Melou. United lost Victor Lindelof to injury late in the second half which will be a concern for Rangnick as the league gears up for Christmas. His team are winning, but only just.