By David Hobbs
August 21 2004

United have picked up their first Premiership points of the season after their 2-1 victory over new-boys Norwich City at Old Trafford earlier this evening. Frenchman David Bellion gave United a first-half lead and Alan Smith added a second five minutes after the break.

United Pick Up First Points

Manchester United have picked up their first Premiership points of the season after their 2-1 victory over new-boys Norwich City at Old Trafford earlier this evening.

Frenchman David Bellion gave United a first-half lead and Alan Smith added a second five minutes after the break. The Canaries grabbed a consolation goal through Paul McVeigh.

Only one change was made to the United squad that were defeated his Jose Mourinho's Chelsea last Sunday. David Bellion replaced the injured Quinton Fortune whilst Norwich remained unchanged following their 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

John O'Shea got the game started with an adventurous volley from an angle following a great one-touch movement from The Red Devils but had his effort saved by Robert Green.

On-loan Arsenal starlet David Bentley dazzled everyone with a goal-bound 25-yard attempt that hammered the cross-bar much to the surprise of a hapless Tim Howard half-an-hour into the match.

That proved a wake-up call as United took the lead moments after. Giggs' penetrating run down the left wing was too much for Norwich to defend and whipped in a cross that deflected off Alan Smith and onto a poaching Bellion who made no mistake converting.

Confidence grew in the former Sunderland man and tried his luck again but this time his edge-of-the-area shot was just pushed away by Green.

7 million pound man Alan Smith pulled off a tremendous turn and volley to give United a 2-goal lead 5 minutes after the half-time interval.

Norwich 'keeper Robert Green was called into action once again and this time had to save a 25-yard Ryan Giggs shot.

With 15-minutes on the clock substitute Paul McVeigh poked the ball past Tim Howard, who managed to aid it into the net with his hand. 

Despite the introduction of twinkle-toes Cristiano Ronaldo, United couldn't increase the deficit but managed to pick up their first point of the season.

Full Time - Manchester United 2-1 Norwich City 1
Attendance - 67,812

Manchester United: Howard, Gary Neville (Phil Neville 73), Keane, Silvestre, O'Shea, Bellion (Richardson 74), Miller (Ronaldo 85), Djemba-Djemba, Giggs, Smith, Scholes

Norwich City: Green, Helveg, Fleming, Charlton, Drury, Bentley (McKenzie 76), Francis, Holt, Jonson (McVeigh 45), Huckerby, Svensson (Doherty 69)

Full Results, Premiership, 21st August 2004

   Birmingham City  0-1  Chelsea
   Charlton Athletic  2-1  Portsmouth
   Crystal Palace  1-3  Everton
   Fulham  2-0  Bolton Wanderers
   Liverpool  2-1  Manchester City
   Manchester United  2-1  Norwich City
   Newcastle United  0-1  Tottenham Hotspur
  Southampton  3-2  Blackburn Rovers