Status quo as Manchester giants end year on summit

Manchester United preserved their seven-point lead over Manchester City in the Premier League yesterday, defeating West Bromwich Albion 2-0 as the champions scraped a 4-3 win at Norwich City.

United manager Alex Ferguson was the centre of pre-match attention at Old Trafford for an outspoken attack on Newcastle United counterpart Alan Pardew, but his side got down to business quickly and went ahead in the ninth minute.

The scorer wore a blue and white shirt, however, with West Brom defender Gareth McAuley inadvertently shinning the ball into his own goal after Ashley Young drove a low cross across the face of goal.

Former United goalkeeper Ben Foster tipped a Young shot onto the crossbar, but United were not able to breathe easily until substitute Robin van Persie curled a glorious shot into the top-left corner in the last minute.

City lost Samir Nasri to a first-half red card at Norwich but edged an open-ended encounter thanks in no small part to Edin Dzeko, who scored twice and might have had a hat-trick.

The Bosnian, who has had to become accustomed to a role on the substitutes' bench this season, struck twice inside the opening four minutes to put City in control at Carrow Road.

But Norwich hit back through a deflected Anthony Pilkington free kick and the visitors were then dealt a blow when Nasri was sent off for aiming a head-butt at Sebastien Bassong.