Five things we learned as Old Trafford turns on Ed Woodward and Glazers in Manchester United rout

Manchester United 4-0 Norwich: Rashford double earns handsome win but unrest heard in the stands

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.

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.

The fact these protests came during the middle of a transfer window and after intense speculation about Sporting midfielder Bruno Fernandes cannot be ignored, but nor should it be dismissed as opportunistic and knee-jerk. The unrest is real, complaints genuinely felt and they will not have gone unnoticed by those sitting in the directors’ box.