England: Substitute Danny Welbeck scored in the second-half on Saturday as Manchester United beat Norwich 1-0 to move within two points of the top four in the Premier League.
United needed a bit of luck to break down a disciplined Norwich defense in the 57th minute, as a failed clearance ricocheted off both Welbeck and Javier Hernandez before setting the former free on goal. Welbeck made no mistake, racing on to the ball and rounding goalkeeper John Ruddy before slotting into the net.
United were without both Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney but still earned their fourth straight victory to provisionally move to sixth place, only two points behind fourth-place Liverpool.
West Ham will head into 2014 stuck in the Premier League's relegation zone after twice surrendering the lead to draw 3-3 with West Bromwich Albion in a thrilling match at Upton Park.
Former France striker Nicolas Anelka scored twice in a five-minute span - his first goals for West Brom - to put his team 2-1 ahead at half-time after Joe Cole had given West Ham a fourth-minute lead with a low shot.
Substitute Modibo Maiga curled a shot underneath goalkeeper Ben Foster for West Ham's equaliser in the 65th before heading across goal for Kevin Nolan to net a flying volley two minutes later, the captain's first goal since the start of the season.
That looked like giving the hosts a victory in what under-pressure manager Sam Allardyce had labeled a "must-win" game. But Saido Berahino's low finish in the 69th earned a point for West Brom, who are unbeaten in three matches under caretaker manager Keith Downing.
Of the teams to start the day in the bottom six, only West Ham hasn't changed its manager since the start of the season.
"Any of the six teams in trouble, if Sam is out of a job, they hire him to keep them up," Nolan said. "The chairmen have been brilliant with him, they understand we've had injuries. We're all in it together. We feel we'll be in the Premier League come the end of the season."
West Ham, who have won just one of their last 12 games, were fortunate to come away with a point after Berahino curled a free kick against the post in the 82nd.
By running on to Chris Brunt's pass and clipping home a finish in the 40th to make it 1-1, Anelka became the ninth player to score for six different Premier League clubs. It was his first goal in the English top division since August 2011.
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