If Manchester United are to qualify for next season's Champions League, it won't be pretty. Their narrow and unconvincing 1-0 win at Norwich City on Saturday typified the nature of their campaign, yet it edged them closer to fourth spot all the same.
Once more, Louis van Gaal's side bossed possession but lacked penetration. Again, creating scoring opportunities against one of the Premier League's least impressive sides appeared the most difficult of tasks - yet, somehow, they still took home three points.
Juan Mata's decider was well-taken and came after neat play in the final third by Wayne Rooney, but there can be no disguising the fact that Sebastien Bassong's cataclysmic misreading of Antonio Valencia's long ball gifted United the goalscoring chance they never threatened to muster themselves.
Mata's strike, coming in the 72nd minute, was only United's second shot on target and John Ruddy had easily held Jesse Lingard's side-footed effort in the first half. This was not the kind of severe examination Norwich have had from visiting United teams of years gone by, but just another demonstration of the Red Devils' incapacities against well-stocked opposition.
The loss of Anthony Martial in the warm-up for the second time this season may well have been a mitigating factor, but there have been plenty more examples, even with the Frenchman in the side, of United's inability to break down obdurate but untalented defences.
They have only 44 goals to their name in this Premier League term, but sit within one point of neighbours City in the race to finish in the top four. Manuel Pellegrini's troops head for Arsenal on Sunday knowing that one slip-up could well send United to Europe's top table at their expense.
Van Gaal & Co. still have to head to West Ham on Tuesday before hosting Bournemouth in next Sunday's final league fixture, but their patient approach might yet see them collect six points.
Martial's potential absence could be key. Matteo Darmian also looks likely to miss the rest of the campaign, and even the European Championships, after being stretchered off with what looked like a serious leg injury in the first 15 minutes at Carrow Road.
For now, the important news is that United have won again. Since their hammering at Tottenham they have won five and drawn against champions Leicester City in their six games in all competitions. This was their 10th 1-0 win of the season. Do not be surprised to see them reel off three more to clinch an FA Cup triumph and Champions League qualification.
It won't be pretty, but Van Gaal's approach might yet be just effective enough.
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- Goal