However, Bassong and defensive partner Michael Turner were otherwise faultless against a United attack missing the injured Wayne Rooney.
United were also without first-choice goalkeeper David de Gea, who had two teeth extracted on Friday. His team's attack looked equally toothless as they struggled to create clear chances without Rooney's touch of class, but Norwich worked superbly as a team to close down their opponents.
"It is a great feeling tonight because it is against Manchester United, but it is still about three points," said Norwich manager Chris Hughton. "They [United] tested us more than anybody we have played against and we were resilient. I suppose with the run we are on, we were able to show the confidence that brings. It is certainly a wonderful achievement."
For United this was not only a missed opportunity but a performance that lacked urgency and a cutting edge, particularly worrying with a Champions League date in Turkey against Galtasaray coming up on Tuesday.
Javier Hernández and Robin van Persie were nullified for the most part by the excellent Michael Turner and Sébastien Bassong, and when Van Persie did get a clear sight of goal, five minutes before the break, he missed his cue and the ball, failing to connect with Ryan Giggs's cross from close range.
The Dutchman's long shot brought a fumbled save from Ruddy in the opening stages, but the goalkeeper was decisive and determined to keep out a low drive from Young that went through a thicket of legs towards the far corner. Young, booed throughout by the home supporters for his propensity to tumble easily, showed the more positive side of his game when he curled a shot towards the far corner of goal, but again Ruddy was equal to it.
It was not all United, though. Norwich came into the game on a run of five games unbeaten, including victories over Arsenal and Spurs, and played with the confidence such form brings.
Grant Holt was always a threat, with his muscular presence unsettling Chris Smalling, while Wes Hoolahan and Pilkington went close before the latter broke the deadlock on the hour mark.
The goal was a beauty. Hoolahan exchanged passes with Bradley Johnson before setting Javier Garrido free down the left. The Spaniard crossed towards the near side of the goal area and Pilkington timed his run perfectly to send a powerful header looping over Lindegaard and into the far corner of goal.
"It was even better because it was my first goal of the season," the midfielder said. "The most important thing was that it meant three points for the team."
Ferguson sent on Paul Scholes and Danny Welbeck in the hope of nicking a goal, and the striker was foiled twice by Ruddy before the keeper's brilliant save from Bassong. Norwich could have made it 2-0 when Jonny Howson ran clear of the United defence but the substitute dragged his shot wide of the far post.
Anderson almost equalised with the last kick of the game, but the magnificent Ruddy saved again and kept the ball away from the rushing Scholes. Seconds later, the final whistle was met by a roar of delight from Norwich supporters.
They sang along with Depeche Mode's Just Can't Get Enough at the end, and who can blame them? More days like this and they can start to look forward rather than behind them at the sides in the relegation zone.
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