After the debacle last week in Manchester, Norwich City needed a performance here against West Ham.
A positive reaction was required against a team in a similar position to us that have also struggled to score goals. Also, the spectre of the golden handshake hung over this game with Chris Hughton’s job clearly on the line.
The manager made changes though and I thought they were brave changes. Fair play to him, he dropped the out of sorts Seb Bassong who was woeful last week and brought in Ryan Bennett – a player that has, in my opinion, been unlucky not to have played more this season.
Bassong looks a shadow of the player he was last season and with Turner not looking great alongside him, surely Bennett’s return has been on the cards. CH also dropped Whittaker and Bradley Johnson – it would’ve been easy to keep Seb and Johnno in the team but he made the change, well done.
Much would hinge on West Ham of course, who in the absence of Andy Carroll have been playing with no recognised striker, of late in a 4-6-0 formation.
After a decent enough first ten minutes when Pilkington got in behind the Hammers’ defence a couple of times, West Ham came into the game and started to dominate possession. In front of my eyes, the confidence leaked out of the City players like a dripping tap.
As the half went on, the same old problem of not working hard enough without the ball came to the fore. West Ham passed it around while our players just stood off them. Anyone who watches Spanish football will know that if you watch Barcelona you will see how to work without the ball.
It’s not about being Lionel Messi or Neymar but just watch them when they’ve lost the ball. They hunt in twos and threes and pressure the opposition until they regain the ball, it’s not about skill it is just work rate.
Anyway, on 32 minutes the inevitable happened and the visitors scored. Mark Noble fed a pass out left to Razvan Rat who drifted into acres of space between Snodgrass, who wasn’t looking and Fer.
His cross found Nolan who was playing as a nominal centre forward during attacks and his attempt at a back heel at goal was blocked by a diving Ruddy. The Hammers’ captain kept the ball in and stroked it back to Morrison who tapped in from six yards.
That was one nil and it stayed that way until half time with City being booed off by the Carrow Road faithful. Redmond had replaced the injured Pilkington immediately after the goal went in which gave me a little hope for the second half but even me, Mr positive couldn’t see where a comeback was coming from.
City had been as bad as West Ham had been good in that terrible first half and we were lucky not to be further behind after Demel hit the bar with a header.
No changes for the second half as City looked poor again in the early exchanges. West Ham’s formation made me think that they wouldn’t chance going forward much now and it was going to be tough to break down with six in midfield – no wonder they don’t concede many goals.
But then a stroke of luck, which has been lacking of late, after a City corner found it’s way out left to Ryan Bennett who launched the ball back into the box. Turner jumped but the ball seemed to be going to Jääskeläinen who then inexplicably dropped the ball at Hooper’s feet. As the City striker looked to turn Jaaskelainen clipped his heels and Hooper tumbled.
Referee John Moss pointed to the spot and Hooper grabbed the ball. There was none of the Aston Villa penalty nonsense as Hooper placed the ball on the spot. The tension was palpable before Gary Hooper opened his City account with a thumping shot that went straight down the middle. It was now a different game as heads lifted again.
With City asking all the questions now, Johnny Howson, who had a terrific game in midfield struck a great shot from 25 yards on 70 minutes. The ball cannoned back off the cross bar and as Snodgrass looked for the rebound he was bundled over by Collins and a free kick given.
Snodgrass lined it up and from 25 yards curled the ball over the wall and into the net as
Jääskeläinen just stood and watched. It was a wonderful effort and it went someway to repaying the fans for what has been a patchy start to the season for the Scottish winger.
Now it really was a good game with West Ham forced to come forward, and every time they did and we won the ball back we broke at pace. Snodgrass, Howson and Redmond were a constant threat on the break, particularly Redmond, whose pace is awesome. You could see the fear on the defenders’ faces as they backed off him time and again.
With the game heading for a home win there was still time for a little more celebrating as Fer received the ball centrally just outside the box. He surged forward and Tomkins’ attempt at a tackle rebounded off Fer’s legs and back into his path. He stretched and placed a low left foot shot across Jääskeläinen and into the net to make it 3-1 at the end. Fer’s delight was evident as he ran to the touchline and jumped on Seb Basssong who fell over and was joined by the rest of the team as they celebrated in front of the City dug out.
So, just what was required, 3 points against a team near us, but we were a little lucky with the penalty. Not the award of it because it was a good decision but the timing and the manner. It was a simple catch for a Premier League goal keeper, to spill it was criminal and that let us back into the game.
If it hadn’t happened then, the six man midfield would’ve been tough to beat, I reckon. But this is football and games and seasons change on such things.
The second goal was a terrific free kick and we all know that Snoddy has that in his locker, what a great time to show it!
And that was what did for West Ham, after going a goal behind they had to come forward and played as badly as City did in the first half.
Confidence is vital in a football team and we saw that here. In the first half and after last week, we didn’t have any. We went in a goal down at the break and could’ve folded but then, after the penalty went in it was amazing to see the lift not just for the players but the supporters too.
It was a great ending to the game and nice to get that win before the International break. To lose would’ve been disaster, entrenched in the bottom three and with possibly no manager, things would’ve been grim.
Sunderland and Palace both picked up unexpected points this weekend, so it was very timely for us to get three ourselves.
To those that say ‘It’s just papering over the cracks’, let’s wait and see. Positivity and confidence are key and not just on the pitch. One swallow does not a summer make but the next two games, against Newcastle and Palace are games that we are capable of getting something from. If we do and are happily in mid-table then I don’t see it as a terrible start to the season.
Don’t shoot me down for that, but we have played a lot of tough teams lately (and been beaten by them all) and our season will be judged as to how we do against the likes of West Ham , not Man City at the Etihad.
The league is very, very tight with a lot of teams capable of beating each other and we are included in that.
Chris Hughton’s side lost terribly last week in Manchester and it was the manner of the defeat that really hurt.
I wondered if he might be sacked but the board thought otherwise and have given him a chance. Of course, it might all be pie in the sky and we may start losing again but I for one, don’t want that – as I say, I want my team to be successful and that means I don’t want Hughton sacked immediately because if that happens, we are not successful.
Clearly most managers have a finite shelf life but I hope this is the start of something special now. I know it’s only one game but sometimes it can be a catalyst for change.
Here’s hoping.
OTBC
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