Match Zone

Another Point Gained But Maybe At A Very High Price

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That was a bit of a tough watch, wasn’t it?

For the first time in a few weeks now, Norwich laboured to a hard fought draw but still should’ve won the game. To be fair though, Blackburn came ready and up for it and they were on their game right from the first whistle.

All the talk pre-match was whether or not Norwich could make it ten wins in a row and write a new record in the club’s record books but by the end, it was all about the loss of two defenders in what could prove a costly game of football.

Dimitris Giannoulis had to leave the field due to a stray Blackburn elbow in the second half. After initially going down, he carried on but five minutes later he went down again and it was clear he could not continue. Whether or not the Greek left-back will be able to link up with his country for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers is unknown but with head injuries, you can’t be too careful.

Even if he can’t play in the international break, the chances of him being fit to face Preston on Easter weekend look decent, which is more than can be said for Ben Gibson’s.

Gibson’s partnership with Grant Hanley in central defence has been the bedrock of City’s newly found defensive steel this season but the sight of him lying on the side of the pitch behind the Blackburn goal, clutching his ankle, was a worrying one.

Replays showed he landed awkwardly after challenging for a late set piece and if he’s done his ankle ligaments, that could be the end of his season. We won’t know for sure for a few days yet and he has a scan but I imagine we’ll all be holding our breath for good news.

I mentioned that Blackburn were on it here and they deserve the plaudits for doing that. They came to play and they had a right go, having arguably the best of the first half although City did hit the woodwork twice in that first period and Tim Krul was never seriously troubled.

The attacking quartet of Pukki, Cantwell, Dowell and Buendia were feeding off scraps and the Rovers defenders kept Pukki quiet for most of the game and for that, as I say, they deserve praise.

Norwich huffed and puffed and eventually managed to open the scoring when Kenny McLean played a neat one/two with Kieran Dowell before smashing the ball in with his right foot, low  across the visiting keeper, Thomas Kaminski.

The arrival of big front man, Sam Gallagher ten minutes later saw a few more long balls and the big man’s presence was felt on 77 minutes when he headed home fellow sub, Harvey Elliott’s free kick.

Norwich still should’ve won it though when first Teemu Pukki saw a shot well saved and then Emi Buendia was played through after a one/two with Todd Cantwell only to take too long over his shot and Kaminski saved from close range.

Eight games to go and Norwich are eight points clear of second placed Watford who handed out a 3-0 drubbing to Birmingham City. Brentford drew with Nottingham Forest and Swansea lost the South Wales derby to Cardiff, leaving them 14 points behind us, albeit with a game in hand.

Both the Swans and the Bees appear to be choking at the crucial point of the season, while Watford look the strongest of those teams behind us.

So, it may only have been a draw for Norwich but the gap to third place, which is realistically all that matters at this stage, has increased.

OTBC

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Editor - a forty something Canary, who has been following Norwich for 30 odd years. Family man with wife, kids, dog and a love of sport. Fan of Boxing, Vale 46, F1 and Rock.

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